Mastering tutorials/videos

[MDslammer]

Hello guys,

Hope everyone is doing well.

I am asking those of you who Master mixes for some guidance. Can you recommend any tutorials/videos? I've been searching, and some of them are really quite novice.

Also, if any of you would care to share with me, your preferred plugin chain you use (from beginning to end), that would be greatly appreciated. I would have a better idea of what tools to use and learn how best to use them.

I know you don't learn a craft like mastering audio tracks overnight. But I have been recording and mixing my stuff for quite a while. And I believe my "ears" have seasoned over the years.
I'm just uneducated about the fine art of finishing the mix by mastering it.

Thank you fellas.

Mark Dalzell
LV, NV

[Eddy Deegan]

A book often recommended here is "Mastering Audio - the art and the science" by Bob Katz.

It has been updated since the review linked above and if you're serious about learning to master audio then buying a copy would be a very good next step!

[Stuart79]

There was a video series produced by this magazine not long ago. See here:

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... -mastering

[MDslammer]

Thanks very much for the reply and link Stuart79 and the reference for the book by Bob Katz.

Great places to start.

Much appreciated.

Mark

[James Perrett]

Also, if any of you would care to share with me, your preferred plugin chain you use (from beginning to end),

My preferred plug-in chain is empty. Mastering is about doing what is needed to suit the material and the most important factor is the skill of the engineer rather than the tools. While a mastering engineer will have certain tools that they prefer, they shouldn't be using anything by default.

[Wonks]

As Zukan will tell you, if you are talking about a standard chain of processes on the master bus when creating the track itself, then this is one area where producers/mixers are very cagey and keep things to themselves. This is where they add their own specific ‘fairy dust’ to their tracks. So if you see/hear one listing out what they use, I’d treat it with a pinch of salt as you may only be hearing part of the truth.

[tea for two]

Hi there Mark.
I have multiple albums I haven't done any mastering.
Depends on how we made the tune.
Depends on how we mixed.
Depends on genre.

SoS had a series Mix Rescue : not mastering rescue, because it really is in the mix.

James Perrett replied on this thread is a World Class audio engineer, audio mastering engineer.
Stuart79 linked to SoS articles by Ian Shepherd, Ian has utub vids. There's so many utub vids that will pull you this way and that. Sticking to a reputable audio person as Ian will stand you in decent stead regarding mastering instrumentals songs.
Wonks mentioned Zukan, Zukan is a grammy judge for audio engineering of grammy nominated instrumentals songs : this should say something.
Zukan is a mod on SoS forum. So articles tutorials 1to1 teaching by Zukan : Eddie Bazil. https://eddiebazil.co.uk/

[MDslammer]

Thank you all for the advice and referral links.