newb mastering question..

sgingras · Post by **sgingras** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:15 pm

Anyone know where I can find a good tutorial on mastering that explains all the basics? (proper use of compression, EQ techniques, normalization etc...)

I'm pretty much in the dark about the proper way of doing stuff, so my tracks all have that "tweaked to death by an amateur" sound. I've looked at a couple tutorials but haven't really found anything very useful.

Any help would be appreciated! thanks!

Nick Maxwell · Post by **Nick Maxwell** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:30 pm

Izotope, the makers of the mastering software that I use, published a free guide to mastering a while back that eclipses much of the material I have seen on the subject. It is in pdf format for download at this site:

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/guides.html

It is what I read when I was first getting into mastering my tracks. I highly recommend it. The information is for any mastering hardware or software, although the examples are done using their product. They explain the concepts pretty well.

good luck!

sgingras · Post by **sgingras** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:28 pm

Thanks!

SimonPHC · Post by **SimonPHC** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:06 pm

there's lots of info here

http://www.booyaka.com/~al/audio/skills ... html#basic

sqook · Post by **sqook** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:03 pm

Wow, great links. Does anyone happen to have a copy of that table that was posted here on the boards awhile back with all the common frequencies/ranges for mastering tones? I did a board search for it... but yeah, we all know how awesome phpbb's search function is.

kennerb · Post by **kennerb** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:47 pm

Rick Snoman's Dance Music Manual has a pretty good section on mastering. It's not a whole lot but it is concise and nicely illustrated.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 11-7760609

ashley_k · Post by **ashley_k** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:48 pm

Sqook is this this the one your looking for:

Producers... Know your Frequencies!!!!

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... requencies

TruePlaya55 · Post by **TruePlaya55** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:12 pm

they gotta have a mastering for dummies at your local barns and noble

DJ VAKIS · Post by **DJ VAKIS** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:31 pm

Just use your ears,and learn your monitors how they sound,mastering needs a lot of expiriences.

minimal · Post by **minimal** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:45 pm

http://www.digido.com/

cosmosuave · Post by **cosmosuave** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:57 pm

Don't forget your room needs to be acoustically tuned as well... Bass traps in the corners of the room, acoustic foam placement and so forth... I have nothing against DIY but in the end if you are putting out a CD it may well be worth the $$ to have a professional master it...

sqook · Post by **sqook** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:25 pm

ashley_k wrote:Sqook is this this the one your looking for:

Producers... Know your Frequencies!!!!

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... requencies

Awesome; this was exactly what I needed. Thanks!

sgingras · Post by **sgingras** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 9:55 pm

thanks everyone...I got a LOT more depth out of some of my tracks because of the advice here! Although mastering up in my Senheiser phones produces audible buzz on almost any stereo system I have tried. Guess it's time to suck it up and get the monitors.

masturfader · Post by **masturfader** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:51 am

read this book!

http://www.digido.com/portal/pmodule_id ... age_id=66/

karl · Post by **karl** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:04 pm

aghhhhh just what i was looking 4......keep on tweeking...