Since the mastering engineer can’t perform surgery on the individual elements of your mix, you need to go over every track in your mix with a fine-toothed comb. Get your mix right first! Check for Technical Issues These steps can take a grade A mix and make it into an A+ master, but it can’t make a grade C mix into an A-level master. Mastering will also ensure that a good mix will translate well to all kinds of different playback devices, from phones to cars to clubs. The final level will also be adjusted to the appropriate level (not always louder) for your distribution medium. During mastering, processing will be added to correct any frequency and dynamic issues that may have been missed during the mixing stage. Don’t count on the mastering engineer to finish your mix, or even “make it right.” The job of a mastering engineer is threefold: find and fix any technical flaws, create a master that is appropriate for your intended distribution format (file type, competitive level, EQ, etc.), and add any metadata and encoding necessary for distribution or manufacturing (DDP encoding, ISRC codes, etc.).Ī talented mastering engineer will also add the final polish, depth, punch, clarity, sheen, warmth, crispness, or whatever you need, but they won’t change an apple into an orange. Make Sure You Love the MixĪsk any mastering engineer and they will tell you that the key to a great master is a great mix! Your goal should be to get your mix sounding as finished as you possibly can.
#Mastering the mix levels how to#
Read on to learn how to make the most out of working with a mastering engineer. We put together this helpful guide to make the process as smooth as possible.
The one call you will never get from me as a mastering engineer is ‘hey can you send me a version with the limiter off?’ My suggestion if a mastering engineer calls you and asks you for a version with the limiter off and you know you have a solid mix, you should tell them ‘I’m sorry, I’m gonna find another mastering engineer’ Pete Lyman on the Recording Studios Rockstars podcast, episode 165