How long does is take to master a song? There are several extra song mastering procedures I offer that other mastering engineers will not do.
But before I get started, be sure to visit this link after you read this article for my low mastering rates.
I would say someonejust starting out in audio mastering might take an hour to A/B compare a song and replicate it.That time includes reviewing the song on different mediums like a car stereo, headphones, small speakers, etc.That's an hour total time to master one song.
As you improve with practice, you can quickly get it down to 30 minutes per song or less.A highly skilled audio mastering engineer canmaster a song in 10 minutes. At least that's how long it takes me.Note - I ALWAYS split my audio mastering into two separate sessions so I can finalize on fresh ears.I talk about this later in the book. Read more....
Some of you might think 10 minutes to master a song is too fast. It is if you're just starting out.You willneed more time to A/B compare and to test out different settings through trial and error.But in time, you'll learn how to quickly diagnose whata mix needs and what to do to achieve your desired results.
Now(after many years), if I spent 10 minutes or 40 minutes to master a song, my results would be exactly the same.An extra 30 minutes would not make my masters any better.
A good non-music example would be tying your shoes.The first week you learned as a child, it might take you a minute to tie each shoe.And you still might not get it right!Now, you can tie both shoes to perfection in 5 seconds!
If you spent an extra two minutes tying your shoes, could you do a better job? No.Whatever you can do in five seconds, the results will be exactly the same as if you spent two minutes.
The same goes for a highly skilled pro in audio mastering.
Now that you know how long it takes, let's learn how you properly master your music!Read more....
If you're looking for the best website hosting for musicians, bands, and music recording studios, here's my own personal experience with website hosting companies.
In this video I do a quick A/B comparison of a few songs. In my audio mastering secrets video series, I get a lot more in-depth into exactly what you are trying to achieve sonically for your genre/style of music.
So, what is the best room size for audio mastering in your DAW home recording studio? Technically, you can properly mix or master in any room size.But, I believe a smaller room is better than a very large one for someone who's just starting out. And when I say smaller I mean closer to 12'x15' than to 20'x30'.I've mixed and mastered songs for a number of years in a 20'x30' room.It took me a few days to get used to it, but after that I could do it.
What does mastering do to a song? Your main goal in audio mastering is to replicate the sonic qualities of a well professionally mastered commercial song, in the same genre and style as the song mix you are working on.
Learning and calibrating your speakers for your DAW in audio mastering is a very important step in the audio mastering process. When I first start out with NEW speakers (though I never change them now), I listen to my favorite hit songs in every genre and style.Songs that I know from my years of experience have X amount of bass, X amount of brightness, etc.I know how these songs are "supposed" to sound.
If you've mixed songs in the past, you more than likely can use that same software for audio mastering. As long as you can add effects to the stereo/main out bus, you're good to go. Read more....
Millions of people suffer from tinnitus. A new study shows around 10% of the U.S. population suffers from it in some form, but many have never even heard of it until they get it! Unfortunately, I was one of those people. It can happen quickly and it lasts a lifetime...
How to set mixing levels for each instrument is a question I see all over the Internet. I'm going to explain exactly how to set mixing levels in this article.
This video shows one of the more imptotant compression techniques I use in audio mastering. In my audio Mastering Secrets Video Series, I explain everything you need to know about audio mastering.
Correctly setting your mixing levels before mastering is essential for great mastering results. Having the best DB levels for mixing is critical. Here's how to properly do it!
I've mastered over 40,000 songs since 1999. I've charged $10 a song, $20, $30, $50 even $100! Some prices worked better than others. Here are a few facts to consider when deciding on what prices to charge. Read more....
I had to write a quick note on this, as I was reminded about it while thumbing through a popular mixing book that had a 15 page section on speaker resonance and room sound proofing.I must say, a very exciting 15 pages!Ha!
Here are a few great stereo widening techniques and how to use them in music. When you listen to music on a car radio, you want that wide stereo sound that extends from the left door to the right. Not just two feet wide right above the stereo!
How much headroom before mastering should you leave in your mix? Here's the correct amount of headroom you should leave, using detailed graphic examples.
Would you like to know how to master a song or how to master your own music? So many people think just making the volumes the same level for every song is "mastering" their CD. Well, mastering is a lot more than just that!
I started my career using the old analog stuff, since that was the only option.I incorporated digital software plugins as soon as they became available, but it took many years before computers were fast enough to run them in realtime.And also before they started making very high quality plugins.
