Define Mastering in Context

[Bullseye]

It used to refer to the process of creating a Master Disc. Today it seems to have a broader definition. I would like to hear from some Mastering Engineers on their view of the subject nowadays, how the process has changed and where its going...

[Laarsø]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

It used to refer to the process of creating a Master Disc. Today it seems to have a broader definition. I would like to hear from some Mastering Engineers on their view of the subject nowadays, how the process has changed and where its going...

Mastering still entails pulling a father disc off a grandmother. Anything prior to this is actually premastering. See "Mastering Audio," by Bob Katz, first page of Chapter 1. Even though most people who only premaster enjoy saying that they do mastering, it is actually premature to refer to it this way, since the master has not yet been made until the grandmother (lacquer or glass "master"*) is plated.

Premastering entails taking someone's collection of mix files (or master tape of mixes) and assembling them on a time line, with fades and transitions. Processing (EQ, Limiting, Auto-Wah, etc...) is optional, still, although quite popular to do, since few recordings don't benefit from judicious adjustments. At minimum, it's a professional proof-listen to assure the production team that all went well. Mostly, it's stereo eq and stereo limiting - maybe Mid/Side processing, rather than Left/Right... Sometimes, however, it involves taking a stereo stem of the bass, the vocal(s), and the rest of the mix and processing each stem differently and resumming them to make the premaster that makes its way to the outside world. Digital Domain have done minor miracles with this approach. Others take stems of every part of the mix for even more control. This borders on, if not encroaches on, remixink. Most radical repairs are best done in the remix session, rather than a stem-powered premastering session.

Whether working on singles or albums, having someone other than the mix clerk perform the premastering is advantageous since she is the guinea pig who will react to the sounds before money is spent on making so many physical copies, or careers are subject to scrutiny as the downloading goes viral.

Even when you find you are making good mixink in your private hatch studio, it usually helps to have someone else work on the mix (as a downmix) in a different (larger and more sparsely furnished?) room (with different acoustic problems than those which plagued the mix session). Hard to imagine how this could change in the future. Even if the other room is somewhere else in the same facility and even if the other person is merely an alter-ego. At least she should wear a different hat.



Cheersø,
Laarsø



* she is always really a "mistress," and not a "master"

[dcollins]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

It used to refer to the process of creating a Master Disc. Today it seems to have a broader definition. I would like to hear from some Mastering Engineers on their view of the subject nowadays, how the process has changed and where its going...

The basic concept of a purpose-built room with an impartial set of ears has not changed, nor will it imo.

Gear changes, formats change, yes. But the actual job has not.


DC

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by dcollins

The basic concept of a purpose-built room with an impartial set of ears has not changed, nor will it imo.

Gear changes, formats change, yes. But the actual job has not.

DC

Quoted for Truth (and brotherhood).

JT

[dropd9]

Originally Posted by dcollins

The basic concept of a purpose-built room with an impartial set of ears has not changed, nor will it imo.

Gear changes, formats change, yes. But the actual job has not.


DC

^^Word, Gospel, Law^^ in a nutshell.

In addition, consider these specialized rooms and experienced ears to hear/uncover "noise, crackle, unwanted material" which can be surgically removed using specialized tools which are quite often too expensive to justify purchasing for many project and small studios when only occasionally used.