Mastering Music Production - Improve Your Sound - The rise in popularity of work-from-home studios has significantly impacted the music production landscape in recent years, driven by the increasing availability of tools and technology. This growth has led to the emergence of mobile recording rigs, making it possible to record full band performances anywhere. While one might anticipate a wealth of high-quality music,… is the final stage in the audio production industry and can be considered the icing on the cake for a musical creation An Artist Portrait (Part Two) - This is the Part Two (and final part) of the true life story as artist written by Frank V. Cahoj for our Weblog. (Part One) An Artist Portrait (Part Two) I give an unbelievable amount of credence to these two early periods in my life: one of everlasting creation, one of analysis and disillusionment. The… and a solid audio mix. However, some people seem to be confused about what mastering can and cannot do, so this article aims to provide clarification. Mixing is a crucial stage in mastering, and I will use the example of a rock A Finnish music story - Musician Matti Mattila wrote his story for us, a Finnish music story! Please read also his Finnish blog and check his page at LinkedIn. I named this article "A Finnish music story" because through Matti words we can know an exclusive tale about late 70's and 80's of Finnish music. Of course the personal thoughts… band to offer insights into the importance of a good mixdown. I will also assume that the mix is prepared within a digital audio workstation ( computer Yestel Tablet - Thursday, approaching the End of the Week: Yestel tablet. As the week draws to a close, an unfortunate incident occurred - my son accidentally broke his tablet. In search of a replacement, I turned to Amazon and discovered an exceptional find. Introducing Yestel Tablet: A Remarkable Tablet Brand The tablet I came across was from… ) and not a large-scale analog system. First, I suggest focusing on the most peaky instruments, such as the kick drum or snare.
This percussive element can provide a reference to balance the mix against. First, peak your kick drum to -14dBFS on the channel meter. Do not attempt to alter this level during the mixing process. It is also essential to ensure your software workstation is set to 24-bit processing. Now you can start balancing other elements of the audio mix, bringing in other drums like tom-toms, overhead microphones, hi-hat microphone, bass, guitar tracks, and vocals.
As you begin mixing, you may find that some of the drums have uneven levels, and you might want to make them punchier by adding some compression. Also, consider the tone of each instrument, perhaps adding some equalization to make the snare sound clear and punchy. The kick drum might sound a bit muffled, so you can equalize out some 300Hz or thereabouts. The guitar sounds have hopefully been recorded using a technique called “double tracking,” which allows you to double up the guitars and pan them left and right to create a wider and richer sound.
Mixing is all about balance, dynamics, and maintaining the energy of the music when the track reaches any point of crescendo. This preserves the emotional swing in the music and will excite listeners when they hear the record. When mixing, always consider if any element is too loud or too quiet in the mix and use the faders on the mixer to bring that musical instrument into focus The Importance of Having a Goal in Life and Why Music is a Harmonious Objective - Having a goal in life is essential for many reasons. It provides a sense of direction, drives motivation, enhances focus, and contributes to personal satisfaction. An aim or target in life helps one to streamline their energy, thoughts, and efforts towards achieving something specific. Without an objective, life can feel aimless and unsatisfying, and individuals… .
Mixing is great fun, but it is also hard work to achieve a perfect mixdown. This is why, in mastering, I often hear mixes that have not been optimized. Many people think that mastering can correct issues like a vocal that is too quiet, a kick drum that is too quiet, or a synthesizer that is too loud in the mixdown. While minor adjustments can be made in mastering, one must remember that mastering is like adding the final gloss of shiny paint to a factory-fresh car.
The mastering engineer has limited flexibility with a two-track master compared to a multi-track mixdown. Mastering can enhance the overall mix and add quality and value, but it cannot fix significant mix problems. Mixing is crucial, and there should not be an attitude of leaving things for mastering, as many issues can be easily rectified during the mixdown. If you are unsure, you can always send your mix to a mastering engineer who offers a free mix appraisal. As long as mastering is in progress, this service is sometimes available. Make sure your mix is as good as it possibly can be before sending it for music mastering.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
