Author Topic: mastering... what is it and how to start mastering a song?.. (Read 8939 times)

r0cb0y · « **on:** April 08, 2009, 08:30:46 PM »

im just curious.. pano ba magmaster ng isang kanta and bakit kelangan pang imaster ang mga kanta..

bibcute · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2009, 09:49:54 PM »

what do you mean? learning it by the use of instrument?

r0cb0y · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2009, 10:02:59 PM »

nope.. i mean.. what does a mastering engineer do? and why songs need to be mastered.. and how do they master a song..?.. i mean.. like.. do they master track per track or the whole mix?..

reycantong · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:05:58 PM »

Here bro. This might help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_mastering

In my home studio, I personally use Izotope 4 and Waves L2 as my main mastering plug ins.

r0cb0y · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:04:47 PM »

@ rey

thanks a lot kuya rey..but.. pano ba magmaster?.. i mean.. do you master every track or do you master just the final mix of the song.. or do you add the plug ins while your mixing?.. im just curious.. thanks....

edgarthewalrus · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:16:30 PM »

ako, i finish the mix of the song and once i'm happy with the mix, i'll bounce the entire song as a stereo wav file. then, sa waveburner ako nagmamaster using ozone 3 and listen to the songs as an album, dapat they are "related" to each other

gusto ko sana na professional mastering engineer sa mastering plant/studio ang mag master kaya lang la naman ako pera so diy na lang ako hehe

reycantong · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:33:47 PM »

Yung iba, pag nagmaster sila, yung final mix file (stereo mix file) na ang ginagalaw nila using apps like Sony SoundForge (www.sonycreativesoftware.com/soundforge) or Steinberg Wavelab (www.steinberg.com). Yung iba outboard gear (na mamahalin

).

But for me, I'll mix and then pre master sa Pro Tools 8. Sa master track/fader ko nilalagay yung mastering plug in (Izotope Ozone 4). I'll then render my PT8 file to stereo wav file.

After that, I'll open the stereo wav file in Sony CD Architect (www.sonycreativesoftware.com/cdarchitect) for final mastering touches (levels, eq if needed), then write to cd na.

r0cb0y · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2009, 12:54:56 AM »

is it okay to apply effects eq , reverb and compression while mixing.. or is it better to do that after the final mix.. and is it ok to master by tracks.. for example.. like mastering the mixed drum tracks and then guitars and then base.. or is it better to master after the final mix and mix the stereo files..?

titser_marco · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2009, 04:25:16 AM »

Quote from: bibcute on April 08, 2009, 09:49:54 PM

what do you mean? learning it by the use of instrument?

EPIC FAIL

mikep · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:27:04 AM »

Quote from: r0cb0y on April 10, 2009, 12:54:56 AM

is it okay to apply effects eq , reverb and compression while mixing.. or is it better to do that after the final mix.. and is it ok to master by tracks.. for example.. like mastering the mixed drum tracks and then guitars and then base.. or is it better to master after the final mix and mix the stereo files..?

The mix engineer would mix the song into 2 tracks or 5.1 with all the embellishments, i. e. reverb, delays, compressors, etc. as a mix master. This mix master is already what the record is suppose to sound like as a final version. The mastering engineer would just put a little bit of hf, clean up the tracks, make sure the levels of the different songs are the same, arrange the different songs according to how the artist wants the songs to be placed in order in the cd, etc., provide the necessary codes in the CD,. and prepare a final master ready to be replicated. If the final mix master sounds just about right, the mastering engineer does not need to put any adjustments in the mastering stage. However, there are times that the bass needs to be lessened because of boominess, the cymbals need some sizzles, etc. The mastering guy does all the necessary adjustments. The mix studio is different sonically and equipment wise from the mastering suite. The mastering room should have the characteristics of a living room where most CDs are played. Also, there are times where the mastering guy would require stem mixes (per section, i. e., drums in 2 tracks, rhythm section in two tracks, etc.) so he could make the necessary adjustments sonically - levels and eq - if need be. Equipment used including types of monitor speakers are different in both stages, but both processes of final mix and mastering are essential in pro music production.

FWIW

r0cb0y · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2009, 06:11:16 PM »

ei.. thanx for the info mikep.. that was really helpful..

nolit · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2009, 06:14:48 PM »

I got hooked into mastering after realizing that this was the most crucial part of the audio recording process.

It is the job of the mastering engineer to make the mix sound best in all the available sound outputs (may it a cheap speaker, a headphone, an earphone, a boomblaster, a concert speaker, radio or what have you). Therefore it is work of the mastering engineer to himay himay all the frequencies and all the parts of the song from end to finish. If one is mastering for an album then it is his job to make all the songs sound at least of equal volume each track of the album.

I use wavelab and just a few reliable plugins. I like wavelab's options in creating a CD montage ready for reproduction.

The mastering technique runs of 4 simple/basic stages which are:

1. Equalizing
2. Multiband Phase Limiting
3. Stereo Imaging
4. Maximizing or Finalizing

I agree with Rey that waves has a variety of good products for mastering.

This process involves math and needs a lot of spectrum analizers and meters. So be ready with that.

But everything boils down to your ear so be sure to have a variety of outputs from hifi speakers, simple mp3 speakers, 3ways, portables and even car stereos. And listen to them really carefully from start to finish again and again and again and again.

There are some professional studios out there built especially for mastering. I think Zak Lucero has one highly recommended by a lot I know.

alien_inside · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:22:08 PM »

Quote from: nolit on April 10, 2009, 06:14:48 PM

....
There are some professional studios out there built especially for mastering. I think Zak Lucero has one highly recommended by a lot I know.

True, its Zak. But i think the price may make you think " DIY " ...

alien_inside · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:32:43 PM »

Also if you DIY, make sure you have a pair of MONITORING SPEAKERS of at least 8 - 10 inch cone diameter... if you dont have the RIGHT ONE, use your component/HIFI system in the mean time habang pinag iipunan mo yung RIGHT ONE... just imagine, not every home have the best quality speaker systems...

r0cb0y · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:35:28 PM »

thanks for the info.. i really appreciate it..

starfugger · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2009, 07:58:09 AM »

Quote from: alien_inside on April 10, 2009, 11:22:08 PM

True, its Zak. But i think the price may make you think " DIY " ...

alam ko sobrang affordable kay zach, lalo na kung indie project

lovecore · « **Reply #16 on:** April 19, 2009, 04:10:48 PM »

Well, as much as it is crucial in the process. Just remember also that Mastering is not JUST the answer for a nice output. It can and will clean and beef up your recording but always remember the garbage in garbage out concept. Make sure you make the recordings sound great on their own even before the mastering stage so you can sweeten it further when you master rather than trying to cure a poorly recorded material

skunkyfunk · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2009, 11:50:25 PM »

There are a lot of nice cheap but *TRUE* MASTERING houses abroad. There is one that charges $50 per song, and the equipment is TRULY meant for mastering. I'll post the links soon.

Mastering is probably the echelon of audio production. It may sound like a scam if people say you need a mastering engineer, but truth of the matter is, there are things you cannot *hear* in a mix that a mastering engineer may hear, especially if he is using a dedicated mastering facility. Of course, you can approximate that using a flat-response system and room but you also have to factor in the converters, and with today's ridiculous loudness wars, having better external compressor/limiters and sweeteners can do a better job. Making a mix louder is one. Making a mix louder and sounding great is another.

aljar3d · « **Reply #18 on:** April 29, 2009, 06:39:24 PM »

proper EQ, proper mixing
dont overdo on effects

group channels by instruments
eg: drums, synths, percussions, pads, misc, etc,

proper compression, proper limiting
on the master channel i only use a single limiter

all compression and EQ is done separately for each instrument, or each channel

but it all depends on what you want to achieve, since im more on electronic dance music

but most important thing is : PROPER EQ!

hope this helps

alien_inside · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2009, 11:01:45 AM »

aljar3d · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2009, 05:45:46 PM »

^ got anything to contribute relevant to thread?
lol @ eyeroll

alien_inside · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2009, 02:36:58 AM »

upper post was mistake...should be like this

FOR DIYers...
dont over use compression...since this process is the most MISUNDERSTOOD.
EQ with care... since this process is the most over used and even misused sometimes... especially if you are in a ROOM MODE.

juanberto · « **Reply #22 on:** May 11, 2009, 05:19:50 PM »

I think mastering is getting right levels, parang polishing. kung sa mixing eh pag aayos yung sa mastering paglilinis. hehe. tama ba mga sir.

alien_inside · « **Reply #23 on:** May 12, 2009, 02:38:15 AM »

Quote from: juanberto on May 11, 2009, 05:19:50 PM

I think mastering is getting right levels, parang polishing. kung sa mixing eh pag aayos yung sa mastering paglilinis. hehe. tama ba mga sir.

Recording process today is different already... we can mix as good as master... Pero we still have to master to balance the TRACKS ( the songs included in an album ).... not like before, during the TAPE period, we lay-in tracks... but usually, recording engineers do not record the effects. Effects processing will be done by the MIXING ENGINEER, then POLISHED by the MASTERING ENGINEER.

juanberto · « **Reply #24 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:24:50 AM »

Quote from: alien_inside on May 12, 2009, 02:38:15 AM

Recording process today is different already... we can mix as good as master... Pero we still have to master to balance the TRACKS ( the songs included in an album ).... not like before, during the TAPE period, we lay-in tracks... but usually, recording engineers do not record the effects. Effects processing will be done by the MIXING ENGINEER, then POLISHED by the MASTERING ENGINEER.

di po ba sir iba ang mixing sa mastering? hehe

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Author Topic: mastering... what is it and how to start mastering a song?.. (Read 8939 times)

reycantong

reycantong