What is audio mastering? How do you get radio ready tracks? The best collection of mastering tips and tricks on the web, all in one place.
Whether it’s for a different perspective on the mix, or for foldback on the studio floor the humble headphone is a mighty studio staple. With choices ever evolving, here we round up our current favourite cans in 2024 for any occasion…
Although most DAWs have their own way of bypassing chains of audio plugins for decision-making, none do what is really needed for meaningful choices: loudness and delay-compensated monitoring. We check out one tool that can do it all…
As a follow-up on Mike’s Understanding Loudness, which is now free, in this article, we are going to cover loudness for music streaming services, including loudness normalisation, album normalisation and how to prepare music tracks for music streaming services, with three free tutorials.
With two well-regarded intelligent fixers already under their belt, oeksound have now turned their attention to something different with distinctly artistic leanings. Here we put Bloom to the Experts for them to deliver their verdicts...
With corrective therapies already under their belt, oeksound have now turned their expertise towards more creative tonal shaping. So what does Bloom do and how does it sound? See and hear it for yourself as we take our first look.
Back in November we published an article How Good Is Logic Pro Mastering Assistant? Take A Listen in which we processed a track with the four alternative flavours of AI assisted mastering which had come to Logic and asked the community which they preferred? What if anything can we infer from the results?
Steinberg has recently unveiled WaveLab 12, their latest offering in the world of audio mastering and editing. This new version boasts nearly 80 new features and improvements, making it a significant update for professionals and enthusiasts in the audio industry.
The availability of amazing audio tools makes it easy for anyone to get hold of anything. With audio production bringing together a number of skill sets, we discuss why it might not be possible to excel at everything even when we think we’re fully equipped…
The introduction of Apple Logic Pro’s new Mastering Assistant is an helpful development for some music producers and audio engineers. Especially for those who don’t have the skill that a professional mastering engineer brings, or the budget to hire one. We take it for a test, we’ve included the audio so you can take the test and listen for yourself.
Successful masters come from successful mixes. Here we talk about some of the artistic considerations as well as the more practical things to have in order before that hard-won mix goes to Mastering.
Evoking a classic mastering EQ, Pulsar Audio’s W495 promises wide, musical flavours and control that goes beyond where stereo EQs usually ends. Here we explore how its vinyl roots are more than just a nod to the days of pure listening enjoyment…
When it comes to mastering, self recording artists and producing creatives have a lot to navigate. For those who do choose to go it alone, Waves Online Mastering sets out to automate the process for pain-free deliverables. Here we try it for ourselves.
Analyzers can show us lots but what can they actually tell us about making the mix better? Here we look at when an extra window on the mix can help.
Although stereo sources in real life aren’t usually symmetrical, it’s often desirable to even things out in the mix. Here we use one tool to tip the balance on recorded sounds with results that completely outrun Pan and Balance…
When it comes to mastering, the best mixes arrive without the need for much EQ at all, if any. That said there are those times when mixed audio could benefit from some shaping. Where regular stereo EQ has its limits, these three mid side treatments can help.
The traditional dynamic processors known to most have their limits. Setting out to provide maximum transparent dynamic control, even at the extremes, we put the latest from the mind of audio giant George Massenburg to the Experts…
For some, parametric EQ begins and ends with GML’s legendary 8200. Following its release, we take our first look at the new Pulsar 8200. With a fresh take on a studio legend, how does this feature-packed homage perform? Watch and hear it for yourself.
Despite an end to the Loudness War, getting louder masters for bass-heavy genres is still a consideration for engineers working in these styles. Here Erman Aydöner shares with us his moves for healthy masters without skimping on the low end.
Although one-stop mastering processing in a single box isn’t new, simple audio plugins providing the same thing are fewer and further between. We take a look at one solution for engineering producers that aims to cover all bases…
With self-mastering becoming ever more common, the producing engineer has to navigate a lot of complexity in lieu of a second pair of ears. We take a look at a single suite of simple tools that could help solo studios to deliver.
Mastering, a real art or smoke and mirrors? In this article Mike Thorne explains what mastering is and gives advice on getting the best from your mastering.
Nugen, behind such plugins as Halo Upmix and Paragon reverb, are offering Production Expert readers a free copy of their A|B Assist audio comparison tool for a limited time. See and hear for yourself its trick that makes this free tool so very useful indeed.
Both online collaboration and online mastering platforms have gained much traction in recent years. With engineers and artists juggling messages with tweaks and approvals separately, we look at the very latest solution which hopes to bring them all together.
With many DAWs leaning on either their production chops, or their mastering credentials, some using Studio One could be missing a significant part of what this DAW can do on both sides of the same coin. We highlight some of its features.
The Experts team wondered what we thought people would want to find behind the windows of a dream studio advent calendar. Today Luke Goddard talks about his trusty channel strip, Softube Console 1.
According to RTW’s worldwide loudness spec resource, Apple appears to be the first streaming service to issue specific guidelines for loudness in immersive content for its streaming platform. Although the difference is not huge, it is good to see that Apple considers immersive audio a format that deserves its own loudness recommendations. We have the details.
Increasingly, songwriters and composers are finding themselves wearing extra hats that extend far beyond their creative leanings. With many finding themselves in charge of final deliverables, can creatives deliver using engineers’ tools?
With mixers delivering for an ever-growing list of platforms and playback devices, keeping tabs on the mix’s technical health has never been more important. Here are our five essential checks and why they matter.
Most DAWs are built with production in mind. While you can use a regular DAW for mastering, some DAWs are better suited to this task than others. Erman Aydöner considers the priorities for a tool for mastering.
While music mastering duties are entirely doable in the mix engineer’s DAW, mastering engineers frequently opt for a dedicated platform. We use one solution that hopes to expand its reach beyond its own post-production instincts.
Mastering a collection of songs can be challenging, especially if there are a variety of musical genres to balance together. In this premium video tutorial, we show how Dan approaches balancing together songs together in his typical mastering workflow. We address loudness, tone and overall album vibe using a combination of a control surface, outboard EQ and compression along with the power of plug-in processing in Pro Tools.
Waves' "The King's Microphones" isn't in our opinion the best plug-in Waves have ever released. On its own as an insert it can sound too aggressive limiting its broad appeal, however, set it up in parallel and the usefulness of this unloved plug-in starts to become very apparent.
Do you use Waves H-Delay in your mixes? Did you know that you can quickly inject more fun into your H-Delays using Waves GT-R Stomp boxes? Check out this quick tip video to hear fuzz, octaver and wah broaden the stock H-Delay sounds in seconds.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we show you a super simple way of adding interest and edge to the tone of your vocal tracks using a touch of guitar amp plug-in processing. In this rock track we use Waves’ excellent GT-R plug-in on an effects return to make it quick and easy to dial in the perfect amount of edge to the lead vocal, watch this short free video to hear this in action.
Backing vocals often get lost in the mix, an easy way to represent them without increasing the volume is to spread them into the edges of the stereo field. In this example we’ve got 4 backing vocals, bused to a sub mix, two of which are panned hard left and right. These sound reasonable enough but they could do we some extra stereo reach to sit better in the mix. This is easily achieved with the S1’s Width control.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we show you how to shape the dynamics of your lead vocal tracks in seconds using dual compression in Waves MV2 Plug-in. In a previous video I showed you a way to mix your lead vocal tracks with two compressor plug-ins, Waves CLA-2A & CLA-76, in this video we show you an alternative way to dual compressor your vocals using this, waves MV2.
In this video we demonstrate this popular vocal mix trick on a lead vocal track in which some of the notes in the performers lower register sink beneath the density of the mix where their loud notes poke out too much. Learn how two compressors together can really help to “spread the loud”
I’d like to see a show of hands… Who uses Waves H-Delay? It’s a personal favourite of mine - I’ve yet to find a better plug-in for delay. There are those types of mixes when reverb seems to do more harm than good, especially on lead vocal tracks as medium to long reverb tails can quickly “blur the lines” of definition within the bigger picture of the mix. A fantastic alternative to use instead, or with a small blend of reverb, is delay as you can stamp a subtle tone or shimmer to a lead vocal without the effects bloating out the mix. We show you how in this quick tip video.
Typically when working with multiple instances of console emulation plug-ins we work through a mix on a track-by-track basis only viewing one set of EQ controls at a time, not anymore. The bucket view in Waves CLA MixHub enables us to view up to 8 channels at a time making EQ in plug-in form feel more realist and true to analog console workflows of old.
30 bands of EQ? Surely that’s overkill? Watch this free video to hear how Waves GEQ CLassic quickly improves the overall tonality of a dull sounding mix. Does Waves GEQ have some of that mix bus magic we’ve been looking for in this series??? Watch and find out…
Watch this 2 minute video to hear how the Manny EQ by Waves can breathe life into a muddy mix in a matter of seconds.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we demonstrate the power of Waves Abbey Road REDD 17 console emulation on a drum bus.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we demonstrate the power of Waves API 560 EQ plug-in on a master.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we demonstrate the power of Waves Manny Marroquin Tone Shaper plug-in on a master.
H-Comp combines modelled transformers, tubes, and transistors, together with the power and precision that only a plug-in can provide. H-Comp is a compressor with spades of attitude and grit. It can be used as subtly or aggressively as you want. The release sync mode and punch dial make H-Comp unique providing a vast pallet of dynamic styles that are effortless to set.
In this free video we demonstrate the power of Waves Vitamin multiband harmonic enhancer plug-in on a master. In this video you will hear how Vitamin lifts the tonality of a muddy mix in seconds.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we demonstrate the power of Waves’s mighty Linear Phase Multiband plug-in on a master. We’ve looked at several very good plug-ins by Waves in this series, we can not continue our search for the best mix bus plug-ins by Waves without taking a look at this… Waves Linear phase multi band, named LinMB for short, it’s an oldie, but a goodie.
In this 2 minute video we demo CLA MixDown. The key to getting the best results from CLA MixDown is by applying extremely subtle amounts of each control. Top Tip: Don’t forget to balance the output level when comparing your unprocessed mix with your CLA MixDown processing.
Made in collaboration with the EDM production powerhouse duo Infected Mushroom, Pusher provides an easy to use toolset of enhancer processors which enable users to quick impart sheen and weight to mixes. In this video we use Pusher to bring up the low mids in a mix as well as the overall presentation and vibe.
Made in collaboration with the parallel processing guru Andrew Scheps, Parallel Particles features four main tonal controls that together help to lift a mix gently and musically without resulting in mixes that sound touched or mangled. In this tutorial we feature a mix example which sounds great, however, it’s lacking in the low mid department so we use Parallel Particles to quickly apply some energy and vibrance to help present the mix better.
Mastering can be an elusive subject, but it doesn’t have to be. The streaming age has declared war on the loudness war itself with new LUFS standards, allowing you to maximise the dynamic range of your masters without compromising the size and punch of your mixes in order to stay competitive. In this Mastering Case Study, Grammy Award Winning Engineer, Fab Dupont, masters a single for the artist “Effee”, and shows you how to get the most from your masters.
In this video we feature an over “punchy” drum mix example that’s all crack with little in the way of body, tone and sustain. There’s a cool way to use Waves Smack Attack which involves some parallel processing using Smack Attack’s mix dial. Listen to how we blend back in some of the original unprocessed “crack” which gives this example a nice rhythmical vibe.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we show around Waves’s new Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain plug-in in a mastering application.
Mastering Sounds "Overproduced"? - How Wide Is The Bottom End In Your Mix? PureMix and Brian Lucey Might Have The Answer.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Plugin Alliance, Pro Tools Expert team member Julian Rodgers demonstrates how quick the new bx_masterdesk plug-in is and how quick it is to use.
Apogee Electronics has announced a new 2x6 Special Edition AD/DA module for their Symphony I/O Mk II series. It has been designed specifically for mastering engineers, whose critical work demands very high sonic performance, and Apogee claim that the Symphony I/O Mk II 2x6 SE offers the highest quality AD/DA conversion of any Apogee converter ever.
Nugen Audio has announced that MasterCheck Pro is being updated to Version 1.5 with enhancements embracing support for the Apple AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) iTunes Plus native OS X codec and also the PSR (Peak to Short-Term Loudness Ratio) measurement update to AES Engineering Brief 373.
In this free video tutorial for Production Expert, Pro Tools Expert Technical Editor James Ivey shows some of his ideas for using multiband compression using the stunning sounding Tube-Tech Stereo Multiband Compressor SMC 2BM.
10 years ago this year Russ Hughes started the AIR Users blog, which morphed into Pro Tools Expert in 2012. To kick off our year of celebrations we are running a competition with a Pro Audio gear and software prize pot worth over $28,000. Enter The Pro Tools Expert 10th Anniversary Competition to be in with the chance of winning the Nugen Audio Post Production Pack worth $859, which includes VisLM-H 2, LM-Correct 2, ISL 2, Stereoizer, Monofilter, Stereoplacer, Visualizer, SEQ-S, and the DynApt extension for LM-Correct.
In 2016 our friends at Nugen Audio ran a survey on Streaming Services and you can see the results here. 18 months on they are conducting another survey to see how things have changed over the intervening time with the explosion in the use of music streaming services.
In this exclusive Production Expert Video Review we take a look at Zynaptiq's new mixing and mastering processing plug-in INTENSITY and decide if it's any good.
T-Racks 5 is the latest version of IK Multimedia's popular plug-in suite. It features a wealth of great sounding EQs, dynamics and effects. The latest version of T-Racks 5 debuted a new standalone mastering application along with four new modules. We take a look at Master Match, which automatically matches the sound of the songs you are mastering with up to three source tracks used as reference tracks, it's very good.
The new Softube MM-1 plug-in is based on the Weiss DS1-MK3, a very popular digital dynamics unit that can be found in many mastering studios across the world
The MM-1 plug-in is a "slimmed down" version of the original DS1-MK3 hardware that Softube claims features exactly the same algorithms from within the original hardware.
In this review, Production Expert takes a look at some of the new features and improvements in Pro-L 2. In this video, we test some of the new limited styles, the new 1:1 output feature and more. We use Pro-L 2 to apply limiting to the master track of a song using the new LUFS loudness meters.
In this Pro Tools Expert review video, we take a look at Ozone 8 by iZotope, claimed to be the smartest version of Ozone yet. We test a handful of new features including the new Master Assitant which isn't too dissimilar to the Track Assistant we first saw in iZotope Neutron 1.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Virtual Tube Collection (VTC) by Slate Digital. Steven at the team at Slate have collected together some of the finest valve (Tube) gear and worked there magic to create 3 very subtle but very useful additions to the Slate Virtual Mix Rack (VMR) family.
Pro Tools Expert team member Peter Barter takes a look at v2 of the Oxford Limiter from Sonnox. After running through the GUI and some of its new features you can also hear some examples of how loud this updated classic and very musical sounding plug-in can take your tracks.
Focus claims to perform best in mastering applications providing users with a mastering industry psychoacoustics secrets weapon. Sadly, the marketing that surrounds Focus does not go into much detail about the secret weapon.
Russ takes a look and listen to the new Abbey Road Vinyl plugin from Waves.
Designed with Abbey Road Studios, this plugin faithfully captures every stage of the vinyl production and playback process: You can choose between the sound of a pure acetate (lacquer) cut or the print master vinyl pressing from the factory, play the records on two distinct turntable types with a choice of three classic cartridges and even add the EMI TG12410 mastering console on the path into the vinyl lathe.
In this video review Pro Tools Expert team member Dan Cooper takes a look at a very clever metering plug-in called LEVELS by Mastering The Mix.
In this video review Pro Tools Expert team member Dan Cooper takes a look at The Wall, a new brick wall limiter plug-in by Boz Digital Labs.
This brilliant FREE plugin from Nugen Audio is designed to help you compare two different plug-in or two completely different process chains.
In this video review Dan takes a look at the new Drawmer S73 Intelligent Mastering Processor plug-in by Softube.
Hear how it performs on a small selection of tracks and to find out why Dan has awarded it with a Pro Tools Expert Editors Choice Award.
In this review Dan takes a look at MIYO by H2 Design. MIYO is a portable mastering grade external USB headphone amp. Watch the video to learn what it's all about and to find out what Dan thinks.
To find out more please visit:
https://gomiyo.com/
In this video Dan reviews and tests IK Multimedia's new Stealth Limiter from their T Rack CS collection. Hear for yourself how it performs as Dan tests its abilities in increasing the level on 4 different songs.
Russ from ProTools Expert takes a look and listen to the new Eiosis AIR EQ from Fabrice Gabriel. He gives a full show and tell of the features and some of the things he likes about it. Is it just another EQ plug-in or is there something special about this EQ? Find out by watching this extended review.
Russ takes a look at the new Massenburg DesignWorks® MDWEQ5 Parametric Equalizer Plug In For The UAD Platform.
Described as "A unique, ultra-powerful EQ, the Massenburg DesignWorks MDWEQ5 plug-in for UAD-2 and Apollo interfaces provides crystal clear processing at the highest resolutions. The MDWEQ5 plug-in is accurate, precise, and ear-tuned by the man who invented the term, “parametric EQ,” George Massenburg."
See it in action and find out what Russ thinks of it.
In this show and tell video Mike takes a tour around the brand new Visualizer 2 from Nugen Audio. Watch and see what he finds and how it could help you visualize your audio.
iZotope claim "iZotope's audio mastering software, Ozone 6, makes it easier than ever to master your audio simply and efficiently in one elegant standalone application." In this video review Russ takes a look at the iZotope Ozone 6 Mastering Plug-in. He takes a look at the new features in Ozone 6 Advanced and also gives his thoughts on those features.
Russ takes a look at the latest addition in the Avid Pro Series range of plug-ins for Pro Tools. The new Avid Pro Series Multiband Dynamics. It has a couple of tricks up its sleeve, watch the video to find out what they are and see what Russ thinks.
Neil takes an extended look at MeterPlugs and Ian Shepherd's Perception plugin. A tool for level matching and A/B monitoring content during the Mastering process of audio.
Mike takes you on a tour of the new MasterCheck plug-in from Nugen Audio to help you deliver content in this new loudness normalised world including on line services like iTunes Radio and Spotify. Watch and find out what the hidden feature is and why he has warded MasterCheck Editors Choice.
Russ takes a look at new UAD Dangerous Bax Eq, aimed at those who want to use precise EQ to add that something extra special either in mix, mastering or even on individual tracks. This video looks at the extra Mid/Side option which is offered with the plug-in and is used on a final mix to add punch, definition and space.
Mike takes a tour around the Zplane PPMulator XL plug-in Pro Tools and finds it a versatile cost effective metering plug-in with options for both loudness and his beloved BBC PPM as well as a number of other options.
Russ takes a look at thew new U-He Satin tape emulation plug-in that offers tape emulation and much more - well worth checking out.
Russ takes a look and listen to the new McDSP AE400 Eq and gives his impression. Thanks to Nathan Osbourne and 'Everything But The Bass' for the cool track.
The DrMS Spatial Processor fall into the category of There Is Nothing Else Like It and its developer Mathew Lane has developed the whole idea of MS processing to another level. In this Show & Tell Review Mike takes a tour of this unique plug-in and finds out what it can do.
Russ takes a look at the DSP Quattro 4 software. Click this link to get it for $39.99 instead of $99.99. https://deals.cultofmac.com/sales/easily-edit-your-audio-with-dsp-quattro-4?rid=23080
Russ takes a look at the new RTAS version of the Sonimus Satson Console Emulation plug-in.
In this video Mike offers a show and tell review of the new metering & visualisation plug-in from iZotope. Look out for his Groove 3 Insight Explained video tutorial series.