The Mastering Show

The Mastering Show with Ian Shepherd

Mastering

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

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

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 #8 - You Need This

The Mastering Show Podcast