Isn't Mastering just a fancy word for "normalizing"

[sonvardy]

So I've gotten my mix to sound amazing on my monitors and great on most other sound systems. Everyone tells me it needs to be mastered now, but no one can give me a clear definition of what that means exactly, only that it's really expensive and complicated. Isn't mastering the adjustment of the overall volume of the mix? That's really the only thing that seems to be lacking in my tracks... volume. I always have to turn up people's stereos for my tracks to match whatever radiohead or chemical brothers CD was on before mine. Basically my question is this: What is it that getting my tracks professionally mastered can do that I can't do with compressors and limiters? I know everyone's gonna tell me that limiters will kill my dynamics, which I also don't understand because I always understood that dynamics in the volume of a track is bad. Why would I want dynamics in my volume? Don't I want it to be the same volume throughout?

[edge100]

So I've gotten my mix to sound amazing on my monitors and great on most other sound systems. Everyone tells me it needs to be mastered now, but no one can give me a clear definition of what that means exactly, only that it's really expensive and complicated. Isn't mastering the adjustment of the overall volume of the mix? That's really the only thing that seems to be lacking in my tracks... volume. I always have to turn up people's stereos for my tracks to match whatever radiohead or chemical brothers CD was on before mine. Basically my question is this: What is it that getting my tracks professionally mastered can do that I can't do with compressors and limiters? I know everyone's gonna tell me that limiters will kill my dynamics, which I also don't understand because I always understood that dynamics in the volume of a track is bad. Why would I want dynamics in my volume? Don't I want it to be the same volume throughout?

Mastering is indeed part art and part science. Traditionally, the mastering engineer (ME) would be responsible for cutting discs. There is a GREAT discussion of the influence of a good ME in Geoff Emerick's book "Here, There, and Everywhere" (which is a fantastic read overall).

There are numerous goals in modern mastering. The first is to make your mixes sound as good as they possibly can. This usually takes two forms: modulating apparent volume by modulating dynamic range (Limiting) and eq. Once you hear a raw mix turned into a master, you'll be amazed at the difference it can make. A slight eq here and there and a touch of limiting can make massive differences. This doesn't mean the mastering engineer is trying to MAXIMIZE the loudness (although many modern MEs do exactly this).

The second major goal of the ME is to ensure a cohesiveness of the final product. You want to make sure apparent levels are the same across all the tracks, and you (may) want to impart a tonal "character" on the work as a whole. The ME may start with a single track, get the balance just right, and then master the rest of the album to make a more cohesive product, based on that first track.

Generally speaking, even top flight mixes can benefit from a little bit of sweetening at the mastering stage. MEs usually have access to specialized gear that can lend some additional mojo to a tune. As I said, you'll be blown away by the difference an ME can make.

I always understood that dynamics in the volume of a track is bad. Why would I want dynamics in my volume? Don't I want it to be the same volume throughout?

On a song to song basis, you're basically right. Some songs may be slightly louder than others, but you want a good, consistent level throughout.

But WITHIN a track, you definitely want dynamics. Dynamic volume allows a track to breathe. Run your tracks through a brickwall limiter with a low threshold: you'll get a totally squashed song with NO dynamics, which will be loud as hell. And you'll get sick of it (or be in literal pain) within two listens.

[JACKAL & HYDE]

So I've gotten my mix to sound amazing on my monitors and great on most other sound systems. Everyone tells me it needs to be mastered now, but no one can give me a clear definition of what that means exactly, only that it's really expensive and complicated. Isn't mastering the adjustment of the overall volume of the mix? That's really the only thing that seems to be lacking in my tracks... volume. I always have to turn up people's stereos for my tracks to match whatever radiohead or chemical brothers CD was on before mine. Basically my question is this: What is it that getting my tracks professionally mastered can do that I can't do with compressors and limiters? I know everyone's gonna tell me that limiters will kill my dynamics, which I also don't understand because I always understood that dynamics in the volume of a track is bad. Why would I want dynamics in my volume? Don't I want it to be the same volume throughout?

The balance of the entire mix/song for one thing. Smashing/Limiting is about 20% of the mastering process. Getting it "real loud" as you've stated is not "Mastering". Thats just the residue of a good mastering job.

[kennerb]

No.

Think of adjusting volume as giving breath to your sound. It does not sound good if it is done incorrectly. You don't want volume jumping up and down but to make adjustments throughout your piece is important.

Dynamics are essential to a good sound. Normalization usually just adds a constant amount of gain to your piece to bring it to the maximum amount without introducing distortion. This is usually good but not always.

It is often used as part of the mastering process but is not interchangeable by definition.

I'm no pro when it comes to mastering but usually the process involves putting your recording through compressors and limiter(often outboard) and EQing each track to sit together well so there are not competing frequencies.

[YILA]

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct03/a ... obkatz.htm

buy this book

i've had stuff mastered at one of the top places in the world...before and after wasnt that amazing amount of difference...but after hearing it on a massive PA i knew why. It sounded amazing.

Now i master my own stuff and treat the process with respect. Try and seperate you mix and mastering process -

Plus i never Normalise! EVER!