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MASTERING
Mastering is the final creative step, and the last chance to add or take away anything from your studio recording. It is the step in the recording process after your final stereo mix has been created and reviewed in several different listening environments (home stereo, car, walkman, various speakers). Different environments will yield subtle or drastic changes in the sonic characteristics of pre-mastered music. Mastering can be the missing link between a good recording and a professional commercial mix that is ready for radio airplay or replication. It is important to have your mix be at a suitable loudness in order to compete with other music in rotation.
Mastering is especially important with compilations of different audio formats or recordings. Mastering is where effects such as compression, reverb, and/or limiting are added to the stereo program. How well this is done greatly depends on the ears, skill, experience, and the time that a mastering engineer offers to your project. Another important aspect of mastering is to have the music "travel" well through different listening environments. The music should also sound punchy and crisp at both loud and attenuated listening levels. The mastering studio should have a flat frequency response to avoid "colorization" of the recording. Certain characteristics of the recording will invariably be changed when listened to in cars or different shaped rooms. For example, carpeting and tile floors affect the mix. Therefore it is imperative for the mastering studio to avoid adding these "colors".
The mastering process is also an ideal time to check for problems such as pops, phase cancellation, and/or unwanted noise. A good mastering engineer will hear things that you may not hear and be able to provide an unbiased evaluation of what your recording needs. Specific frequency changes of EQ, level changes of one or two dB, and the overall frequency balance of a mix fall under this category. Mastering unifies the album with the proper use of EQ and compression to give your music an overall consistency. Unlike mixing, mastering reviews the music as a whole, not just as individual songs. A well-mastered recording will have a consistent "vibe" from song to song. The vibe of a record is what ties it together as a whole.
MASTERING, MIXING AND RECORDING RATES.
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