What is mastering and why is it important?
Audio mastering is a vital part of the music production process and there are many different aspects to the process, including:
Quality check - getting your music mastered by a professional can enhance your music by making you aware of anything that could be improved upon, ensuring that there is no unwanted clipping, and checking for errors.
Audio processing - enhancing stereo mix files for optimum translation between listening applications using a variety of techniques, including EQ, mid-side processing and limiting, on both digital and analogue equipment.
Audio restoration - removing any unwanted noise from recordings, by using a combination of EQ filtering and phase cancellation.
Providing
mix feedback where necessary - critical listening to evaluate the effectiveness of recorded audio and leasing with the mix engineer / producer for any changes to the mix that may be needed in order to get a better sounding end product.
Taking
loudness into consideration - being sensitive to different styles without compromising quality for loudness.
Embedding
meta data & ISRC codes onto audio files.
Creating
DDP & red book standard files for duplication.
Delivering
high quality masters in various
different formats.
Read answers to other mastering questions on my FAQ page