Rates & FAQs

The term ‘mastering’ originates from the process of creating a ‘master’ recording, which historically was the final, definitive version of a track used to produce copies for distribution. This term became prevalent in the era of vinyl records, where the mastering process involved creating a master disc, also known as a lacquer disc, which was used to make stampers for pressing vinyl records.

Initially, the role of a mastering engineer was quite technical and less about creative input. The main task was to transfer the final mix of a recording onto the master disc. This required technical expertise to ensure that the recording’s sound quality was maintained and optimized for the physical limitations and playback characteristics of vinyl records. They had to consider aspects like volume levels, equalization, and the physical spacing of grooves on the vinyl to prevent playback issues such as skipping or distortion.

The mastering engineer’s role was crucial in ensuring that the final product sounded as good as possible, no matter what kind of equipment it was played on. This often meant making adjustments to compensate for variations in the playback systems of the time, from high-end audio setups to more common, lower-quality players.

As technology progressed, the role of the mastering engineer adapted significantly. With the shift from physical to digital ‘master’ recordings, the focus of mastering moved towards fine-tuning the sound quality and ensuring consistency across an entire body of work. Mastering engineers now often work in spaces designed for precise listening, allowing them to make critical adjustments that ensure recordings sound good on a variety of devices. However, the core principle of creating a master copy for production, and ensuring it sounded the best it could across various playback systems, remained central to the role. While the traditional necessity of their role has changed — with mixing engineers sometimes producing masters directly — the mastering engineer remains a vital ‘fresh pair of ears’, providing a final layer of quality control and a stamp of approval when their expertise can enhance a mix.

In the evolving realm of music production, the lines between mixing and mastering are becoming increasingly blurred. Traditionally distinct, these two processes play crucialroles in the creation of modern musical tracks. However, with advancements in technology and changes in industry practices, understanding the key differences and the growing overlap between mixing and mastering is essential for artists and producers aiming to make informed decisions in the production process.

Mixing – The Art of Blending Tracks

Mixing is the process of blending individual elements—such asdrums, vocals, and a variety of instruments—into a cohesive stereo track. This stage requires the sound engineer’s precision in adjusting levels, panning sounds, shaping the overall tone and dynamics, and applying effects like reverb or delay as appropriate. The goal of mixing is to achieve seamless integration of all components, culminating in a unified and engaging listening experience.

A skilled mixing engineer not only focuses on the technical aspects but also brings creative interpretation, enhancing the emotional impact of the song. Given its complexity, mixing a full-scale production can take anywhere from a day to a day and a half, reflecting its importance in defining the track’s ultimate sound.

Mastering – The Final Polish: Mastering

Traditionally the final step, fine-tunes the mixed track as a whole. It involves working on the entire album or collection of songs, adjusting overall volume, equalization, and other final touches to unify the tracks, making them sound coherent as part of a larger body of work and ensure optimal playback quality across various formats and systems. However, the recent shift in mastering has seen it becoming more about offering a fresh perspective. Sometimes, the mastering engineer may perform very minor adjustments or none at all, serving as a “fresh pair of ears” to provide a final stamp of approval. Mastering usually takes about 15-45 minutes per track, indicative of its focused role.

The Convergence of Roles: The role of mastering

In contemporary music production is undergoing a significant transformation. With high-quality mixing, the need for traditional mastering is diminishing. Today, a proficient mixing engineer can produce a mix that sounds complete and ready for distribution. This change is largely due to the enhanced listening environments available to mixers, the use of advanced processing tools during mixing, and the increased skill level and technical knowledge of mixing engineers. In many cases, the mix can already meet the standards that a mastering process aims to achieve.

Investing in Mixing: The Priority

Artists and producers are increasingly finding that investing more in mixing is the better strategy. A well-executed mix can essentially render the traditional role of mastering redundant, especially if the mixing engineer works in an optimal listening environment and uses advanced processing tools and techniques skillfully. High-quality mixing shapes the fundamental sound of the music and can reduce or eliminate the need for further adjustments. In scenarios where the mastering engineer finds no room for improvement, the mix stands as the final product.

In conclusion, while both mixing and mastering retain their roles in music production, the importance of mixing is now more paramount than ever, particularly with the rise of bedroom productions. These home-based projects stand to benefit most from high-quality mixing, as redirecting resources typically allocated for mastering into mixing can significantly enhance the final product. Remember that a well-mixed track can stand on its own, while a poorly mixed one cannot be redeemed by mastering. Understanding this shift is crucial for artists and producers, as it impacts both creative and financial decisions in the production process. Ultimately, focusing on superior mixing is key to achieving a sound that meets the standards of today’s music industry.

When preparing your tracks for mixing, there are several important steps to ensure the process is smooth and the results meet your expectations.

Basic Editing

All preliminary edits should be completed. This includes applying fades, removing any unwanted noise, and carefully eliminating any clicks or pops that might detract from the quality of the recording. Additionally, ensure that every recorded or programmed sound, whether processed or dry, is free from any unwanted distortion caused by clipping.

Drum Layering

Special attention is needed if you are layering drum sounds. Ensure that all samples are perfectly aligned and do not create unintentional flams. Similarly, if you’re using drum loops and enhancing them with one-shot samples, each sample should be precisely aligned with the corresponding drum sound in the loop. This precision is crucial for a clean and impactful drum mix.

Vocal Preparation

It’s crucial that all vocal work is finalized. This means completing the vocal comping process to select the best takes, finishing any necessary vocal tuning, and ensuring all backing vocals are aligned exactly as you want them in the final mix. In this process, also pay close attention to consonants such as ‘s’ and ‘t’, ensuring that any misalignment to the lead vocals is intentional and does not distract the listener from the overall flow of the song.

Production

Make sure the arrangement of each track is exactly how you envision it for the final mix. This step is vital as it sets the foundation for the mixing process.

Track Submission Guidelines

Regarding the submission of your files, there are specific guidelines to follow. Generally, tracks should be sent in their ‘dry’ form, which means they should be free from panning or volume automation. However, if panning and volume moves are an essential part of your creative vision, feel free to include them. The same principle applies to effects: if they are integral to the track, send the files with these effects applied, or ‘wet’. For main instruments, please ensure they are sent dry, without any embedded treatments.

Rough Mix Submission

Providing a rough mix of your track is essential. This mix will be used as a reference for balancing, panning, effects, and to understand your artistic direction. Think of this rough mix as a benchmark that I aim to surpass in the final mix.

Reference Commercial Mix

If there’s a commercial mix that inspired your production or that you referred to when creating your rough mix, including this as a reference can be extremely helpful. It gives me a clearer understanding of the sonic goals you’re aiming for.

Importance of Complete Preparation

For the best mixing results, it’s crucial that tracks are fully prepared before submission. Unfinished edits or arrangements require my attention to be shifted from mixing to correction, disrupting the creative flow and potentially affecting the final mix quality. Ensuring your tracks are thoroughly edited and arranged allows me to focus solely on mixing, delivering the best possible sound.