Mastering

Mastering

Mastering is one of the final stage of audio post production. What I understand about mastering is it the process to make the loudness of audio track equally. Mastering is mainly about giving more gain, as loud as other tracks, correct or boost the sounds by using EQ, compress certain region of frequency with Multiband Compressor, Giving a stereo image for the track, and compressing and limiting to the level we want.

In Mastering we tried to fix some minor issues that came out from mixing. As a mastering engineer we have to make sure there should be no empty gap or noises at the beginning and also at the end of the track. Using EQ to make the track clear, brighter, warmer and also able to give more gain to certain frequencies that is needed. Then glue all of the elements and different frequencies sound using compressor. Also can use such as maximiser or bass enchancer to making more dominant in different play back systems. Then we can send certain frequency region to centre or wide to make it sound narrow or wide. (such as low end frequencies Kick, sub-bass and mid bass can sent only to centre and send other elements to the sides to make all the things are not clashing to each other. Compressor can also use to give more dynamic range and compression also give more energy and power to the track. Then we try to compress it with limiting compressor and add a brick wall limiter to make you it doesn’t clip or go above 0 dB.

Also in mastering one thing we need to care about is Peak level and RMS meter of the track. There days there are different method of mastering we have to choose using analog gears or digital version VSTs. But for me personally I will end up using digital more since I am working with Electronic Dance Music tracks and need be too loud (which is not good) to become same level as other tracks and also playable as DJ in live. Because if the track change from one to another loudness need to same and that’s where a problem come where everything just become louder and louder these days. But as a professional mastering engineer need to understand the basics, standards and what he is doing.