Mastering (help)

[-Sin-]

I've been recording and mixing my own tracks for ruffly eight years now.

My only problem is I don't know how to Master a song. For Software Programs I have Pro Tools Le 7.4 and Waves Diamond Bundle Plug - Ins.

I need someone who is Experienced in the field of Mastering to:

1. Tell me exactly what it is/what it does

2. Which Program I should use(Pro tools or Waves Dimaond Bundle; not any other programs or plug - ins)

3. How to Master a song; (Example: When I mix my Vocals in Pro Tools or Waves I have 3 main Steps I use in a Specific Order; EQ, Compression & Reverb).

4. A step - by - step process of what to do and how to do it.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

P.S. I'm not a Producer, I don't make beats. So I am not looking how to Master Hi Hats or Symbols, etc. I'm looking Strictly to Master a complete song.

[richiebee]

You spent at least $2500 on plugins and you have no idea how to use them?

Can I have some of your money?

Waves Diamond does not have a wave editor. You cannot use it to master. You use the Waves plugins within another application - eg, in ProTools.

Mastering is really for collections (eg, a whole CD) - not individual songs. If you only have one song, then mixing should make it ready for production.

R.

[-Sin-]

That doesn't answer my question.

I have Pro Tools, and I use the Waves Diamond Bundle as a Plug - In. I know how to use Waves as far as Mixing a song is concerned. But I don't know a thing on Mastering.

And yes, I'm looking to Master a completed CD.

[fortyseven]

I couldn't tell you exactly how to master as I believe its all about what sounds good to the individual but some of the processes and goals of mastering could be as follows:
Transferring the recorded audio tracks into the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
Sequence the separate songs or tracks (the spaces in between) as they will appear on the final product (for example, an audio CD).
Process or "sweeten" audio to maximize the sound quality for its particular medium.
Transfer the audio to the final master format (ie CD).
Edit minor flaws.
Apply noise reduction to eliminate hum and hiss.
Adjust stereo width.
Add ambience.
Equalize audio between tracks.
Adjust volumes.
Dynamic expansion.
Compression.
Peak limit the tracks.
All this and more can be done during the mastering process. I also cant comment on your particular software as Im unfamiliar with it but I have used Steinberg Wavelab and Sony Sound Forge. Although Im no 'master' at mastering, I do hope this helps somewhat.

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by -Sin-

That doesn't answer my question.

No shit Sherlock!

I have Pro Tools, and I use the Waves Diamond Bundle as a Plug - In. I know how to use Waves as far as Mixing a song is concerned. But I don't know a thing on Mastering.

Well, then you know that Waves Diamond doesn't have a wave editor. So how are you supposed to use it for mastering? I guess you should use ProTools. Personally, I prefer a separate wave editing program that lets you see exactly what you're getting, but there's no real reason why you couldn't do it in ProTools.

And yes, I'm looking to Master a completed CD.

Okay, well, that's not what you said originally. I reckon fortyseven's got it nailed.

R.

[sparqee]

I might pose the question: do you need mastering? If you're ready to send your collection of final mixes to a CD plant then yes. If you're just going to distribute your own "home burned" CDs and or put mp3's on the web, then maybe no.

If you're mixes are absolutely wonderful then a mastering engineer won't really do much with them. If there are problems then he/she may do various things to them. The key here: the ME is a different set of ears. He/she will hear things in your mixes that you may not have. Perhaps because of a difference in monitoring systems, perhaps because of experience, but the important point here is that the ME is not you.

If I'm going to "release" a mix without getting someone else to master it I simply mix it. I don't do anything that I consider "self mastering". Any corrections that a mastering engineer could make to my final stereo mix can be better done while mixing the multi-tracks. If I want a stereo widener, then I slap it on my 2bus. If I want a hyper-compressed sound then I slap a limiter in there. The one thing I will say that I do that might be close to a "self-mastering mindset" is that a week or so after I finish a mix I like to go back and listen with fresh ears. If I hear something that needs changing then I open up my project file and make the change. It takes discipline to not constantly be going back and tweaking but really, if I have it right, I know it's right. <shrug>

In my opinion far too many people get hung up about "the importance of mastering". To me it's really only about two things: preparing sound files for production to a physical medium (e.g. mass produced CDs or vinyl) and having a second set of ears consider the tracks for popular consumption.

[fortyseven]

Originally Posted by sparqee

It takes discipline to not constantly be going back and tweaking but really, if I have it right, I know it's right. <shrug>
In my opinion far too many people get hung up about "the importance of mastering".

Now that is some of the wisest stuff Ive heard in a long time. I cant tell you the amount of songs Ive buggered up because of the lack of discipline needed not to "over tweak". Its a difficult lesson learned!

[Vulconizer]

Yep. The sparqee is good. The sparqee is wise. Trust the sparqee.

Run from the richibee though when he gets riled up. lol

[sparqee]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

Yep. The sparqee is good. The sparqee is wise. Trust the sparqee.

Run from the richibee though when he gets riled up. lol

I need a Vulcan on my staff (to get the alien vote), you wanna be my campaign manager?

[Vulconizer]

Hell, I thought I already was.