Don't Call Them 'Mastering Engineers', Call Them This Instead

"Mastering Engineer" is a misleading term, says Justin Colletti. It has little to do with the actual service they provide. What's wrong with the name, and what should we think about calling them instead?

In this episode you'll get a sense for both how to approach the mix and what mastering really is.

#mastering #masteringengineer #audioengineering #justincolletti #sonicscoop #podcast #musicproduction

[PitchforkIncorporated]

Nailed it Justin! When non musicians ask what Mastering is. The most basic generalization to me is Quality Control. That’s what I always answer with.

[themagicianofsound]

In my own definition, mastering is quality control and also, bring the music loudness to a commercial level (because normalization is not everywhere and loudness is still important) while, at the same time, making the song sound better after this process when comparing with the mix if you lower the master at the same LUFS level as the mix and this is, in my opinion, the main challenge of a mastering engineer: make a song louder AND better AND be perceived as being as much dynamic or even more dynamic than the mix despite of the loudness. It must pop up more versus the mix, it must have a significant impact on the overall perception of the sound and the most important element is to get the "Wow I love it!" words from the artist after the delivery or a master.

[SonicologyRecords]

I recently worked with a well-known master engineer " Quality Control" that was more like a mix coach his feedback brought my music to a much better place I'll never self master again.

[darrenglover]

I am a new subscriber here weeks ago. Love your content and respect to you! Thanks!! I like what you say here. I have to ‘master’ my own tracks (production music). However, the beauty of this is that I really have to think of the finished product as i mix. After experience of doing this for TV music hundreds of times, It has made mastering a case of ‘beefing/sweetening up’ the track rather than fixing anything.

[markchristensen]

I've been a Mastering Engineer for 25 years. Done a ton of indie stuff as well as many Gold and Platinum records. If I don't improve the project that I'm working on, I don't feel I've done my job. I do Quality Control as well, but there are a whole host of things a Mastering Engineer can do that a mixer cannot, and if I don't do those things, I'm not a real Mastering

[tihomir]

Actually, there are two stages between tape and "master" for printing or replicating vinyl. Master engineer made "naster" but this is not media for replicating, printing vinyl. From that master there was printing 2nd master, kind of "negative master", and from that "negative master" is printed media for vinyl replication. These stages are totally mechanical job

[estudio_arranhador]

great take on the mastering issue! QC is a great way of thinking about this part of the production chain. is interesting to think that the mindset, or listening focus, in each step of the production chain is different and we have to respect that! thanks for the video! ps: what's that mic you are using? sounds great!!

[DominicGaudious]

I am looking to try someone new to master my new album, any suggestions?

[a.stockton]

Call them the guy who turns up the gain knob.

[mageprometheus]

Thanks, lots of things to mull over. If I was a producer/mixer I'd want the QC to have more experience and wisdom than me in the genre, not just have a methodology to be applied. That's fine in software development but perhaps lacking with art.

[caspermaster-com]

Would say mastering is more active and additive usually than QC. Sound polisher is perhaps more what we do...

[allansh]

unsubbed, I thought you would provide more insight

[Adumbpriice]

Sometimes less is more..but not all the time but if you are an audio engineer you know what I’m saying.

[haslo_]

Such a clickbaity title, and 3:14 of blah blah before you get to the point of "call them quality control engineers". I expected better from you.

[audiomastering]

Justin, I am giving you a big thumbs down and here is why; you are confusing modern mastering with the old method of mastering, that is, when it was called 'pre-mastering'. Yes, it's all about QC just like the old days, but the mastering engineer still needs to be able to master for vinyl and cd today. That said, you've made a lot of statements in your video that only reinforces the notion that the title of mastering engineer is only correct, not misleading.