Two main factors affect how we hear a finished mix, and one of these is the frequency spectrum, so a good EQ is essential. This is one of the most critical processes in mastering. You'll want an EQ that allows precise work on specific frequency ranges EQ While these work to an extent, they’re not a magic bullet, and you’ll get the best results using them in combination with a well-treated room and great speakers. If you’re really stuck, there are plug-ins that claim to compensate for flawed monitoring and poor acoustics, such as IK Multimedia’s ARC. If your master sounds awesome in your room but unbearable on earbuds, then it’s back to the drawing board!

When mastering, you should also listen to your tracks on many different systems.Įven a pro who’s been using an exceptionally well-calibrated system and room for years will still check mixes on midfield speakers and even iPhone headphones from time to time. The things to look into are speaker placement and the use of acoustic treatment products such as bass traps and absorption/ diffusion panels.Īssuming that you’ve got all that sorted as best you can, listen to as much different material as possible until you learn the limitations and idiosyncrasies of your environment. This is a whole topic in itself, but do take it seriously because without a decent-sounding room, you will struggle to create good mixes and masters. 'Even a pro who’s been using an exceptionally well-calibrated system and room for years will still check mixes on midfield speakers' And just as important is the room itself, as even the best speakers won’t sound any good in a poor acoustic environment, which can cause poor stereo imaging, a bumpy frequency response, and general lack of detail. In general, the more you spend on speakers, the better they will be, so this is an area that will demand your cash.

There’s no point troubleshooting a frequency only to find out that it was your monitors at fault, or to completely miss a problem sound because your speakers didn’t reproduce it properly.

The point of mastering is to create a mix that sounds great anywhere you hear it, and such a feat requires a decent pair of monitors. Let’s have a look at the essential ingredients of a mastering meisterwerk then, starting with monitoring. PRODUCTION EXPO 2013: To master your own tracks, there are a few pieces of kit you need to do a decent job. Buy the best monitors you can afford and get to know their sound Monitoring

Master music track