Audio Mastering - How Your Music Improves Step By Step
There are various sonic aspects of a musical part that enhance in the procedure for audio mastering. The most important among those are listed here
Dynamic range Tone Stereo image Total level
Of course, there can be errors which need to be removed from pops, clicks, noise, etc.
Dynamic Range In controlling the dynamic range decreases, because of this, some people may say: "I love my tune now, I could hear everything from the mix!" , still, some can state: "What happened to each of my level adjustments? Everything sounds loud today!". Decreasing the dynamic range is unavoidable in mastering, mostly to achieve loudness.However, if it is performed step by step, together with pro analog mastering compressors with fine adjustments, a louder master with minimal dynamic range and thickness loss will be gained.
Music Tone
Proper tonal balance is one of the most significant features of a great sounding master. Because you may hear the difference between the records in the 1960's and 70's until today, you may notice that the definition of a good tonal balance is changing. It differs from person to person, even right now you may hear the vast tonal differences between the CDs in the industry even in the same genre. Obviously, engineers and producers have different preferences. Tonal balance is attained when in a tech view, hearing fatigue does not happen due to edginess, and the music does not sound dull either. A good sounding bass and body, minimal muddiness, higher frequency detail, etc. are all a part of a great tonal balance.
Stereo Image A wide stereo image always gives the audio a fuller and bigger feel. Widening the stereo picture is also something that is done with additional care by audio mastering services. Making the stereo image wider pushes everything away from the middle of the mixture, thus making more space between the instruments and vocals and providing a sense of more depth and distance. But overdoing makes the music lose its center and creates a hollow area in the center of the song. As a result punch, electricity and existence is lost.
Total Level Most people like their tunes to sound loud, better stated: "As loudly as their favorite CDs." Loudness is achieved by compression and at the end of the mastering chain by a couple of limiters.
If you limit your stereo master output of your blending session and give a loud mix for mastering, you have destroyed all of the dynamic selection and in a bad way too. This will tie the mastering engineers hands in achieving the appropriate loudness, since any more compression or restrict and you've got a dead person, depthless, punchless song.