Common questions about mastering
by Kevin Nettleingham

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What is Mastering?

Mastering is the one part of the recording chain that is most often shrouded in mystery. I've heard people make comments such as:
"What goes on in there anyway?" "My record already sounds good, it doesn't need to be mastered... what was mastering again anyway?" "Mastering is where they sprinkle magic Pixie Dust on the mix."

You've heard of mastering, seen the words "mastered by:" on dozens of CDs, and although you've logged your fair share of studio time, you may still have never been introduced to the actual process of mastering. The easiest way to describe mastering is, I take a collection of songs and make a record out of it.

Mastering is a series of processes which may include all or one of the following: editing, sweetening, EQ matching, level matching, song sequencing and spacing and various other things. The mastering process takes place after mixdown using the final two-track mix, so adjusting individual instruments is not 100% effective at this stage.

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