This week would be a good opportunity to have a go at mastering a track.
To create a level playing field I've uploaded an unmastered track to the FTP site - look under +Resources/Mastering/Unmastered Tracks/Aint got you.mp3
Mastering, as you are probably aware, is the process of working with a stereo file (unless you're producing 5.1 etc) and basically tidying it up and making it ready for release as well as making it 'fit' sonically onto an album.
The mastering process, when working with one track (i.e. Ain't Got You) would commonly involve
(although not necessarily in this order)
EQ
(both 'musical' and 'surgical')
Compression
(singleband and/or multiband)
Limiting
Topping and Tailing
(i.e. removing silences at beginning/end of track)
Professional mastering can involve many other processes but the above are what we want to focus on for this practical.
You will ideally want to perform this practical in an audio editor such as Wavelab, Sound Forge etc. If you do not have an audio editor then there is nothing to stop you using your audio sequencer such as Cubase/Sonar etc.
Incidentally there are a few free audio editors available with VST support such as;
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (PC and Mac versions available)
This is suitable if you don't have any decent audio editing or sequencing package available to you.
Rather than spoon feed you 'generic' settings for compression I feel it would be advantageous to you to conduct some research AND discuss settings in this thread.
To start you along I have uploaded a couple of useful resources for you on the AC FTP in the +Resources/Mastering folder.
Lets try to get some discussion started in this thread.
I've posted a screenshot of the waveform below - you can see the work that needs to be done in terms of dynamics and topping and tailing;
Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:15 pm
Polarman
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 55
Location: Barbados
Mastering practical
Hi all! I know this is late but anyway...
After reading the documents and doing research on the internet I have full respect for mastering engineers...this is not easy! One other thing that I have learned is that you need a perfect room for this and know you monitors very well...its not good enough with a non treated room and frogs and crickets in the garden...
I found some different mastering chains for waves in the audiocourses forum and tried to set them up and see what could be done. I was trying and changing order on them...
My chain which I used in the end looks like this.
EQ=> Single band compressor => Multiband Compressor => Stereo Imager => Limiter.
EQ - I took away some of the mid range and boosted some higher frequencies. That gave a clearer sound.
Single band compressor - I found that it is possible to use the compressor in combination with a low pass fillter. This is sometimes used to tighten up the bas. Maybe thats for more modern music but it sounded good to me.
Multiband compressor - here I compressed the higher frequencies so the cymbals and ride got more stable and got more attack.
Stereo imager - I broaden up the stereo image just a little bit. I got some antiphase because of that but it sounded good. I dont know how much anti phase one can tolerate but...
Limiter - In the end I think I almost limited to much. I was comparing with other CDs with the same kind of music to reach the same level I had to rise the wave a lot almost square...probably I did something wrong earlier in the process...
I still think that the bass i muddy though compared to released recordings but I havent tried it on other systems...
I would really like to get "Aint Got You" mastered version to compare if it is possible.
Is anybody else using more or less the same mastering chain? IS there anybody else having problems with a muddy bass?
Cheers
Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:57 pm
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