e-Book

If you would like to read Brian’s book, please contact us and we will send you a download link.  The cost is $9.95.

(sample)

Chapter 1

What is Mastering?

Mastering is the last creative step in music production and the first technical step in how music will translate out in the real world regardless of the release format.  It’s an opportunity for an unbiased audio professional to listen to the mix in a well tuned listening environment for the very first time and make any changes.  

Mastering might involve, but is not limited to: 

* Critical listening, to verify that there are no technical errors in the final product.

* Fixing equalization problems that were caused by poor acoustics in the original production/mixing room.

* Applying final tone control to match the overall tone of other tracks in the collection, or comparable tracks in the same genre.

* Applying final loudness adjustments to match the level of other tracks in the collection, or comparable tracks in the same genre.

* Sequencing of tracks into a collection ( i.e. sequencing songs on a CD ).

* Applying frequency-limiting and dynamic-range adjustments, to match the media that will be distributed.

* Creation of metadata (such as track markers, song name(s), performance rights, etc ) for the distribution media.

* Exporting/packaging the distributable in a format that is suitable for the next stage of duplication/distribution. 

(Harrison Audio)

Can you mix and master at the same time? 

You can apply processing on your stereo bus and adjust level and tone.  However, this is still mixing.  When you’re mastering, all of the mix decisions have been decided, approved, and are baked in.  You’re thinking about the finished product and if there is anything that needs to be done before the song is released out into the world. 

Is it possible to master your own mixes?  

It’s possible, however it’s really hard to do them both at the same time. It’s kind of like trying to give yourself a complicated haircut with colored highlights, without the proper tools or the experience to know if you have done a good job or not.

 

(purchase to read the rest of the book)