WHAT IS MASTERING?

WORK STEPS & GOALS IN MUSIC MASTERING

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Mastering since 2006, we master and restore your song with analog hi-end outboard equipment and impeccable acoustics!

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Mastering(audio masteringor  e-mastering) is the final stage in the processing chain after recording and mixing (mixing)in the recording studio before the audio material or track is released, or the tracks go to the pressing plant for further processing.

Of course, we also accept other projects and recordings for Online mastering , ensuring the highest analog sound quality with top customer service and personal guidance from our engineer.

Mastering is primarily an enhancement of the mix of a song, where the engineer, in the mastering studio, attempts to represent the sound of the track as accurately as possible on various playback systems (such as radio, hi-fi systems, smartphones, or streaming platforms). The track's frequency response, mono-compatibility and dynamics are taken into account during mastering. The goal in mastering should be to tonally match the result after the mixing of the title, as well as adhering to technical specifications for the release of music and recordings. It can also contribute to making the sound of different songs on an album more cohesive.

GOAL OF MASTERING?

The goal is to enhance the track or recording of the music using dynamics processors, equalizers, filters, or psychoacoustic devices so that it sounds "good" on as many playback sources (e.g., stereo system, headphones, etc.) as possible. The sound and tone should remain as consistent as possible. In the mastering or  audio mastering process , the emphasis is on a sonically balanced frequency spectrum , good mono compatibility , and a well-balanced stereo image in the track. Depending on the need, volume adjustment, jitter elimination, or the addition of fades can also be performed.

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MASTERING FAQ FOR AUDIO MASTERING

  • Brainstorming,
  • Composing, Producing, Recording, Shooting
  • Mixdown,
  • Master or Mastering.

 

As a final step in the processing chain, special attention must be given to the audio master in the studio. Being a mastering engineer is a profession and by no means a hobby. In addition to understanding technical measuring instruments, spatial conditions must also meet certain specifications and standards to be able to master professionally. Even the listening environment has to be checked and adjusted according to specific DIN norms, allowing the engineer to extract the best sound for the audio recording of the music using their equipment. As an engineer, one needs a broad knowledge of acoustics, physics, and a good technical understanding.

In the master process, the mastering engineer typically receives a mix of the track as a stereo file, which they import into their Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). During this stage, they get an overview of the soundas well as the technical and musical condition of the song.

After the initial assessment of the audio material, it is cleaned of technical errors and unwanted frequencies (e.g., from the recording). Subsequently, if necessary, dynamic reductionis performed to achieve competitive loudness.

After adjusting the dynamics, the material undergoes musical mastering, ensuring that subjective perceptions of individual elements or passages acquire their own sonic character. This can be achieved with tube devices or other specialized hardware. "Saturation” is one of the various techniques used in musical mastering .

  • Stereo Mastering (Processing of a stereo mix) Stereo mixes)
  • Stem Mastering (Processing of subgroups such as drums, vocals, guitars)
  • M/S Mastering (Processing of  mid and  side signals separately, done in an M/S matrix )
  • Streaming Mastering (Specifically tailored for streaming services)
  • Vinyl Mastering (Mastering with specific specifications for vinyl production)
  • DDP Mastering (Creation of a DDP image for delivery to the pressing plant)
  • Reference Mastering (Professionally adjusted version to the genre and frequency response of a reference track)
  • Emastered (Term for traditional online mastering)
  • AI Mastering (Mastering through artificial intelligence. Providers like Landr, Emastered, etc., use algorithms and presets)

Mastering is thus the final creative stage of audio post-production before the song is distributed.

DIGITAL CONTEXT OF MASTERING

With the increasing digitization and greater acceptance of streaming platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, etc., the requirements for audio material are changing. Due to various end devices and internet speeds, streaming platforms convert audio into various output formats. This is done to provide the listener with seamless audio playback and good sound quality. Through this conversion, the frequency response of a piece often changes. In online mastering, these conversion-related changes to the audio quality of the song are minimized.

MONO-COMPATIBILITY IN MASTERING

Another aspect is mono-compatibility, which is particularly crucial when the listener is using a smartphone or another playback device with only one speaker. If insufficient attention has been paid to mono-compatibility during mixing, half of the song may be lost. Especially with drums or the kick drum, inadequate mono-compatibility can lead to significant loss of audio quality and ruin the entire song. In our Würzburg mastering studio , which is particularly crucial when the listener is using a smartphone or another playback device with only one speaker. If insufficient attention has been paid to mono-compatibility during mixing, half of the song may be lost. Especially with drums or the kick drum, inadequate mono-compatibility can lead to significant loss of audio quality and ruin the entire song. In our tonality in real-time.
For a good sound of your music, it's essential to note:
For a balanced sound of your song, the mixdown is primarily responsible. Thoughts like "we'll fix that in mastering" or "the mastering engineer will save it" are entirely wrong approaches.

This is done using analysis tools, metering, and one's hearing. Broad knowledge is already required here to assess the audio correctly. Subsequently, the song is processed with various processors such as a compressor, EQ, de-esser, or other hardware or software. This aims to achieve as balanced a frequency response as possible in the audio material.

Errors like digital clicks, unwanted noise,  static noise  or overcompression can be reduced or completely eliminated. The sound is then put into the desired output format. Typically this is 16 bit Wave at 44,1 khz sample rate. This is common for CD production. A 24 bit wave is generally used when streaming music. We tell you how a master or emastered works in detail in our mastering blog.

After the mixing process, mastering can be categorized into two types: technical Mastering (creation of the glass master by the engineer for CDs, or the matrix for vinyl records) and musical- and  premastering (Track processing of the mixdowns and preparation for technical mastering).

The acoustics in the mastering studio are crucial as they directly impact the quality of the master files created by a mastering engineer. Good studio acoustics can contribute to the music sounding good and translating well across various platforms and speaker systems. Poor studio acoustics can result in the music sounding unnatural, with certain frequencies being overemphasized or underemphasized. It can also lead to errors in processing audio files as the mastering engineer relies on an unreliable sonic representation. Therefore, having good acoustics in the mastering studio is essential to ensure a successful mastering process and that the final result meets quality standards.
"What are the best mastering plugins?" This is a question we are frequently asked for recommendations in our mastering classes .

So, are there ultimate plugins for mastering?

No! Each song is different in its frequency response, arrangement, played harmonies, and its mix. Different manufacturers build different types of plugins, and their sound characteristics often differ completely or in certain aspects from other manufacturers.

What plugins do you need for mastering?

In general, it is advisable to use the following plugins in the studio: – Equalizer – Compressor – Limiter – Stereo Enhancer (optional) – Maximizer (optional) – Reverb (optional) More than these are not needed for good and high-quality mastering on the plugin side. Much more emphasis should be placed on room acoustics and monitoring conditions in the studio, as decisions made by the engineer should work independently of room and monitoring medium. It is advisable to focus on fewer different plugins initially and instead explore the individual characteristics of those plugins currently in use. We recommend comparing different equalizers or compressors with the same settings to find the right plugin with the required tonal color or neutrality for each track. This requires a broad knowledge of music editing. There are tracks where one plugin works with a specific setting, and for another track, it may prove to be unsuitable. For example, the use of a tube compressor in an electronic track lacking warmth might be the right choice, while in a rock track that only needs a little more transparency and airiness, it could be counterproductive.

OUR MASTERING CUSTOMERS

Connie Conrad
5/5
I have been working with Chris for many years. His mastering stands out from other mastering studios because he feels the mood and musical style of the tracks, rather than focusing on extreme loudness in the loudness war. His sensitive mixing and mastering skills are rare to find on this planet!
Marco Matic
5/5

Top mixing and mastering studio! The boss, Chris, is super friendly and accommodated all my special requests... excellent results. I can highly recommend it to anyone, regardless of the music genre!

Frank Rest
5/5
Great work done in a short amount of time. Quick response time in communication, immediate assistance with questions. Excellent audio mastering, and a very fair price. I'll gladly work with Chris again on the next project. Everything went smoothly! Thank you very much, Chris!

online mastering refers to the mastering of music tracks that is conducted over the internet. In online mastering, the music tracks are typically submitted in digital form and processed by a professional mastering engineer who has the necessary knowledge and skills to optimize them.

The music pieces are submitted in digital form and edited by the mastering engineer.

Online mastering is a convenient way to master music tracks, as they do not need to be taken to a recording studio. However, it is crucial to choose a professional mastering engineer who has the necessary knowledge and skills to optimize the music track to the best possible extent.

Basic Tasks in Online Mastering

In online mastering, final inconsistencies in the sound and dynamics of the music are addressed to give the track or album the finishing touch in terms of sound. For example, clicks or unwanted noises that have crept in are eliminated or reduced, frequency ranges are equalized, and the level of a song is balancedto make masked instruments audible againdue to a flawed mix. Depending on the quality of the delivered mix of the track, changes in the stereo image are made. This provides the sound of the song with a balanced spatiality and more depth . For instance, the unwanted resonance frequencies of a guitar in the song can be significantly reduced .

Tools in Online Mastering:

  • Equalizer: Optimization of the frequency spectrum and highlighting/suppressing desired or undesired frequencies to ensure a balanced range in the sound.
  • Compressors: Damping unwanted signals and reducing excessive dynamics for an exciting and balanced sound experience.
  • Limiter: Dynamic accentuation and highlighting of weak signals in the audio due to over-compressed tracks to create a varied dynamic range.
  • Expander: Widening the stereo image to create a spatiality that suits the song atmosphere.
As Thomann Music Store stated in their Audio Professional Blog:
"Peak-Studios - One of the top addresses in the Republic!"
4th best online mastering studio 2018 in Europe

MusicToday.Eu tested Europe's online mastering studios in 2018. Peak-Studios secured the 4th place.

In the master process, the mastering engineer typically receives a mix of the track as a stereo file, which they import into their Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). During this stage, they get an overview of the soundas well as the technical and musical condition of the song.

After the first evaluation of the audio material, it is cleaned of technical errors and unwanted frequencies . Subsequently, if necessary, dynamic reductionis performed to achieve competitive loudness.

After the dynamics have been adjusted, the material is subjected to musical processing, which ensures that subjective perceptions of individual elements or passages get their own sound character. This can be done with tube devices or other special hardware or software. "Saturation” is one of the various techniques used in musical mastering .

Online mastering is NOT "instant music mastering" like services provided by Landr, Emastered, or other similar platforms. These instant services use artificial intelligence and software algorithms to process a track within a few minutes and provide the result. This approach is different from the service provided by Peak-Studios. At Peak-Studios, each track is listened to in our studio in WAV format and, if requested, processed using analog hardware and software.
The difference between online mastering and AI mastering lies in how the mastering process is carried out. In online mastering, the music is processed by a professional mastering engineer, whereas AI mastering involves using artificial intelligence (AI) to perform the mastering. In AI mastering, the music is submitted in digital form and analyzed by an AI system, which automatically makes the necessary adjustments for mastering. The AI system utilizes various algorithms and machine learning data to optimize the music.
Digital mastering, in contrast to analog mastering, is exclusively processed "in the box," meaning it is done entirely within the computer without the use of external hardware devices. Using plugins, a digital master is created.
Digital mastering refers to the process of mastering music tracks in digital form. It is often used to prepare music for release in digital formats such as MP3, WAV, or AIFF. Digital mastering typically involves the same steps as analog mastering, including considerations for specific loudness standards used for digital music formats to normalize the volume of music tracks.
Whether digital or analog mastering, the studio environment and the tasks of the engineer remain the same to create a digital master. The only difference lies in the resources used.
It is generally not recommended to mix and master at the same time because both processes have different objectives. Mixing involves adjusting the individual tracks of a music piece to create a balanced and interesting sonic landscape. This includes tasks such as adjusting volume, panning, and EQ for each track. On the other hand, mastering involves optimizing the overall sound and volume of the entire music piece for release. Since mixing deals with individual tracks, while mastering looks at the entire music piece, it is usually better to complete the mixing process first before moving on to mastering. This allows for a thorough analysis of the music piece and the necessary adjustments to optimize it to the best possible extent. However, it is important to follow common practices and recommendations to achieve the best results.
Apple Digital Master is a special file format exclusively used for Apple services such as iTunes. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a specific format that enables Apple to deliver digital files to listeners in particularly high quality. To create an Apple digital master, Apple provides software that can be used to create a digital master for Apple. It is particularly worth mentioning that Apple digital master is a so-called Apple
which,as the name suggests, allows playback without any loss of quality in the encoding process - it is lossless and provides high-quality reproduction for the listener.
CD mastering refers to the process of mastering music tracks that have been specifically optimized for release on CD. During CD mastering, the music track is edited to prepare it for CD release. CD mastering typically involves the same steps as studio mastering or online mastering, such as optimizing the stereo image, correcting frequency imbalances, volume optimization, and applying limiting and compression. However, CD mastering includes specific settings to make the music track sound optimal for CD release. This includes considerations of special loudness standards used for CDs to normalize the volume of the tracks. The use of specific EQ settings and compression techniques suitable for CD release is also taken into account during CD mastering. CD mastering is crucial as it ensures that the music track maintains high quality and is prepared for CD release. It is usually carried out by professional mastering engineers who have the necessary knowledge and skills to optimize the music track effectively.

Usually, the consolidated stereo track of a mix (mixdown) is edited by the mastering engineer . However, there are different approaches to achieving the desired outcome. Another option is stem mastering, where the song is initially divided into several submixes (Subgroups) , such as individual instrument groups, vocal groups, and rhythm groups, and then processed in the mastering studio.

This way, the mastering engineer in the studio gains a detailed overview of the song's structure in the mix and better control over the relationship of various components and parameters of the song (vocals, main instruments, and rhythm). Another advantage of stem mastering is the ability to create an instrumental and a performance version of the track, which can be released as an additional bonus or used for live performances. The quality difference can have a very positive impact on the sound.

An e-mastering (online mastering) at the mastering studio (emastered) is suitable for anyone who values good sound quality. Whether their digitized records, already mastered songs, or audio files exhibit errors or deficiencies, it is important that projects sound good not only on stereo speaker systems but also on mono devices such as smartphones or tablets.
Peak-Studios is the right contact for audio technology and audio mastering.
A professional online track mastering service should also be utilized by artists who do NOT want service providers like Emastered, AI-Mastering, or Landr to process their track using algorithms without any human emotions. The emotional nuances that have been carefully represented in the mix for a long time are not considered in an automated mastering service. The algorithms analyze dynamics, frequency response, and volume. Based on these values, they adjust the track accordingly. Regardless of the content or theme of the track!

Your upload to Peak-Studios

Step 1 - Selecting the service

First select the desired processing type and then the service. You can find a price overview on our Prices page.

Step 2 - File-upload or quote

You have the choice of uploading your audio files direkt or later Alternatively, you can also request a non-binding offer Request.

Step 3 - Upload, project description, data entry

In the next step, you have the choice of uploading your audio files directly , or requesting a quote. If you decide to upload later, you will receive a separate upload link after booking. a separate upload link.

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If you have any questions about data delivery or the production process, you can find all the information you need in our FAQ section.

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