The Mastering Show with Ian Shepherd

In this first introductory episode, we introduce ourselves and talk about what we have in store for the show. We then cover some mastering basics that will give you a solid grounding for the rest of the shows.

Not sure what mastering is ? Start here !

Show links:

What is mastering ? Photoshop for audio
http://productionadvice.co.uk/mastering-as-photoshop/

LUFS, dBFS, RMS… WTF ?!? How to read the new loudness meters
http://productionadvice.co.uk/lufs-dbfs-rms/


The Mastering Show #1 - The Basics of Mastering

We’re kicking off the show with a short mini-series covering every aspect of the mastering chain in turn – levels, EQ, compression, limiting and metering.

We’re going to be starting at the end and working backwards – and in case you’re wondering why, Ian explains during the show !

So in this episode we cover the “Three M’s” of mastering- and to find out what they are, you’ll need to listen to the show.

Show Links:

The acoustic treatment material we talked about in the show is Owens Corning 703, sometimes known as Rockwool.
http://www.gikacoustics.com/product/owens-corning-703-2-inch/

To find out more about using acoustic treatment to improve the sound of your studio:
http://productionadvice.co.uk/building-a-home-mastering-studio-part-3/

For more about loudness meters:
http://productionadvice.co.uk/lufs-dbfs-rms/

To assess the EQ balance of your music:
http://www.voxengo.com/product/span/

More about the mindset of mastering:
http://productionadvice.co.uk/heart-and-soul/


The Mastering Show #2 - The Three M's of Mastering

In this show we take a deep dive into the topic of limiting.

We explain why you need limiters, important Do’s and Dont’s, recommended plugins – and why there’s a good chance you’re using them wrong…

Links:

Are brickwall limiters nothing but pure evil ?
http://productionadvice.co.uk/brickwall-limiters/

Video demonstrating inter-sample peaks and how they affect Mastering for iTunes
http://productionadvice.co.uk/mastered-for-itunes-video/

Intersample peaks and why they matter - more about why you should leave at least 1 dB peak headroom when mastering, with audio examples
https://youtu.be/veLLvoIubzo


The Mastering Show #3 - Limiting

Compression explained - using pillows and punchbags. Yes, you read that right ! And in this show we also talk about:

- Why mastering compression is all about loudness. Except it’s not.
- How compression in mastering is different than in mixing
- How to make mastering compression invisible
- Ian’s suggested starting-point settings for mastering compression
- Why you might want to use multi-band compression

Links

Using compression to add punch, warmth and power to your mix
http://productionadvice.co.uk/using-compression/

What is compression ? Sponges hold the answer
http://productionadvice.co.uk/what-is-compression/

Multiband compression – the mastering engineer’s secret weapon?
http://productionadvice.co.uk/multiband-compression-for-mastering/

Gregory Scott - Demolishing Compression Myths
https://www.attackmagazine.com/features/columns/gregory-scott-demolishing-the-myths-of-compression/

Cheers !

The Mastering Show #4 - Compression

Mastering EQ is about balance, not matching. In this episode we explain what the difference is, why it matters and and ways you can get it right. 

Topics include:

- Why “radio ready” sound is a mastering myth

- How you can affect the balance of instruments in the mix, even within a stereo file

- A simple but crucial point of mastering technique

- The pros and cons of phase linear EQ

- Ian’s recommended EQ plugins

Links

Loudness means NOTHING on the radio - the proof
http://productionadvice.co.uk/loudness-means-nothing-on-the-radio/

The Heart And Soul of Mastering
http://productionadvice.co.uk/heart-and-soul/

Phase linear EQ demonstration
https://youtu.be/efKabAQQsPQ

Rock music and gynaecology
http://mastering-media.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/rock-music-and-gynaecology.html

The Mastering Show #5 - EQ

Loudness is still one of the hottest topics in mastering. In this episode we discuss why louder is better, but Too Loud is worse. And...

- Why you must set the gain FIRST
- How your plugins are fooling you
- Optimising dynamics for online loudness
- How loudness matching can be liberating
- 90% of mastering in nutshell

Links:

Audio Bloggers Live
http://productionadvice.co.uk/audio-bloggers-live/

Radio loudness – the Truth

Loudness research

Perception plugin

Spotify loudness

Dynamic range database

Dynameter

The Mastering Show #6 - Loudness

At it’s heart, mastering is simple - but there are plenty of more sophisticated techniques available, too. In this show we talk about some of these - and why you might not want to use them. Topics include:

- Stereo width & M/S (mid-side) processing

- An impossible EQ challenge

- Stem mastering 

- Mix buss processing

- Tape emulation & saturation

- Creating a production master

Links

Stereo width in mastering – how to measure, monitor and modify it
http://productionadvice.co.uk/stereo-width/

Should you use a buss compressor on your mix?
http://productionadvice.co.uk/buss-compressor/

The heart and soul of mastering
http://productionadvice.co.uk/heart-and-soul/


The Mastering Show #7 - Advanced Techniques

Some people may think this week’s topic is dull - but DON’T skip it ! If you follow Ian’s advice in this show it will have the single biggest impact on the quality of the results you can achieve in every area of audio work, not just mastering. It’s affordable, it’s simple and you need to do it. Listen now, then follow the links below !

Links

How this method transformed Ian’s home studio
http://productionadvice.co.uk/building-a-home-mastering-studio-part-3/

Where Ian got the stuff he used
http://gikacoustics.co.uk/

A free tool to help you find out if you need to use it too
http://realtraps.com/modecalc.htm

A way to run that tool on a Mac, if you want to
https://www.codeweavers.com/products/crossover-mac

The DIY alternative
http://www.gikacoustics.com/product-category/diy-acoustic-panel-bass-traps-supplies/


The Mastering Show #8 - You Need This

Can digital really sound as good as analogue ? Should you use analogue or digital gear when mastering ? Could higher sample rates be hurting your music ? What’s wrong with the phrase “in the box” ? Why is a digital photograph NOT a good analogy for a digital audio file ? Why does Ian think recorded sound is miraculous, and what does that have to do with the answers to all the previous questions ?

Links:

There are no “stair steps” in digital audio
http://productionadvice.co.uk/no-stair-steps-in-digital-audio/

How to test for intermodulation distortion
http://productionadvice.co.uk/high-sample-rates-make-your-music-sound-worse/

When to use dither
http://productionadvice.co.uk/when-to-dither/

Monty’s superb analogue versus digital demo video
https://youtu.be/cIQ9IXSUzuM


The Mastering Show #9 - Analogue versus Digital

Why “Dynamic Range Day” is a really bad name. And come to think of it, why “dynamic range” probably isn’t what you think it is. And neither are “dynamics”! And why the Loudness War hasn’t changed them. At least, not one kind – or not in the way that you think. Because physics. It’s complicated!

Plus special bonus topics: Autotune and Taylor Swift (!)

Links:

Dynamic Range Day
http://dynamicrangeday.co.uk/

How to use the TT ‘Dynamic Range’ Meter – and where to get it
http://productionadvice.co.uk/how-to-avoid-over-compressing-your-mix/

The ‘Dynamic Range’ Database
http://dr.loudness-war.info/

Dynameter
http://www.meterplugs.com/dynameter?a_aid=edmmr&a_bid=3bb60bda

Did they REALLY just auto-tune Aretha ? SERIOUSLY ?
http://productionadvice.co.uk/aretha-autotune/

So Taylor Swift is louder than Motorhead, AC/DC and The Sex Pistols… – wait, WHAT?
http://productionadvice.co.uk/taylor-swift-loudness/


The Mastering Show #10 - Dynamic Range Day

Full-length interview with Matt Colton from Alchemy Mastering, who mastered James Blake’s Dynamic Range Day Award-winning “The Colour of Anything”. 

Topics include the processing chain Matt used (and why it possibly doesn’t matter as much as you think it might); the limiter he used (which you may already have) and his favourite default settings for it; the unique story of how he became a mastering engineer - and why vinyl really DOES sometimes sound better than CD

Links:

Matt Colton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Colton

Alchemy Mastering
http://www.alchemymastering.com

The Dynamic Range Day Award
http://dynamicrangeday.com/award/

James Blake and the dynamics of The Colour In Anything
http://productionadvice.co.uk/james-blake-dynamics/

Pop goes the loudness war
http://productionadvice.co.uk/pop-dynamics/


The Mastering Show #11 - You're going to love this

Why you might NOT want to master your music - or get it mastered; what I think of LANDR and other online "mastering" services; when  mastering ISN'T mastering; plus the problem with re-mastering; a brief tangent on Dave Grohl; can you master on the mix buss? And why deciding not to master is STILL mastering.

Links

LANDR: Automated online mastering – but is it any good ? My test
http://productionadvice.co.uk/landr/

How the Loudness War is crushing Dave Grohl’s analogue ambitions
http://productionadvice.co.uk/how-the-loudness-war-is-crushing-dave-grohls-analogue-ambitions/

The heart and soul of mastering
http://productionadvice.co.uk/heart-and-soul/

The Mastering Show #12 - NOT Mastering

How to master for vinyl, including key problems to watch out for, plus: why Ian loves everything about vinyl (except for one thing); is vinyl better than CD; why most vinyl in the 80s was actually digital, not analogue (!); why hiss is your friend; what "HD vinyl” is, and why it might help fix that one thing Ian doesn’t like

Links

Why custom mastering for vinyl isn’t necessary
http://productionadvice.co.uk/vinyl-mastering/

It’s a kind of magic – Or: It’s not about the f****** format !
http://productionadvice.co.uk/its-not-the-format/

Why you can’t measure vinyl with the TT Meter
http://productionadvice.co.uk/tt-meter-not-for-vinyl/

The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to Sound Engineering
http://productionadvice.co.uk/hitchhikers-guide-to-sound-engineering/

Star Wars: The original radio drama
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Original-Radio-Drama/dp/1565110056

Patents filed for HD Vinyl
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/03/15/high-definition-vinyl-will-soon-become-a-reality/

The Mastering Show #13 - Vinyl (This may ruffle a few feathers !)

In this show we talk about distortion. Good distortion, bad distortion - and how to tell the difference. Find out what Ian REALLY thinks about distortion, how you can use it effectively in mastering - and when you should. What is soft clipping - and how do you use it ? Plus Ian explains why ALL audio processing is distortion, strictly speaking - and the benefits (and costs) of using it.

Links:

Fab DuPont on Death Magnetic
http://www.puremix.net/mixcheck-mix-analysis/metallica-vs-metallica-metallica.html

What is 'aliasing' and what causes it?
http://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice/q-what-aliasing-and-what-causes-it

When in doubt, dither
http://productionadvice.co.uk/when-in-doubt-dither/

Why you need amazing monitoring 
http://productionadvice.co.uk/if-you-cant-hear-it-it-doesnt-matter/

The Home Mastering Masterclass 
http://www.homemastering.com



The Mastering Show #14 - Distortion (The good, the bad and the ugly)

In this episode I describe a simple, straightforward strategy to make your masters sound more like those of your favourite artists – whether you’re a beginner or a pro. I explain how to decide how loud you want to master your music, and how to make sure you achieve that without becoming a victim of the loudness war - and, using this method you’ll be able to asses objectively what you want your music to sound like, and figure out how to get there.

Links

How to read the new loudness meters
http://productionadvice.co.uk/lufs-dbfs-rms/

What does a mastering engineer do ? My mastering process
http://productionadvice.co.uk/mastering-process/

Using Perception with reference tracks
http://productionadvice.co.uk/using-the-perception-plugin-with-reference-tracks/

More info on Perception
http://perceptionplugin.com


The Mastering Show #15 - Perspective (How to know what your music is SUPPOSED to sound like)

How to get great results mastering audio for podcasts - AND record and mix them. Plus - how to build a studio from hay bales (and why you'd want to), what really IS a "home" studio in the 21st century, and the mic Ian uses to record this show.

Links

The Mastering Show - Acoustic treatment
http://themasteringshow.com/episode-8/

The Mastering Show - Loudness
http://themasteringshow.com/episode-6/

Streaming Loudness Recommendations
http://www.aes.org/technical/documents/AESTD1004_1_15_10.pdf

Recording Studio Rockstars Podcast
http://www.rsrockstars.com

The Mastering Show #16 - Podcasts (Mastering, recording & mixing)

A new study proves that high sample rates really DO sound better. Or does it ? As usual it's a little more complicated than that... in this episode we investigate why, and also discuss how to test this stuff for yourself, plus - when you might choose NOT to mix at Abbey Road, why all CD players don't sound the same, and why Ian hates the sound of swirling ultrasonic birdies. And, what that actually means!

Links:

AES Paper: A Meta-Analysis of High Resolution Audio Perceptual Evaluation
https://secure.aes.org/forum/pubs/journal/?ID=591

Intermodulation distortion
http://productionadvice.co.uk/high-sample-rates-make-your-music-sound-worse/

Test files for intermodulation distortion
http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html#toc_1ch

The importance of loudness matching
http://productionadvice.co.uk/you-must-do-this/

Why mp3 sucks - and how to hear it
http://productionadvice.co.uk/why-mp3-sounds-bad/

The amazing Record Production Dot Com website
http://www.recordproduction.com

Russell Cottier's site
http://www.russellcottier.com



The Mastering Show #17 - Hi Res Audio (New science proves...what?)

In this show we give a conclusive answer to all those heated online debates about what audio gear sounds best. Mics, converters, cables - you name it. And we tell you how to find out for yourself. But why you probably shouldn't bother. And along the way we discuss:

- When data-identical files sound different (and why)
- What the Three Fingered Mouse Click is, and why you need it
- The ultimate audio test: "5000 dollars or your house" !
- Why you really shouldn't move your head when working on audio
- When expensive cables really CAN sound better, and why - even though they actually don't 

And plenty more !

Links

Can you trust your ears ?
http://productionadvice.co.uk/can-you-trust-your-ears/

Does it matter whether or not pain medication is branded?
http://digest.bps.org.uk/2015/11/does-it-matter-if-pain-medication-is.html

Ronan's Drum Recording Bootcamp
http://bit.ly/rcm-drums

More about Ronan
http://www.venetowest.com/rcm/


The Mastering Show #18 - The Emperor's New Ears

In this show Ian talks to the fabulous Sylvia Massy about her fantastic new book, "Recording Unhinged" - and how perhaps mastering could be a little more unhinged sometimes, too. Topics include: 

- Ian's first ever mastering project (although he didn't know it at the time)
- Recording underwater brass
- Why gaffer-taping Peter Gabriel to a column wasn't such a bad idea
- How to make a REALLY hidden track on CD
- How to record like Harry Potter
- What Sylvia does to prepare her music for mastering, and why

Links

www.sylviamassy.com

http://www.sylviamassy.com/recording-unhinged/

http://shop.wbstudiotour.co.uk/product-categories/toys/info/extendable-ear/1232294.html

The Mastering Show #19 - Sylvia Massy

You’ve already seen who my guest is this week, so why are you still reading this ?!? Click Play now ! 

Seriously though, a guest whose discography includes U2, Dave Matthews, The Pogues, The Stones, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Morrissey, The Psychedelic Furs, The Las, The Killers and 30 Seconds to Mars plus about 500 others *really* shouldn’t need any further introduction from me !

There are SO many great anecdotes and useful nuggets of wisdom in this episode I can’t even begin to list them, but just in case you need any more persuading, here are a few sample topics we discuss:

- How Steve became a music producer, and why he did it mostly out of fear
- What he hates about the production of “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
- Why he always mixes the records he produces
- The secret of his success (which anyone can steal)
- His feelings about the Loudness War, and whether stem mastering is a good idea or not

Now stop reading this and listen !

Links

Steve Lilywhite (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Lillywhite

Steve on Discogs.com
https://www.discogs.com/artist/50809-Steve-Lillywhite

10 records that changed Steve’s life - some may surprise you !
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/steve-lillywhite-the-10-records-that-changed-my-life-612922

Documentary teaser
https://youtu.be/13ohHBmviE8

The Mastering Show #20 - Steve Lillywhite

This is the show where we cover all aspects of mastering. If you're interested in mastering, want to learn how to get better results mastering your own music, or even want to be a mastering engineer, this is the show you want to hear.

The Mastering Show with Ian Shepherd

The Mastering Show Podcast