Mastering 

Mastering philosophy:
Listening to how the mix is, and enhancing and 'freshen' what is already there, in the same direction: so it 'sounds the same' — just better.

 mastering in samplitude

 

What mastering is like, metaphorically speaking

Mastering is like doing the last touch on the hair and makeup, before doing a photo session. The clothes have already been brought in, the hair has been done at the hairdresser, and what remains is that last touch-up to get that little bit of magic extra before capturing it on film.

In music, it's a touch-up to take the song from sounding good, to sound even better!
Of course, if it's perfect already, there's nothing to do. But usually it is possible to get a little bit polish and smoothness, and help the overall sound to sound more like what you hear on the radio.

If it was about food, it would be like having a dish already finished, but - in the last minute before serving it, have the chef taste it, and maybe add just a little bit garlic and some chili, just to add the delicate sparkle to it all.

 

What it really is about, this 'Mastering', without the metaphors
Mastering is about a couple of thing;

  1. Adjustment of an individual song, of the stereo-mix, altering, and possibly enhancing the sound and the perceived volume loudness
  2. Adjustment of the sound of several songs making them fit together
  3. Making it ready for distribution by trimming the songs, making fades and entering the track-indexes, ISRC, cd-text and such things
  4. Quality control

More about #1
There are two main paths of thinking regarding this; one is to mix to the best of ones abilities, and expect a sound enhancing stage—mastering—to make sure the sound is good enough and nothing is forgotten or overseen, sound-wise.

The other path is to mix the song in a way where one tries to make the mix sound exactly as one wants it, at the perceived volume loudness as one wants.

In mastering, such a track would make a 'direct transfer', that is, without processing, just the trimming and the indexes and such.
Some mixers like the idea of having a secondary sound-enhancing stage, and some like to have the sound exactly as mixed.

More about #2
When making an EP, album, or collection of tracks, one has to make them fit together.
Even if one is trying to mix in such a way as to make the mix the final sound of the tracks, differences in mixing from one day to the other will often make it a little different, maybe a little bit difference in the bass or in the treble area, and so, when putting them together, one will have to adjust them a little to make sure the transition from one track to the other goes fluently and the tracks having a similar sound.

More about #3
Trimming the start point, leaving the necessary blank lead-in (giving cd-players some spin-up and start-up time) and making the fade-outs, and a suitable pause between tracks. Entering ISRC information.
Also, if one wants cd-text; entering the information, and finally, making the deliverance format; cd- ready wav-formats, a wav/cue image for home burning, or a DDP-image for transfer to a cd-making factory.

More about #4
Making sure there are nothing wrong with the final processed result.

Any question: use the contact form and let me know (or send me an email).

 

Also - in February 2010 I wrote an article about Mastering for Recording.org that talks more about these views mentioned  above.

There's a copy of the article on my tips-and-trics page, and you can also read the article over at Recording.org, at http://recording.org/content/395-what-mastering-do-you-need.html

Prepare for mastering at NFL Produksjoner

Send mix: Send your stereo mix using my YouSendIt-powered dropbox - or provide me with a download link. I also offer full ftp-service.

Send in a loss-less format such as wav or aif, at 24-bit resolution, 44,1 kHz, or higher.

Usually the result after the mastering will be better if you send a mix that is not too compressed or limited on the 2-bus.

In addition to commenting in the 'comment field' when uploading the track, send me also an email — so I know I have your correct email address.

 

How to send your mix

 

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"Silence becomes the Son of a prince,
To be silent but brave in battle:
It befits a man to be merry and glad
Until the day of his death,"
(Håvamål)