Super Bowl Sunday. Let’s get it done.
About Callum James Greens
Founder of DimeRock Records, music producer and abuser of the internet.
The Lazy Engineer’s Guide to Mastering
If mixing is an art, then mastering is voodoo magic. Mastering is often considered this taboo thing. Everybody knows that it needs to be done, but no one is quite sure how to do it. It supposedly makes your song sound better and louder, but for some reason you need a specialist that is sensitive and experienced in hearing all the nuances of your mix instead of doing it yourself.
Well, that might be true and all, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it yourself.
Mastering engineers have a different perspective than you. They also have different equipment and a different listening room. That’s why it’s always a good idea to give an experienced mastering engineer your mixes. However, if you are in a pinch – or are just plain lazy – then mastering your own work can be done easily.
The following guide is not intended as a substitute for real mastering. It’s good to know what to do if you want to give your mixes that mastered feel. Follow these steps if you are producing your own song demos to be heard online or want to impress your clients with a loud mix.
Why You Should Use Metering Tools while Mixing and Mastering
Last AES convention I met a manufacturing rep for a very prestigious equipment company. He was demoing a piece of equipment for me, showing me all the great knobs and buttons that it had to offer. Then he said something along the lines of, “We don’t include a screen for these things since you’re supposed to mix with your ears.” That’s when I took my exit stage left. I think imposing a viewpoint like that is just plain wrong.
Obviously, you’re supposed to mix with your ears, but I don’t think looking at meters is going to destroy your mix.
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