Mastering

Mastering is the final stage in the production process before the release and distribution of your music or audio. Whether it is a commercial for radio broadcast or a single track release for triple J or television the mastering stage is handled in a similar manner. My philosophy as a mastering engineer is to allow the dynamics the audio to breathe and provide life to the stereo field whilst using gentle EQ, compression and limiting. A subtle widening of the audio may be necessary and often some mid side EQ to enhance to edges and some frequencies. I tend to master all of my sessions at -12 LUFS whilst keeping intersample peaks under -1 to allow for compression and distortion artifacts in the breakdown stage at streaming.

My goal at the mastering stage is to prepare audio for cd replication and online distribution. The final product is a 16b, 44.1khz stereo Wav file that can be sent to the cd replication factory to print 100 or one million copies. This i believe is the best way to listen to music and the best way your music can be heard. I use this same original master to provide you with a 24b, 44.1khz stereo Wav file that can be uploaded to the digital distribution companies. This 24b file is the same i work in the studio and is pristine in quality. It will however be broken down in the digital distrubution stage to what i consider less than the listening quality of the 16b cd version. I provide you with both versions and an explanation if needed on thier uses on approval of your final masters.

I use some of the latest and highest quality software EQ’s, compressors, limiters and harsh frequency roll off plugins for mastering and can provide revisions if needed.

Please remember that mastering should be subtle and use only gentle enhancement to prepare your final mix and audio levels for distribution. It serves a different purpose to mixing and requires a different approach. It is not an extension in any way of mixing. Mastering can also include audio restoration work so any damaged or corrupted audio or sessions you may have can possibly be saved and able to be used.

Please get in touch to discuss your mastering needs.