How to Master Music Start to Finish

Click the link below to start making mixes that accurately translate what you hear in your head.

[nusrathussain]

One of the best videos I have seen on mastering. Now I need the name of this song. I am hooked

[tracyblair]

Another great video. On my most recent mastering session, I used a traditional compressor followed by an upward compressor on a parallel buss. I ended up with a nice increase in perceived loudness while still maintaining dynamics. Disclaimer: On my own music, I shoot for -12.5 to -13.5 dB LUFS.

[LilBlazar]

Learned so much from your channel, I was even able to save an old mix that I loved the performance and didnt want to re-record. Your mastering tips really fixed the song I had from 2018. Thank you for your wisdom.

[patkelly]

I've been putting tape emu's last in my chain with the obvious thinking that in an analogue world tape is last port of call, but it makes sense to put it first so you have more control.

[JayRah_Music]

Helpful to see a cheaper alternative upward compressor for a master. I think this will help me get my songs to sound louder without too much compression or clipping on my final limiter!

[GaryCunninghamyouareenough]

Every.Single.Video = A BANGER! Thank you so much Sage 🙏🏻🤟

[zacari]

you should use the auto gain setting in the Fabfilter plugins to show what it’s doing to the sound instead of just comparing a quiet mix to a louder one

[TheReal_E.IRIZARRY]

Okay Sage,
As much as you are a fanboy of FabFilter, that Saturn 2 --> Aggressive Master --> Warm Tone UHF (upper high frequency) EQ boost TOOK THE ALREADY TRANSPARENT MASTER and LIVENED IT UP TO SOUND RADIO-IE but TRANSPARENT STILL. I ignored Saturn for the longest, and I guess that shows in my offline masters.

[briancase]

Also, I think saturation as a tool for compression is not understood well enough (this is one of the main advantages of recording to real tape). I think it's useful for EDM. Just as one example: using saturation on high-hats and other high-frequency sounds can make the sound seem higher in level while actually reducing the peak level a few dB (I.e., the crest factor is reduced). This can greatly facilitate mixing. This is one of the advantages of using an analog mixing board (and analog gear in general): you get analog saturation and therefore transient taming "for free."

[PaulEubanks]

Awesome, succinct content as always! Love this channel!

[Jisooee]

Glad that you got back about mastering as well😃

[vikramjitbanerjeetuki]

Thanks, but why would I remove the LUFS metering plugin before rendering the master?

[muzungu]

Love this channel so much. Great work.

[kevinmontano]

Thank you so much, this is great advice

[rajkamaljangir]

Good n knowledgeable, with nice songs

[Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Very good video, thanks.
Only, I'm not sure if you're cutting your own throat, or showing confidence in your own mastering abilities!

[meveaan]

any alternative for maxx level compressor even paid

[donah]

Sage of valorant with audio tips. I like it

[briancase]

Hmm, I don't understand the direction to "remove the meters before exporting." They should have no effect on the audio. If they do, they're broken (or you are using their optional level-adjusting capability). At least the meters I use have no effect. Otherwise, good video. Note that there are excellent tools that provide most of the phases you explain. For example, the TC electronic HD4 and master X (cheaper). Also, their stand-alone mastering tool finalizer. I guess iZotope ozone fits in this category also. I've been using and loving the HD4. I would compare it to the tools that broadcast radio stations use to get "that radio sound, " although you can get almost any sound you like from these tools.

[LukeGarfieldMusic]

Great video. One thing that puzzled me was the removing of the meters before export. Will this affect the sound or is it a CPU load thing? On meters, do you look at RMS too?