mastering...sighh

[DJRecklessRick]

kay im really confused about what mastering is exactly.

okay so im in the middle of hosting a mixtape for a good friend of mine. Recording and mixing is not a problem for me. All im doing is vocal tracks but this is my first mixtape so I'm trying to make it semi-good.

Okay so I have 2 tracks roughly mixed and pretty much done (13 more tracks to do). For "mastering" these tracks I have to pump the volume up and clarify them with a limiter (which i got a good plug in for), but how exactly do I compare them and make sure freq. and volumes are equal with all tracks?

[Metaltyme]

but how exactly do I compare them and make sure freq. and volumes are equal with all tracks?

With this question, you've really already answered what "mastering" is. It's exactly that...comparing all songs and making them work together on an album. Technically, before completing an album, one song is really not defined as "mastered" until it is tweaked to match the general, sonic signature of the other songs that make up that "album."

To be able to compare all the songs to ensure similar sonic signatures, I'd actually load them all up in your DAW software as one project...then, mix and match the order of the songs that contribute to the continuity of the album i.e., when one song ends in your DAW, the next song will begin. Just make sure that you have each song in its own track so that you can differentiate between them fairly quickly...and, this makes it easier to adjust the order of the songs, as each track would be named by the songs' titles.

If you hear significant, jarring differences from one song to the next as far as EQ, Compression, Loudness and such, here is where you can make the notes and adjustments to each track to compensate for such differences. The whole point of "mastering" is to make these differences, or jarring sonic anomalies between songs minimal to non-existent. This brings about more cohesive enjoyment for the audience or listener.

(which i got a good plug in for)

Out of curiousity, what plugin are you using for limiting?

For "mastering" these tracks I have to pump the volume up and clarify them with a limiter

This isn't exactly "mastering..." This is really more about getting those mixes louder while still trying to find that happy medium of loudness and clarity. Generally, the more of the peak limiter you use, the less clear it will actually be, as a limiter chops off peaks of existing recorded audio little by little. The more you chop off of your original audio source, the less "clear" it can actually be. So, please do not confuse loudness with clarity.

Welp, I hope that helps in some way...and, makes sense too. Peace.

[DJRecklessRick]

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

With this question, you've really already answered what "mastering" is. It's exactly that...comparing all songs and making them work together on an album. Technically, before completing an album, one song is really not defined as "mastered" until it is tweaked to match the general, sonic signature of the other songs that make up that "album."

To be able to compare all the songs to ensure similar sonic signatures, I'd actually load them all up in your DAW software as one project...then, mix and match the order of the songs that contribute to the continuity of the album i.e., when one song ends in your DAW, the next song will begin. Just make sure that you have each song in its own track so that you can differentiate between them fairly quickly...and, this makes it easier to adjust the order of the songs, as each track would be named by the songs' titles.

If you hear significant, jarring differences from one song to the next as far as EQ, Compression, Loudness and such, here is where you can make the notes and adjustments to each track to compensate for such differences. The whole point of "mastering" is to make these differences, or jarring sonic anomalies between songs minimal to non-existent. This brings about more cohesive enjoyment for the audience or listener.



Out of curiousity, what plugin are you using for limiting?



This isn't exactly "mastering..." This is really more about getting those mixes louder while still trying to find that happy medium of loudness and clarity. Generally, the more of the peak limiter you use, the less clear it will actually be, as a limiter chops off peaks of existing recorded audio little by little. The more you chop off of your original audio source, the less "clear" it can actually be. So, please do not confuse loudness with clarity.

Welp, I hope that helps in some way...and, makes sense too. Peace.

Kjaerhus limiter, and yeah abunch of my newb questions were actually answered in the thread you started in the mastering forum. My whole struggle with mixing is getting that happy medium between clarity and loudness actually. especially when I have 2 - 3 tracks of dubbed vocals (only thing thats recorded on a mixtape), whether they are duplicates or actual doubles.
So If my limiter plug in, which has 2 comps, 2 eqs, de-ess and noise gate built in, is actually cutting down the peaks, what free plug in do you recommend for tweaking my mixes or mastering in the end. And my not really sure how to work the limiter, its just full of tons of presets that iv been playing around with.

[Metaltyme]

My whole struggle with mixing is getting that happy medium between clarity and loudness actually.

I think this is everyone's "struggle," so, you're definitely not alone there friend.

I would actually not recommend using the presets of your limiter application too much as concrete go-tos...but they are probably a good starting point. Don't be afraid to tweak those presets further depending on what your ears tell you sounds "right." As far as recommending a "proper" peak limiting program, I'm probably not much help in that department...especially free ones. I've used Cakewalk's Boost11 and Voxengo Elephant (which is awesome BTW...not free, but not expensive). Doesn't your DAW software (if you have one) have some "mastering" plugins bundled with it? A limiter by itself for preparing a final mix can be very limiting on its own...pardon the pun).

Understand that it's not your limiter that chops those unwanted or un-missed peaks...it's all of them...some are better than others though. And they are very useful, for getting closer to that desired loudness/fullness, but while compromising tone clarity if overdone. My point: your plugin is probably just fine...It sounds like a general "mastering" plugin since it contains limiters, compressors, EQs, Gates and the like. It sounds somewhat ideal to work on the final mix of those vocal tracks. Just keep at it and use them ears! They are the most important tools in our arsenal.

[fortyseven]

Wikipedia defines mastering as the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device (the master); the source from which all copies will be produced (via methods such as pressing, duplication or replication).
It also lists possible actions taken during mastering: Edit minor flaws, Apply noise reduction to eliminate hum and hiss, Adjust stereo width, Add ambience, Equalize audio between tracks, Adjust volumes, Dynamic expansion, Dynamic compression and Peak limit the tracks.

[Metaltyme]

Originally Posted by fortyseven

Wikipedia defines mastering as the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device (the master); the source from which all copies will be produced (via methods such as pressing, duplication or replication).
It also lists possible actions taken during mastering: Edit minor flaws, Apply noise reduction to eliminate hum and hiss, Adjust stereo width, Add ambience, Equalize audio between tracks, Adjust volumes, Dynamic expansion, Dynamic compression and Peak limit the tracks.

Exactly...basically preparing the song or songs after the "mix" stage for the "final" stage for duplication/distribition.