LINK https://soundcloud.com/acobandensmixes/mastering-finished
Grouping
First thing we did when given the tracks in Cubase was group them together. This involved first identifying the instruments and sounds in each track. When grouping and identifying tracks i colour coded each track. This made it much easier when seeing what was what - for example the guitars were green and all the vocals were red. it was easy to distinguish between tracks.
When grouping we also added a select group of instruments into the same tracks. This was done by receiving their outputs and inputing it into one track. I had three in total: drums, guitars and brass. This is helpful as it means you can change the EQ of three different instruments at once. You an also add effects like compression and reverb to multiple interments.
First thing we did when given the tracks in Cubase was group them together. This involved first identifying the instruments and sounds in each track. When grouping and identifying tracks i colour coded each track. This made it much easier when seeing what was what - for example the guitars were green and all the vocals were red. it was easy to distinguish between tracks.
When grouping we also added a select group of instruments into the same tracks. This was done by receiving their outputs and inputing it into one track. I had three in total: drums, guitars and brass. This is helpful as it means you can change the EQ of three different instruments at once. You an also add effects like compression and reverb to multiple interments.
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| Before Grouping and Limiting |
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| After Grouping and Limiting |
Limiting
Limiting was when we deleted parts of the tracks where no adio is needed or being outputted. This removes background sounds like coughing and general background noise when its not needed. This is mostly evident on things like the guitar solo which only is emitted at the end of the song while the cymbal is throughout but only on occasion.
You can automatically limit the track using a gate however it can be wrong on occasion so we did our own limiting.
EQ
First we manipulated the EQ on each of the tracks. The EQ had an X axis and a Y axis. The X axis (horizontal) changed the frequency if being high or low. Starting with low on the left and moving to the right while the Y axis (vertical) changed the amount of that sound was being outputted. This was easily changed by moving the line.
The EQ changed for each instrument; the kick drum had a higher low output while it didn't have as much high and mids outputting while the hi hat had more highs than lows. The quitar I increased the mids and brass the lows were increased. The most difficult EQ to fully master was the vocals as they had so many different tones throughout. I ended up reducing the his and increasing the mids and lows of the tracks.
Limiting was when we deleted parts of the tracks where no adio is needed or being outputted. This removes background sounds like coughing and general background noise when its not needed. This is mostly evident on things like the guitar solo which only is emitted at the end of the song while the cymbal is throughout but only on occasion.
You can automatically limit the track using a gate however it can be wrong on occasion so we did our own limiting.
EQ
First we manipulated the EQ on each of the tracks. The EQ had an X axis and a Y axis. The X axis (horizontal) changed the frequency if being high or low. Starting with low on the left and moving to the right while the Y axis (vertical) changed the amount of that sound was being outputted. This was easily changed by moving the line.
The EQ changed for each instrument; the kick drum had a higher low output while it didn't have as much high and mids outputting while the hi hat had more highs than lows. The quitar I increased the mids and brass the lows were increased. The most difficult EQ to fully master was the vocals as they had so many different tones throughout. I ended up reducing the his and increasing the mids and lows of the tracks.
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| EQ |
Compression
Compression was used when wanting to decrease the volume when it was loud and increase the volume when it was quiet so the sound sounded like it wasn't highly ranging in volume. In shorter wording it decreases the dynamic range.
I used it however not as much as other effects as I thought it made the song sound a lot flatter than I wanted. It didn't sound like it had any tone.
I compressed the vocals the most.
Compression was used when wanting to decrease the volume when it was loud and increase the volume when it was quiet so the sound sounded like it wasn't highly ranging in volume. In shorter wording it decreases the dynamic range.
I used it however not as much as other effects as I thought it made the song sound a lot flatter than I wanted. It didn't sound like it had any tone.
I compressed the vocals the most.
Expansion
Expansion is the opposite of compression in the idea it increases the dynamic range. This makes the volume louder when its loud and quieter when its quiet. I would use this for the drums.
Expansion is the opposite of compression in the idea it increases the dynamic range. This makes the volume louder when its loud and quieter when its quiet. I would use this for the drums.
ReverbReverb makes the sound sound like it is recorded in another place. It has an echo and a delay to the sound. I like reverb as it is an effect when used correctly and not excessively can make a track sound a lot more natural than a studio recording. It almost gives the recording more character.
Reverb in my track was added to the vocals to make them sound less crisp and also the guitar as i liked how the guitar sounded when dragged out. It made it stand out more.
Distortion
I diffused the guitar as well as reverb adding an effect that made it fit more with the tone of the rest of the track. The distortion changed the sound output from the guitar witha range of popular effects.
For my guitar I used the distortion by adding a Amp Simulator and choosing the amp 'California Combo'.
Pan
Pan is a tool for changing where the audio output is in terms of left and right. This is most noticeable when wearing headphones or having a stereo output howveer when done correctly it gives the sound a bigger range and makes it sound less flat. Some were subtle like the piano and some were heavily panned to the right or left like the two brasses; one in the left, one in the right.
Mixing Original Material
Mixing original material is mixing pre recorded audio. We were given a set of eleven tracks to mix.
Remixing Material
Remixing material is remixing one of our own tracks we have created in which we have done both.
Vocals grouped together into 'Lead', 'Backing Vocal One' and 'Backing Vocal Two'.
- EQ - Taken the high downs and more given to the mids.
- Pan - Lead in the middle, backing vocal one to the left and backing vocal two the right.
- Compression - Make up at 10 as the lead vocal had a broad range.
- Roomworks Reverb - Mix at 40, size made bigger and reverb time at 1.06.
Brass grouped together Trombone and Trumpet
- EQ - The lows raised and the highs lowered. Mids stayed the same.
- Pan - Trombone fully to the right. Trumpet fully to the left.
- Compression - Make up at 9.8 as there was a broad range in the frequency.
Piano
- EQ - Boosted lows, mids raised a small amount and then highs lowered a small amount also.
- Pan - Right 50.
- Compression - Not a lot of compression as it was similar throughout the whole track.
- Roomworks Reverb - Reverb had a high size and width with then a small amount of reverb time
after as well.
- Chorus - A slight Chorus to give an effect that multiple pianos are playing.
Drums
Kick
- EQ - Reduced highs increased lows
- Pan - No pan
Snare
- EQ - Increased mids and lowered the highs
- Pan - Right by 20
Hi Hat
- EQ - Lowered lows and increased the highs to make it crisp
- Pan - Left by 20
- Compression - Compression added slightly due to the hi hats slightly ranging in frequency
Cymbal
- EQ - Increased lows and mids with lowered highs
- Pan - No pan
Guitar
- EQ - Slight increase on the lows, tiny reduction for mids and lowered highs
- Pan - Left by 25
- Compression - Auto compressed
- Roomworks Reverb - Not heavy reverb. Small size and reverb size. Just to sound less crisp.
Guitar Solo
- EQ - (Same as Guitar)
- Pan - Right by 30
- Distorsion - Added a amp. California Combo which adds a sweeter sound and finish to the solo making it reminiscent of the early jazz the track tries to recreate.
Bass
- EQ - Increased lows as its the bass and declining highs
- Pan - Left 21
- Compression - 7 make up so not to much. Can still hear the range.
Remixing material is remixing one of our own tracks we have created in which we have done both.
Channel Sends and Inputs
The sends is where the sound is going. We used this when having multiple vocals under one track and allowed us to manipulate many things at once.
Inputs are effects that are being inputed into the sound.
Multiband Compression
After we manipulated each track of the song we exported it all into one audio file. We then added this to a new project in the effort to manipulate it all together.
Starting with EQ this changed the whole tone of the track making each part pop when needed. I got rid of the high highs and boosted the lows while levelling out the mids.
Multiband compression allows you to compress each frequency band in which there are four. The lows, mids, highs and then really highs. This sweetens the sound as you can also change where the frequency band starts and ends. This allows you to manipulate it to how you feel.
Just to add the track should always be exported at 0db. This is because it is the industry standard and stops people changing their volume to suit the volume of the track outputted.
The sends is where the sound is going. We used this when having multiple vocals under one track and allowed us to manipulate many things at once.
Inputs are effects that are being inputed into the sound.
Multiband Compression
After we manipulated each track of the song we exported it all into one audio file. We then added this to a new project in the effort to manipulate it all together.
Starting with EQ this changed the whole tone of the track making each part pop when needed. I got rid of the high highs and boosted the lows while levelling out the mids.
Multiband compression allows you to compress each frequency band in which there are four. The lows, mids, highs and then really highs. This sweetens the sound as you can also change where the frequency band starts and ends. This allows you to manipulate it to how you feel.
Just to add the track should always be exported at 0db. This is because it is the industry standard and stops people changing their volume to suit the volume of the track outputted.
List of effects and changes made
Vocals grouped together into 'Lead', 'Backing Vocal One' and 'Backing Vocal Two'.
- EQ - Taken the high downs and more given to the mids.
- Pan - Lead in the middle, backing vocal one to the left and backing vocal two the right.
- Compression - Make up at 10 as the lead vocal had a broad range.
- Roomworks Reverb - Mix at 40, size made bigger and reverb time at 1.06.
Brass grouped together Trombone and Trumpet
- EQ - The lows raised and the highs lowered. Mids stayed the same.
- Pan - Trombone fully to the right. Trumpet fully to the left.
- Compression - Make up at 9.8 as there was a broad range in the frequency.
Piano
- EQ - Boosted lows, mids raised a small amount and then highs lowered a small amount also.
- Pan - Right 50.
- Compression - Not a lot of compression as it was similar throughout the whole track.
- Roomworks Reverb - Reverb had a high size and width with then a small amount of reverb time
after as well.
- Chorus - A slight Chorus to give an effect that multiple pianos are playing.
Drums
Kick
- EQ - Reduced highs increased lows
- Pan - No pan
Snare
- EQ - Increased mids and lowered the highs
- Pan - Right by 20
Hi Hat
- EQ - Lowered lows and increased the highs to make it crisp
- Pan - Left by 20
- Compression - Compression added slightly due to the hi hats slightly ranging in frequency
Cymbal
- EQ - Increased lows and mids with lowered highs
- Pan - No pan
Guitar
- EQ - Slight increase on the lows, tiny reduction for mids and lowered highs
- Pan - Left by 25
- Compression - Auto compressed
- Roomworks Reverb - Not heavy reverb. Small size and reverb size. Just to sound less crisp.
Guitar Solo
- EQ - (Same as Guitar)
- Pan - Right by 30
- Distorsion - Added a amp. California Combo which adds a sweeter sound and finish to the solo making it reminiscent of the early jazz the track tries to recreate.
Bass
- EQ - Increased lows as its the bass and declining highs
- Pan - Left 21
- Compression - 7 make up so not to much. Can still hear the range.
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