Audio Mastering Techniques

Course review:

This course is designed to look at the basic principles of Mastering with a focus on achieving good quality results in a budget environment.

Schedule:

Day 1
10:00 Introduction and Course Overview
10:30 What is Mastering?
11:00 Examples and Techniques Used.
11:30 15 min break
12:00 Examples of Un-mastered tracks and faults that can be remedied by mastering
12:30 Introduction to Equipment Most Commonly Used
13:00 Mastering Studios and Equipment Used. Getting the best results from a Computer based system
14:00 Lunch
15:00 EQ - Techniques Used.
16:00 Compression - Techniques
17:00 Short Break
17:30 Limiting and Dither and Other Mastering Procedures
18:00 Finish

Day 2:
10:00 Introduction to iMacs and plug-ins available
10:30 Practical Examples 1& 2 and Comparisons
An Ideal Mix Track Vs A Brutally Squashed Bad Mix
11:30 Short break
12:00 Practical Example 3 - High Air, Thudding Bottom End
13:00 Practical Example 4 - Bright Top End, Thin Bottom End
14:00 Lunch
15:00 Practical Example 5 - Eq and Compression
16:00 High Sample Rates, Jitter and Sound Restoration
16:00 Multiband Compression
17:00 Short Break
17:30 Review and Questions
Practical examples involve looking closely at, and dealing hands on with problems and situations that a studio-mastering engineer would encounter. The aim is to look at getting as close to a Pro Mastering reference as possible, in a budget set up.