What is mastering?

[Bantam]

Hi All
I'm new here(in fact my first post), really enjoy all ya folks info & input it's great what I've learnt here.

I would just like to ask what is mastering after you've bounced some tracks together, what would be the advantage of still mastering it before exporting it to a mp3 format?

Thks in advance

[Ferryman_1957]

Mastering is like a final mix when you set the overall balance of the (up to) four final tracks you want to use plus rhythm. The beauty of mastering is that you can apply effects to the whole mix, which makes the end result sound much more professional and "together". The mastering effects allow you to adjust compression, eq and other things and I find always add a great deal to the end result. There are some preset mastering effects which are pretty good but it is worth experimenting with the settings to get the result "just right". I always fiddle with the eq at the very least.

Mastering is optional and you don't have to do it but if you can "master" it (lame joke) it will make your finished work sound more professional (IMO of course). And I love the mastering effects on the Boss MBR - they seem better than the Zoom stuff I have used before.

Forgot to say welcome btw! Enjoy the MBR and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Bantam]

Thks Ferryman, I will start experimenting with this now.
Regards
Greig

[SteveB]

BTM - Welcome to the Forum. I agree with what FYN says, it's a general 'smoothing out' of what you've laid down and mixed. In the Recording industry, there are 'Mastering Houses' which deal soley with Mastering of recorded products - it is apparently an arcane affair - but like any subject, there is lots of jargon to confuse the Newbie.

I don't own the MicroBR (in fact I've never seen one), so I can't comment on your specifics, but, for instance, as you go up the BR-chain, the BR1200 has a full quota of Mastering pre-sets, but also a 'Speaker Simulation' capacity, which will let you hear what your product will sound like through various outputs. It seems like the BR range have enough to keep everyone happy.

[The Reverend 48]

The best term I have heard for Mastering is "Sweetening the mix"

[Bantam]

Thks 48 & SteveB, your guys input is appreciated

[Vanncad]

The best term I have heard for Mastering is "Sweetening the mix"

That's the same term I use for adding more Crown Royal to my ginger ale!

[Glenn Mitchell]

At first I really didn't see much effect but with time I believe I have become more sensitized to the subtleties of the Mastering effects.
It's about ear training in my opinion. At this point in my education, much of it seems to be a preset EQing of the whole mix as compared with the individual trax.

[Tony W]

Somehow I missed the mark mastering for quite a while. I never hit [TR1] to turn on the mastering effects. 48 was kind enough to teach me the basics, I now hear a huge difference in my work.

Welcome aboard!

[little_chick]

Great thread!  I've haven't experimented with Mastering yet either, but I need to now that I'm comfortable with the basics.