MASTERING, how to do it ?!!

tom · Post by **tom** » 09/10/2003 - 19:07

Well, since Mastering is a difficult thing to do, "help" and "how to's" are always welcome,right?!

http://www.digido.com/

Select Articles and read what you want to know

PHUN
TOM:::..

Rafael Dyll · Post by **Rafael Dyll** » 09/10/2003 - 22:03

Great stuff Thomas. That'll get me reading through the night I guess.

Rafael

tom · Post by **tom** » 10/10/2003 - 6:17

me too ,when i first discovered this website !!
Really great information and background stories written by Bob Katz, who's a real mastering legend

I learned a lot from his articles !!
I recommend this page to everyone who want to get the best out of his production , even on lower equipment - it's worth to read through the tips and tricks , believe me!

have a great day
TOM:::::....

DHS · Post by **DHS** » 10/10/2003 - 10:23

Ok Tom, read on.

With each new release i make i try to improve my mastering skills.
In fact, every time i change radically my approach.

Listening to my latest i must say i reached a level that's very close (if not equal) to the average commercial trance releases.

But, if i put up a 666 cd (i tried using "Mueve" as reference) my balls fall down. That's all another story. So, big praises from me to your mastering skills.

The question is:
What's your "usual" approach?

For example: in my last release (Total Epygt), leaving out single-tracks procession (usual stuff, as bassdrum compression and so on) i used in the master track:

-EQ: to cut away freqs between the 40 and 100 hz and to level the curve with the typical descending slope.
-Multiband compressor: to adjust the frequencies compression.
-Limiter/Dither: usual limiting and type2 dithering.

Of course, all in digital domain.

I'd like to know what's your "standard" approach.
Do you go on the analog side or do u use mastering plugins too? And if the answer is plugins, wich ones and in wich order?

Bye

tom · Post by **tom** » 10/10/2003 - 17:30

Hi DHS,

you know, i am an old ANALOGUE GUY who is using the benefits of the digital world as well

Most of my equipment is analogue and outboard, look at
http://www.airbase-media.com in the MEDIA - SECTION for loads of images from the studio!

I use a BEHINGER COMBINATOR (multiband compressor/levler) in the main inserts of my Soundtracks "TOPAZ" Mixer and it is ON from the very first start of a new track!
Like you, I make loads of use of the LOW CUT filter to cut frequencies from 30/40 up to 120hz because the very low freq. are taking away main level!
I always use a second COMBINATOR only for the BASSDRUM and BASS and some Percussions, if needed.
After that, i record the complete track directly into my computer (24bit/48khz) with a headroom of "1" or "2" DB.
Next step is Editing of course, with first NORMALIZE to "0" then i use the AUDIO ENERGIZER from EMAGIC Logic Audio (it is integrated since the early version of LA 2.5) and i put 50% ENERGIZE LEVEL (with 5% ATTACK and 10% RELEASE) on the file.It gives more level to the mix!
After that i use EMAGICS AD-Limiter with a medium limiting on it and that's all ! BTW: the AD-Limiter is nearly the same like WAVES L1+ ,the only diff. is that it is an EMAGIC L.A.6* Plug-In and it's a bit better in my opinion!

Well, i hope i could have answered some of your questions and good luck for the next mix

cheers
TOM::::.

Here's a picture of the 2 compressors working

DHS · Post by **DHS** » 10/10/2003 - 19:30

tom wrote:Hi DHS,

you know, i am an old ANALOGUE GUY who is using the benefits of the digital world as well

That's a wise choice imho

tom wrote:I always use a second COMBINATOR only for the BASSDRUM and BASS and some Percussions, if needed.

So, you have a pre-master feeded with 2 multiband compressors.
I'll have a try to that

tom wrote: Next step is Editing of course, with first NORMALIZE to "0" then i use the AUDIO ENERGIZER from EMAGIC Logic Audio (it is integrated since the early version of LA 2.5) and i put 50% ENERGIZE LEVEL (with 5% ATTACK and 10% RELEASE) on the file.It gives more level to the mix!

What's the purpose of thi energizer? Is it an analog saturation emulator?

tom wrote: After that i use EMAGICS AD-Limiter with a medium limiting on it and that's all ! BTW: the AD-Limiter is nearly the same like WAVES L1+ ,the only diff. is that it is an EMAGIC L.A.6* Plug-In and it's a bit better in my opinion!

I'm currently using L2, but i think i'll go back to L1 too.

tom wrote: Well, i hope i could have answered some of your questions and good luck for the next mix

Thanx for the tips Tom

cheers.

Post by **tas** » 10/10/2003 - 20:19

hehe, no wonder i asked tom do do the main mastering for r64 v2

i bow humbly

tom · Post by **tom** » 10/10/2003 - 20:19

Well, here's an image of the Audio Energizer. Simple but effective!
I once tried it on a complete track in the early days (95/96) and i liked the results of it. Since that day i always use this to get more Level in a mix

This tool is even great for vocals and other sounds!
I normaly do this after the NORMALIZING , then AUDIO ENERGIZER plus L1+ or AD-Limiter (nowadays only AD-Limiter)

btw: I use these standard 50% 5ms /10ms values

TOM:::..

What's the purpose of thi energizer? Is it an analog saturation emulator?

I don't know what they are doing here, but it's a kind of a leveler i guess. I think they did not invent it for levling a complete pre-master ,but i tried it and it was great.
If you don't overuse it (means more then 60/70% of FACTOR USE)
then you won't hear no extra noise or something,no pumpin' nothing!

tom · Post by **tom** » 10/10/2003 - 20:21

Tas wrote:hehe, no wonder i asked tom do do the main mastering for r64 v2

i bow humbly

He,he... well some did not like my hands on their work

But it's always a Q of T , right!?!

TOM::::

Post by **tas** » 10/10/2003 - 20:26

I think some just envisioned it differently tom. I actually never heard anyone say they didn't like it, they just had different ideals. As you say it was deffinately a question of taste.

tom · Post by **tom** » 10/10/2003 - 20:33

yeah, and they were right to tell me 'cos it is their work and it should sound like they want it.
Listen to most of the Hip-Hop & R'n'B stuff, for my taste totally overcompressed, but the if they like it,why not ?!

And they even accept clipping sometimes just to get the highest peak.

DHS · Post by **DHS** » 11/10/2003 - 11:44

I don't know what they are doing here, but it's a kind of a leveler i guess. I think they did not invent it for levling a complete pre-master ,but i tried it and it was great.
If you don't overuse it (means more then 60/70% of FACTOR USE)
then you won't hear no extra noise or something,no pumpin' nothing!

I'd like to understand what it does, maybe i can find fomething similar in the VST panorama.

Can you provide me for download a little soundfile as it is and the very same processed with a 50% of energizer?

Thanx.

tom · Post by **tom** » 11/10/2003 - 13:17

DHS wrote:

Can you provide me for download a little soundfile as it is and the very same processed with a 50% of energizer?

http://www.xample-music.com/file_normalized.mp3
http://www.xample-music.com/file_energized.mp3

yes, of course. Both files are in 192/mp3

cheers
TOM::...

DHS · Post by **DHS** » 11/10/2003 - 17:02

tom wrote:http://www.xample-music.com/file_normalized.mp3
http://www.xample-music.com/file_energized.mp3

Very, very nice!

cheers.

Hacky · Post by **Hacky** » 13/10/2003 - 15:13

Hi,

Interesting what u say about mastering there. It's always a head f**k when trying to talk about such things without being able to listen to examples of what it is you mean, so nice one putting those mp3's up there! I had a wee listen myself too.

But...forgive me but I have bastardised them, and you can listen to my perversion of your fine work here:
http://www.hygeia-health.co.uk/stuff/fi ... ky_ver.mp3

I did it coz I'd like to play a little game if you are willing? The game is, you have to let me know what you think of my ver of that mastering, and tell me brutally what u think of it, coz I done it the way I like to do things, and then I tell you how I did it. I can't tell you before you listen to it, or you'll err, puke.<G>

MASTERING, how to do it ?!!

MASTERING, how to do it ?!!

AUDIO ENERGIZER

Re: AUDIO ENERGIZER

Forgive me father for I have sinned!<G>