How To Get The Most Out Of Mastering
This article is a guest post from mastering engineer Cefe Flynn.
Mastering is the final step in audio production before releasing your music to the world. Though your mixing engineer handles most of the heavy lifting to get your music sounding its best, the mastering process adds the final touches to your record, getting it ready for release. If you are not familiar with mastering and what to expect out of it, here are four things you can do to ensure you get the most out of the process.
1. Get a mastering sample
First and foremost, the mastering engineer that you choose will have the biggest impact on the results you get. A good way to know for sure if you’re making the right choice for your music is to request a mastering sample.
Many mastering services offer a free sample, but some rely on generic samples that have already been completed for other customers. This allows you to hear their work, but it’s not going to let you hear how your own music will be treated. Instead, look for an engineer who will be willing to master a sample of your own music. It doesn’t have to be a long section, but it should be enough to give you an idea of their mastering style to see if it’s right for you.
2. Utilise a reference track
A reference track in the mastering process is a professionally produced track that is used as a guide. When you provide a reference track, you’re more likely to get the results you want faster as the mastering engineer can use the reference to understand the overall tones you like and allow similarities to come through. However, make sure that the reference track is of the same genre or close to it in order to be useful.
3. Check your master on different speakers
It’s essential to check your final master on different speakers in different environments. This means listening on headphones, car speakers, Bluetooth speakers and pretty much any other speakers you can find.
The reason you want to do this is to ensure that your music sounds great no matter where someone hears it. Different speakers have a tendency to colour sound in different listening environments. Realise that you never know where someone will listen to your music, so it’s a good idea to test out your master in as many places as possible.
4. Compare the mix and master at the same volume
When you get your final master, make sure you compare it with the final mix at the same volume. This will allow you to properly compare the sound and assess whether you’re happy with the results.
To compare your mix and master at the same level of gain, try listening on a system that lets you visually see the audio through a loudness meter. You may need to adjust the volume knob on your stereo for your mix and your master, but your goal is to have both reach the same level on the meter when listening.
I hope these four tips help you in getting the most out of mastering. If you have any questions about all things mastering, don’t hesitate to get in touch at cefeflynnmastering.com