Description
DIGITAL AUDIO MASTERING MANUAL
Series 'Audio Engineering - Audio Manuals for the Sound Engineer'.
Volume 4
- No. 178 total pages (Format approx. A4 - Font Avenir Book 11 - Line spacing 1)
- n. 3 pages of 3-level index (to find each topic quickly)
- No. 13 chapters
- 65 images
NOTES TO THE 4TH EDITION 2022
- modernisation of processes, also as a consequence of the new software resources available
- improved the entire dynamics and finalisation section
- improved expository logic, better distinguishing the preliminary and theoretical parts from the more strictly operational ones
- smoothed out some expressive tortuosity
- inclusion of more pictures and explanatory diagrams
- revisions of graphics and cover
- corrigendum finalised
Preface
In contrast to mixing, which requires one to be a bit of a technician and a bit of an artist, in mastering the technical domains prevail, but nevertheless the 'craftsman' knowledge of the sound engineer will have a great influence on the final result.
To do this, the mastering engineer must enhance the work of the mix-maker, so that the sound product sounds perfectly, limpidly, energetically and grandly.
He will therefore have to sharpen his weapons, in order to eliminate any blurred tonal patina and enhance the dynamics, bringing out the brightness and depth of the sound, to the benefit of the best enjoyment of the music.
Together, its aim will be to release well-calibrated, accurate and standards-compliant products, offering the most usable versions for the recording industry, entertainment, broadcasting and cinema.
The Author
Handbook Index
MASTERING PRELIMINARIES 9
Itb and Otb 9
Purpose of Mastering 9
What is needed 11
Analogue and Digital 13
Mix Analysis 13
Logbook 13
Dynamic analysis 15
Listening Impressions 17
Stereo-mono compatibility 17
Tonal verification 18
Dynamic verification 20
Review of the mix 21
Creation and Parameters of a Session 21
Computer resources 24
Other specifications 25
Comparisons 27
Mastering 'on board' 27
Sound levels 29
EDITING 31
Cutting, silencing, fading 32
Start Cutting 32
Start Silencing 32
Start Fading 33
End cutting, silence, fading 33
Middle cutting, insert 34
STEMS 36
Stem Mastering 37
Addition and subtraction 37
What stems 38
How to correctly export stems 40
DYNAMICS AND LOUDNESS 42
Dynamics 42
Listening 44
Natural dynamics 46
Dynamics in recording 47
Loudness war 48
Consequences on audio 50
Lufs 53
The streaming revolution 54
Reference loudness 56
True Peak level 57
The new standards 58
THE WORKING SESSION IN MASTERING 61
Importing mixes and stems 61
The audio chain 64
Control Processors 65
Building a template 71
MS MASTERING 72
The MS 72 chain
L-R to M/S encoding 72
M/S Processing 73
M/S to L/R decoding 74
How to set the M/S matrix on Daw 74
Mastering operations with the M/S 77 matrix
Conclusion 78
PHASING AND STEREO IMAGE 80
Phase correlation 80
Mix Phase Troubleshooting 82
Stereo image 84
Symmetry 85
Width 85
Centre leveling 86
NOISE REDUCTION 88
Click 89
Crackle 90
Hiss 90
Hum 92
Traffic noise, wind noise and feedback 95
Conclusion 95
TONAL CORRECTION 96
Acoustic perception 96
HPF and LPF 98
What is needed 99
General imbalances 99
We operate with eq 100
Static equalisation 100
Dynamic equalisation 104
Balancing the bass 105
Spectrum analyser 106
Medium mix test 110
Tonal imbalances in individual sources 112
Coloured equalisers 113
Automations 114
Quality 114
DYNAMIC CORRECTION 115
Treatment of abnormal peaks 116
Transient adjustment 120
De-essing 124
Smoothing compression 126
Levelling compression 129
Effects of limiting 129
Effects of levelling compression 130
Risks of the dynamic process 132
Mix too compressed 132
Comparison and corrections 134
ENVIRONMENTAL CORRECTION 136
Setting the sound 136
Increasing corpulence 137
Sharp bass 137
Crushed mix 138
Breadth and depth 138
Installation of effects 139
Mix too reverberated 139
OTHER PROCESSES 140
Enhancement 140
Exciter 140
Analog Tape Saturator 141
Inflator 142
FINALISATION 145
Bass optimisation 145
Bass maximisation for small audio speakers 146
Selective bass compression 150
Cosmetic equalisation 152
Loudness check 152
Limiter finaliser 152
Oversampling 154
Algorithm selector 154
Lookahead 156
Attack and Release 156
Channel link 159
Ceiling - Output 160
True Peak 160
LUFS Meters 162
Gain 164
Listening and comparison 166
Dithering and Noise Shaping 167
Mastering for vinyl 168
Export 170
Duplication on Audio Cd 172
CD encoding 174
Automatic mastering 174
Warning on Monitoring 176
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.