mastering process

[ritaheed]

I first go "out of the box" to a Studer G36 reel to reel, for tape warmth and compression.

Back into box, cleanup with Izotope RX.
EQ treatment with Liquid Mix (usually massive passive) or Har-Bal, depending on material.
Final limiting again depends on job, if using mid/side process then will use BX Digital and BX XL.
Or RND Mastering tools (Dynamizer, Detailer + Metering) and Slate Digital FG-X
Or Out into Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor.

The path depends entirely on material, genre, sound of mix, required final sound, individual track problems.

No real solid recommendations other than it is best to not master your own music, and if you do, then make all, or as many corrections as you can, in the mix. And mixdown.
Then...
Maybe if you need to, use something to colour your mix (ie virtual analog saturation) (possible EQ to correct for colouration artefacts you don`t like) then some very transparent compression, and same with limiting.
Don`t push anything too hard, don`t master on the same day you mix down, multiband isn`t necessarily better (all depends on material), especially if you don`t really know what you are doing.

thanks mate, didnt think the process was this much

what weve been taught in college is totall crap compared to this, I questioned what they told us but they assured me what they were teaching was "industry standard" stuff

obviously want to learn this stuff so im glad you've gave me an idea on the process that you do. Now to go back into college and get them heavy told with how to really master.

thanks for sharing the programs you use aswell, really help full!!

[The_Laughing_Man]

thanks mate, didnt think the process was this much

what weve been taught in college is totall crap compared to this, I questioned what they told us but they assured me what they were teaching was "industry standard" stuff

obviously want to learn this stuff so im glad you've gave me an idea on the process that you do. Now to go back into college and get them heavy told with how to really master.

thanks for sharing the programs you use aswell, really help full!!

Well essentially the mastering process is corrective EQ, Dynamic Shaping (Compression) and Peak level Limiting.

But there are many ways of going about this, depending on the material and the effect needed. (Multiband, Mid/Side, colouration, noise removal etc)