Audio Mastering Techniques

[stripes5150]

how do you create a perfectly flat mixdown...i tried watching a main digital eq meter and watch the peaks and trying to eq my individual tracks till they make the master look flat...i don't know anymore...lol HELP!!!

[TheCrocodileP]

if the mix is handled correctly, mastering may only involve limiting. if the mastering engineer is drastically changing the sound of the track then that usually indicates the mix is not up to scratch.

[jimbradymusic]

The hardest thing about mastering your music, is you have heard it too many times and have many preconceived ideas about your sound. Like reading a book after you have seen the movie. It is hard to separate the two. Also you don't have the $1,000,000 room and gear that they have to hear perfectly flat in your environment.

The mechanics are important, but I think it is better to have more ears to finish a project.

Just my 2 cents

[psydust]

id say just by looking at this guy's ears, he knows what he is doing

[russhurley]

first step in distribution? did you write that one?

[FingerstyleTV]

hi! will the audio quality of a wav file deteriorate when compressed to zip file?

[pzero111]

@FingerstyleTV As far as im aware you should be fine to use zip to compress your wav's. i think zip compresses it as data where as mp3 etc cut different parts of the sound out to lower file size

[beatsanctuary]

@FingerstyleTV

not at all

[laaxe]

ooh, Brian Eno (shake/quiver)

[CAlanRobinson]

That's why i feel that musicians should get educated on the tech side of their art, so they can record on their own, mix on their own, and even master on their own. Just use the record company as a distribution venue. Kinda like authors and books. They don't have someone over their shoulder from the start! Maybe after their first draft, they will get some direction. Artists would have so much more control over their art if the weren't so dependant on record companies!!

[OKLAHOMALOVE2]

@CAlanRobinson You are so right!!!

[judenihal]

@CAlanRobinson I know its stupid that they have to get producers to do all this when they just do nothing but sing.

[TheNostromos]

@CAlanRobinson yes, but most of "the artists" dont even write their songs...

[nblfyb]

yea i want that magical info lol

{Benson and Tonic}

[FTWyousuck]

u guys are full of crap!

what kind of artist do u think record labels sign up? what's the point of signing wannabes?

use common sense. if artist have a gift to write awesome music & lyrics, do u really think a record label is gonna put a lid on that genius? NO!

A producer can only suggest options to a real artist. they don't write it unless the artist has no clue whatsoever how to direct a specific track or song. DUH!

do u think PRINCE or U2 care about music producers? what a joke!

[foketesz]

well... in Prince's case, u may be right. But U2 is actually the opposite case. They have always had a producer. Bono once said that the difference between them and other artists from the british islands was that the others went to art school, while U2 went to Brian Eno.

[narcoman2]

@FTWyousuck producers dont (or rather a REAL producer doesn't) write. It's about getting the vision from the artist into the recording. Sometimes it's about holding an artists hand - other times it's about taking absolute control. Every situation is different. I've created whole sonic templates for bands - and on the other side merely reported which was the best take etc.... The producer shapes what is there.

[meuxicz]

in terms of pop/ commercial, the 'artist's vision' is thrown out the window instantly. the reason its not discussed is due to the amount of disbelief there is that the artist has no control really. the top dog a+r guys and CEOs ultimately just say, we need this much more or less money and the music suffers accordingly.

[mellodge]

There is no artists vision anymore. The record company normally instructs a mastreing house to make it as hot as possible.

[biggaflex2gs]

its mostly the artist vision buddy wrong again...the recor cmpany dont sign yu for their vision...or heyld self manufactue artist....geez

[googenshlagen]

Er...not exactly.

The record companies sign what artists line of with their vision/to make money.

[einarabelc5]

Mostly is not the Artist's vision. But the record company.

[squibble94]

Very helpful!  Thanks