I've been producing for about 6 months now and I'm still a little unclear on how to master properly. One 'formula' that was suggested to me was to normalize, compress and then EQ. I understand that I can't apply the same formula to every track but, but does this sound like the right type of thing to do when mastering? If so, then the next step is to learn what the settings do when compressing or normalizing, cuz most of the time all I tend to notice is a change in the loudness. Another tip I got was to set my amp EQ to flat so that the amp doesn't, for example, boost the bass, thus making me think that I've gotta lower the bass. I found after listening to my tracks in my car or minisystem that sometimes they were either too shrill or too bassy/muffled. Any advice is much appreciated.

I usually find it a good idea to flatten out the EQ ...or at least do a test recording with everything flat. Then after listening to that, I'll go back and make any adjustments needed. I think a lot of times people will record with the EQ settings real high and their recordings tend to be over modulated. You can get a lot cleaner recording (should you need to re-EQ it) by pulling down on the EQ instead of pushing up ...in other words...if a song has a lot of high end...then pull down the high end instead of boosting the low end. But ultimately, it really depends on your system, too. The better the equipment...the better the potential for a good recording.

Here something you may want to read it might take you a couple of days to its huge http://home.onet.co.uk/~jzracc/mixing.htm all the info is there .

___________________
Signature is over the 500X150 limit, please resize.

The golden rule for mastering is:

YOU MUST DO IT ON PROFESSIONAL MONITORS. (Something like ATCs or high end Genelecs).

If you do it on hi-fi speakers, you'll make it sound worse. See if you can blag a day in a local studio.

Anyway, a couple of tips:

1. If you EQ, try to cut rather boost because this saves you headroom (so the track can be louder). A little boost at 80Hz and between 14k and 16k can also work wonders.

2. Try to use multi-band compression rather than full-band. This is so you can compress the different frequency bands independently giving you an even louder smoother mix.

3. If it sounds shit before mixing/mastering you won't be able to fix it - you gotta do it at source ie use better samples etc.

4. If you've got sounds that sound huge on their own but shit when you put them together you gotta use some EQ to cut out the area where the sounds overlap - eg if you've got a huge kick and a huge bass synth then it'll probably sound weird but if you EQ some of the lower bass synth out and roll off some of the mid of the kick it'll sound better.

quote:

Originally posted by Joel Fielder The golden rule for mastering is: YOU MUST DO IT ON PROFESSIONAL MONITORS. (Something like ATCs or high end Genelecs).

You dont need GEnelecs to da a great master!!

every recordings studio, also the best of the world, check the mixes on cheap yamaha ns-10 monitor boxes!!

They sounds like a radio & so you can check if your mix sounds good on the car radio. if your track sounds good on ns-10 monitors, it also sounds good on any other monitors or club pa!!

I use only software progz & plugz for mastering:
Wavelab
Waves Bundle (C4 Multi Comp, L1 Ultramaximizer)
Prosoniq Dynasone is also very good!!

TheRiddler

With mixing, yeah, you don't necessarily need pro monitors but for mastering, because the changes are so subtle, cheap monitors won't reflect it. eg What if you use some sub-bass enhancement - the NS-10s won't pick up anything below 80Hz accurately so you don't really know what it'll sound like on a huge PA system that goes down to 30Hz.

And the only reason studios use NS-10s is cos Yamaha gave them away free to get into the market.

The odds are, you'll have to do several masters anyway, one for radio, one for CD and one for Vinyl.

yes thats right, you need many different masters for each media, but you son't need expensive monitors to do a great master or mix. i got the alesis monitor II. there not expensive just 1400,- DM ($ 700). and they also go down to 35 hz!! and i have a monster sub bass in the studio with them!! the genelecs wil go down to 30hz,ok, but did you really hear that?? you will feel it in the club, but you dont need it really!!

TheRiddler

Thanks a lot for the tips guys. I'll look into some good monitors.

Mmmm....30Hz!! Drool!!!

20Hz to 20,000 Hz is what the min you should use because that your hearing range 20 20 , my headphones are 15 , 30 Sony MDR-7509

___________________
Signature is over the 500X150 limit, please resize.