How Do You Master a Song? (Basic Mastering Techniques)

How Do You Master a Song? - This "How I Produce" video is all about mastering your music. By the end of this video, you will be able to master songs to sound professional and to be suitable for different streaming platforms (such as Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, Deezer, etc.).

I'm not a mastering engineer by trade, but think that basic mastering is a skill that everyone can acquire. Although it takes time to learn, it allows you to appreciate the skills of great mastering engineers. This video is aimed at home producers and beginners, it talks you through the basics in Logic Pro X using just the stock plug-ins.

Topics and Timings:

1. Getting Started (0:00 - 4:54)

2. Mono/Stereo (4:54 - 5:31)

Being able to listen to your master in both mono and stereo

3. Compression (5:31 - 6:59)

How to use compression subtly to make your track sound more consistent

4. EQ (6:59 - 8:53)

Using the Linear Phase EQ to get rid of any problem frequencies

5. Multiband Compression (8:53 - 10:28)

Using a multipressor to smooth over any frequency imbalances

6. Exciter (10:28 - 12:18)

How exciter plug-ins can make your master sparkle and come to life

7. Stereo Spreader (12:18 - 13:54)

Widening the stereo image of the track to make your music sound more exciting

8. Limiter (13:54 - 16:50)

Achieving a maximum loudness for your song

9. Loudness (16:50 - 18:54)

Optimising your master for different streaming platforms

10. Bouncing (18:54 - 22:41)

How to export your final master

Different Streaming Platform Specifications

• Spotify
Loudness: -13 to -15 LUFS
File Type: FLAC or WAV (16-bit/44.1k)

• Apple Music
Loudness: -16 LUFS
File Type: WAV (16-bit/44.1k)

• Soundcloud
Loudness: -8 to -13 LUFS
File Type: WAV/FLAC/AIFF (16-bit/48k)
Also supports MP3 files

• YouTube
Loudness: -13 to -15 LUFS
File Type: WAV (24-bit/48k) or (24-bit/44.1k)

• Deezer
Loudness: -14 to -16 LUFS
File Type: MP3 (320kbps)

• Amazon Music
Loudness: -9 to -13 LUFS
File Type: WAV (16-bit/44.1k)

• CD
Loudness: more than -9 LUFS
File Type: AIFF/WAV/FLAC (16-bit/44.1k)

The song used throughout this tutorial was written and produced by George Agombar. It’s called “Fool For You” and is due to be released soon.

Thank you so much for watching this video, I hope you found it useful! Please let me know what you thought in the comments and if there are any videos you would like to see.

Follow me:

Instagram – @thirdfretltd

[geoffreysmith]

Excellent tutorial. The best I've seen.

[kofiassor]

fully subscribed...wow the gems on this channel are priceless...wow!

[dezdalton]

Excellent Mastering Logic video, after many years tracking mixing even mastering on Garageband finally taken the plunge into Logic Pro 11 and so far have never looked back. I used a heap of waves 3rd party plugins comps limiters eq's etc in GB as it's onboard plugins are limited completely. My music on Spotify and the other streaming platforms mostly created on GB including the meditation 432kz frequency healing music. Love to hear your thoughts feedback on the tracks. Thank you again George for providing world class professional Youtube Production Artist videos. Your instruction for side chain & parallel comp are gold! Keep up the great work! Dez Dalton Artist

[kennyschabow]

Wow. This is the clearest and most concise video I've seen on mastering; you did a fantastic job explaining the basics. Thank you!

[mauricioskar]

Hei I’m Maurício Skar and the “I DO” start to love you girl I like really much the way you explain the technique. And I a really great to see a girl 👧 here 😊

[AlexeySolovievMusic]

Amazing video! Very informative! Subscribed, liked and shared! You are doing great job!😀👍👍👍

[momoborni]

I learned soo many things in this video thank you keep uploading sis

[ShonnMorris]

This is the best mastering video I've seen yet. Thank you so much for doing this!

[MichaelMurrayUK]

Very informative. Thank you. Subscribed.

[MetalArcade]

very well explained! I've always had issues understanding multiband compression for some reason

[ShamanFourHawks]

You are really so very helpful. These are among the best training videos I have had the pleasure to learn from. Since I use Logic for my recordings, they are especially helpful! This is the best mastering explainer/trainer I have seen. Fabulous! Thanks SOOOO much!

[gilbertsevdays]

i love u. ur a badass man... all just logic plugins.. that's gangster. keep up the good work!

[foxymusic]

Thanks for this. Title says "basic" but you explored all topics quite in depth! Subscribed

[christopherpaul]

I love this. Pretty simple yet very comprehensive. I learned a lot.

[dafingaz]

Nice and very straightforward. Thanks!

[sickreto_official]

I was so amazed on how you mix vocal. I subscribed to your channel for me to be updated for your other tutorials. Keep it up miss. You're helping us for our knowledge. I wish I have that all vst pluggins you have <3

[cathyahearne]

This is really informative and well explained at a lovely pace. Thanks so much - subscribed!

[FinalfixMusic]

Very good video. Definitely some helpful info in here. Although normalisation will not take away the ME's options .
It's true that it has no benefits but if the ME knows the track has been normalized instead of limited/compressed, he/she can just turn the whole track down to get headroom.
Same goes the other way around. If the track was produced at low volumes, turning the track up will not raise the noise floor unless there already is one to begin with.
I'd also like to add that any mastering problem is a mixing problem but not vice versa.
Keep up the good work!

[littmuze]

Nice job. A few points I hope you don't mind....Due to streaming services auto attenuation "the Loudness war " is some what old news...this is good news. Less is more in mastering as you have stated so if eq alone cant solve the muddy area of 300hz the issue is in the mix, i would not want to use another tool especially a multiband comp witch is actually not used that much in professional mastering studios due to potential phase issues of the crossover points. Generally corrective eq before compression & color eq after compression...but their are no rules just ears. Lastly this video is in mono so I can't hear the stereo image.... Thanks!

[requiemwitch]

this video is great - definitely one of the better mastering explanations I've seen. Looking forward to watching more! I'm definitely interested in your mid-side techniques.
have you ever experimented with pulling your reference song(s) into the session and A/Bing it with your song in an RTA to get the right balance?