Learning to Master!

[annayarbrough]

Hey guys,

Wondering if some of you more experienced folk can help me out. Biting the bullet and trying to learn how to master my own music, so I would love to know of any great resources you guys have used!

I'm running Logic Pro X, and at the minute pretty much everything I write/record is MIDI based (I'm a keys player through and through). I'll learn how to mix/master multiple live instruments and vocals eventually, but right now I don't want to bite off more than I can chew! At the minute, I'm mostly writing a lot of pop/electronic-type stuff. Have been concentrating on cues rather than full songs right now... baby steps...!

One of my main concerns is getting my levels to a point where they're competitive with music in a similar genre - my tracks aren't SUPER quiet, but I still feel they're a way off from where they should be. Here are a few examples:

https://soundcloud.com/annayarbrough/bermuda-sky
https://soundcloud.com/annayarbrough/time-is-running
https://soundcloud.com/annayarbrough/electronic-jungle - This one was forwarded by Taxi recently, so evidently my levels aren't a complete disaster... but I'd like to improve.

If you know of great books, tutorials, advice, etc., send them my way! (And please don't be afraid to dumb down your responses... assume that I know nothing at all it's probably accurate). I'm also interested in software recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

[Len911]

Anna, I'll cut to the chase,lol, if you want something easy peasey, you can't beat the Sonnox limiter, and it happens to be on sale for 3 more days. I don't just start with the presets, there is such an abundance of them, I flip around and choose the best sounding one. Yes it can be said that there is so much more to "mastering", yada, yada, but this is the real deal. Also note you need to have an ilok.



https://youtu.be/lWWbRgmYfQ8?t=1m34s
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/OxLimiterNat

https://youtu.be/zbJmXGDMAbs?list=PL8D71AC5D7BDA615F

[andygabrys]

today only (Monday) this is on for $29

https://www.audiodeluxe.com/products/wa ... amaximizer

standard, venerable, and for that money can't be beat.

I don't normally advocate just going out and spending as the Logic X plugins work pretty nicely - but the L2 for this cheap is a steal. Actually when you create an account it will be $24.89 or something.

Besides that - everything that everybody else wrote.

Trying to learn how to master well will teach you more about mixing your own tracks than you thought. A good master IMO usually comes from starting with a great mix. And you can tell how far off the rails you are going by the amount of "cooking" you have to do to make your mix into a master. A honestly great mix can take maybe a little compression, slightly eq and limiting to get to a competitive volume and its good - especially for film / TV. If the master sounds totally different than the mix, thats a tip off - likely too much cooking.

Check out mastering videos on Macprovideo.com Groove3.com and Lynda.com and Puremix.net - all really good stuff.

Also a lot of free stuff out there for mastering - like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V9d6zQzcrg

A lot of these videos concentrate on a certain manufacturers websites and really just about ANY plugins can be used as long as you learn their strengths / weaknesses.

Haven't Listened to your stuff yet but I will later.

Tip about submissions: as long as the apparent volume is "close" to standard, and the track is a bang on pitch you are likely to get forwarded. Its only an issue if you track is peaking at say -15 dB - that's just not close to broadcast standard.

So a good reference is to find some high quality libraries and reference tracks in the same genre. If you are close you have a good shot. Especially for genres like rock / metal, EDM, or hip hop that are typically mastered to be pretty hot.

Good luck!

[waveheavy]

++ on the Waves L2 limiter. It's a great start at $29.

[Kolstad]

I'd suggest getting Magic AB as a reference tool https://www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab

Then create some playlists with (released) great sounding tracks that you like in the styles you want to do.
Eg I have playlists for pop, indie rock, christmas, dramedy, americana ect.

Then when you are mastering, pull up Magic AB (or save it in your templates), and the playlist that matches the style, and start to compare (AB) the references with your own track.

By doing that, you'll learn to listen for what to do with your EQ's, Compressors, wideners and limiters, and you can match bass, mid and top frequencies, how much you need to compress to make it even, and how loud you need to get it with the limiter. Basically, you can master with any types of plugins. I'd suggest to start with the ones you already have in Logic, and then swap them out, if you don't like them or find better options.

Make sure to pick reference tracks that you also like, as there is no blueprint for this. Sound is both objective (general expectations of sounds in the genre) AND subjective (the particular sounds you like in the genre, or from other genres), and by honoring that, you can put your own stamp on the music and stand out in the crowd. It's just a way to get in the ballpark and learn.

[annayarbrough]

Hi Anna,
I'd say in the first instance to stick with just three tools - EQ, compressor and limiter. That way you can trim the tonal balance, reduce the dynamic range and/or add some punch, then lift the volume to competitive levels.

Here's a great free EQ.
http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-vos-slickeq/

Here's a good free compressor.
http://klanghelm.com/contents/products/ ... MJUCjr.php

Here's a good free limiter.
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=2061
Note that this one is 32-bit only. If you need 64-bit then buy any copy of the magazine 'Computer Music' so you can get access to their plugin 'vault' where you can download the free 'Barricade CM'. Its similar and also good, although not quite as sophisticated.

Another important thing to do is reference commercial tracks so you can compare their tonal balance, dynamics, volume etc. I managed to get a cheap version of Magic AB, that allows you to load several tracks (whatever you want yours to sound like) and switch back and forth between them and your work - and to do this just put at the very end of your plugin chain. Unfortunately, its seems to be about $75 or so now.
http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/2 ... -MagicAB-2
I'd see if you can find another cheap/convenient way of referencing.

There are quite a lot of tutorials on Youtube and its hard to recommend any in particular, although here's just one that sticks to some solid principles and keeps it simple.
https://www.recordingrevolution.com/mas ... 0-minutes/
I would suggest checking out info on what mastering actually is (however dumb that might seem). Some see it as an extension (or even a part) of mixing, but its better kept as a separate process. Do you need it? That's up to you to decide. Should you do it yourself? Many would say no.

You could also check out AAMS, a free automated software product that will master for you.
http://www.curioza.com/
Then again, there are a few inexpensive online mastering services (or even free for certain formats). It really depends on what your aims and desired end point are.

Good luck, whichever way you chose to go

Thanks for all of the info, Graham! Super helpful. Going to go check out some of that stuff now!

[annayarbrough]

Anna, I'll cut to the chase,lol, if you want something easy peasey, you can't beat the Sonnox limiter, and it happens to be on sale for 3 more days. I don't just start with the presets, there is such an abundance of them, I flip around and choose the best sounding one. Yes it can be said that there is so much more to "mastering", yada, yada, but this is the real deal. Also note you need to have an ilok.



https://youtu.be/lWWbRgmYfQ8?t=1m34s
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/OxLimiterNat

https://youtu.be/zbJmXGDMAbs?list=PL8D71AC5D7BDA615F

Thanks for this, Len! I like the sound of easy..... ha. Watched a couple of videos, it looks very user-friendly. Have to dig into this one a bit further.

[annayarbrough]

Tip about submissions: as long as the apparent volume is "close" to standard, and the track is a bang on pitch you are likely to get forwarded. Its only an issue if you track is peaking at say -15 dB - that's just not close to broadcast standard.

That's really great to know - thanks!

Missed the Monday deadline on the Waves L2, but will definitely check it out regardless. I've seen a lot of people mention it across the forums, so I'm guessing it must be a popular choice! Thanks for all of the other info as well.

[annayarbrough]

Basically, you can master with any types of plugins. I'd suggest to start with the ones you already have in Logic, and then swap them out, if you don't like them or find better options.

Make sure to pick reference tracks that you also like, as there is no blueprint for this. Sound is both objective (general expectations of sounds in the genre) AND subjective (the particular sounds you like in the genre, or from other genres), and by honoring that, you can put your own stamp on the music and stand out in the crowd. It's just a way to get in the ballpark and learn.

I've always wondered about the Logic options... I hear good things. When you're starting out it's hard to tell whether people bring in other plugins simply because they're better, or whether it's due to their love of gear/software and all of the different options!

Also good to know re the objectivity/subjectivity... the more I learn/research, the more I'm seeing just how much room there is for interpretation rather than the right/wrong way of doing things. Before now I would have thought the objective expectations far outweighed the rest.

[Len911]

I've always wondered about the Logic options... I hear good things. When you're starting out it's hard to tell whether people bring in other plugins simply because they're better, or whether it's due to their love of gear/software and all of the different options!

Also good to know re the objectivity/subjectivity... the more I learn/research, the more I'm seeing just how much room there is for interpretation rather than the right/wrong way of doing things. Before now I would have thought the objective expectations far outweighed the rest.

Good points!

Objectivity/subjectivity and what is good, better, best, is really subjective to the priority of the person seeking the advice, and the interpretation by the recommending person of a particular product, and the recommending person's experience with those products and how many other's they have used and compared them to, or how much research they have done. Value and budget are also what might go into recommendations. Convenience. You could mow 3 acres with a 21" push mower, it's not likely anyone would though.

I remember starting out, and I bought a lot of crap from magazine reviews. I learned to read the reviews though. When a review says, "best for the money", and "better than units costing thousands of dollars more", that's usually a red flag. Also, when someone famous is selling a crap product, it doesn't mean that is the main product they use on their productions, it's usually either a very minor role, or a door stop,lol!

Sticking with the standards, you seldom find a bad review, and most reviews will mention the standards as something to be compared to. Neumann mics, API consoles and audio gear, Gibson guitars, Steinway pianos... as a few examples. Not many bad reviews.

If you aren't sure, stay with the Logic options. I personally wouldn't buy anything unless I was convinced it would work for me, although that's not to say I haven't,lol! I encourage you to download some product demos, most give you a limited time test drive, that's really the best way! If you don't find a factory preset that really blows you away, don't buy the product, you're not going to get anywhere better by tweaking!