Audio Mastering In A Digital Recording Studio

Author: Silas

Audio mastering is the process of balancing, equalizing and enhancing a raw recording to make it a competitive musical work. The process also includes compression and the use of multi dynamics to allow higher energy levels into a piece.

What Is A Digital Studio?

Digital studios are recording studios that use tapeless computer based systems and store media on hard discs.They provide MIDI recording, playback and editing facilities.They  have the equipment and expertise to convert analog signals to digital signals and vice versa. This equipment is highly specialized and is handled by professionals.

A very high RAM, high end sound cards, high speed processors and a large hard drive are key features of the computer based systems of a digital recording studio. These studios may also have an integrated mixing console and control surface. These features enable simultaneous multi tracks handling. The most important ditinguishing feature of digital studios is the "undo" feature which old analog systems lacked.

Digital Audio Mastering

CD mastering is often confused with recording and mixing. Actually it is the process of editing and enhancing that follows these initial stages. Once you are done with the recording and editing of a piece, the final product is known as the original master. In digital mastering the finished product is then stored on a digital audio tape with time reference markers in audio format.

If you are new into the business of music, the first thing you have to learn is that the success of your product is not only dependent upon the quality of recording but more dependent upon how creatively it has been mastered.

Here Are A Few Things You Must Check Before You Accept A Product From A Digital Audio Mastering Studio.

* The vocal and the instruments should be well balanced. Neither should be compressed more than required. Too much compression causes the recording to sound unnatural. The balance should be such that the vocals ride just over the instruments. Making the vocals too prominent will give the listener the experience of live music.
* The frequencies of different instruments should not be suppressed and the EQ level should be well balanced so that the "mix" sounds real.
* Good audio mastering should ensure that too much reverb is not applied to the instruments or sounds unless you want them to appear back on the sound field.
* Make certain that the noise from various open sources have been individually taken out from the "mix", otherwise the cumulative noise will distort the waveform.
* The phase relationship between the two channels of recording should be well managed. If that's not done, it may result in the frequencies of the left and right speakers of your system canceling out each other. This may make the recording sound superficial and thin. It may also cause breaking at the edges of the waveform in case of FM transmission.
* Finally, the mix should not have any digital distortion. It can make the product irritating to the listener's ear.

Good audio mastering is essential to the success of any musical work. It is an art that requires sensitive ears and a great deal of skill.

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