Mastering Essentials Part 1 - What is MASTERING?

Mastering Essentials: The SOS Techniques Guide
In this six-part series, produced in association with Steinberg, well-known mastering engineer Ian Shepherd takes us through his approach to mastering. Whether you’re polishing individual tracks or assembling EPs or albums, Ian will explore the tools, skills and decisions that can help you achieve great-sounding mastering results.

In Part 1 Ian discusses what mastering is — and what it isn’t — as he sets out his approach to mastering in this tutorial series.

(More parts coming soon. Subscribe to the SOS channel to be notified).

1. What Is Mastering?

2. The Three Ms of Mastering

3. How Loud Should You Master?

4. Mastering EQ: Balance, Don’t Match

5. Compression & Limiting In Mastering

6. Final Delivery: Requirements & Specs

Links:

Additional resource mentioned in the video.

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[albertoperezpuyal]

The most honest tutorial about mastering I've ever seen. Others try to make things very complicated in order to demonstrate how "good" they are. Thanks a lot!!!

[dubfx]

Ian mastered my last album roots and he killed it! I sent the same track out to 20 different acclaimed mastering studios, one of them cost me 450 pounds! Out of those 20 that came back Ian's was the best by far. It was an expensive exercise but well worth it!

[Audiojunkk]

Sound on sound makes the best content!

[norbertocuevas]

Ian Shepherd's audio concepts are clear, professional, and easy to understand. I'll be watching the series ...

[SergioFilho]

Ian is one of the most importante contributors in the audio community. Glad you did this with him!

[BoogieBear]

I’ve followed Ian for some time and if you want to learn how to master, this is the man!

[Audiojunkk]

Ah yes! Ian is such a legend! This is a link up of legends!

[ewetoo]

Definitely something I'll be following.

[gravityfreaksmusic]

Man, this is so good. The greatest take-away for me is realizing that my self-taught way led me on the right path. Thank you SOS and Ian! Much appreciated.

[flavy]

King of Loudness..He has fought a lot about the "War of loudness", and I love his point of view!

[DerekPower]

Looking forward to these =]

I’ve used the following analogy sequence between music production and writing:

Recording:drafting :: mixing:proofing :: mastering:publishing.

[JUMPMANKENYA]

I basically ama an Artist, A rapper to be precise, been in the studio for the longest but never really understood mastering fully since them producers tend to make it look so complex untill i stumbled on to this great piece, 17 minutes of pure genius at its simplicity that revolutionized my take in mastering concepts, Big shout out to you Ian, Keep inspiring.

[SoulPapiii]

Knowledge is power
So that means
Learning is your super power
Dont ever stop

[PreRenderedRealities]

Love you guys, can't wait to check this out!

[dablizzoduve]

When i got his first course (mastering eq) I was so inspired that I had to purchase the second one(mastering with compression)
And since then my idea and method for mastering and mixing has improved drastically...
Love you Ian.

[timflatus]

Perfick! I'm just about to perform final mixes prior to mastering. I came here from PLAP. Ian seems to explain things in a way I can understand. Very grateful for that

[Bittamin]

I get recommended great videos, I save them to watch later. The cycle never ends 😅

[dinosaursr]

Great use of photo refinishing to audio mastering. Well done.

[RaduJon]

Please make a mixing / mastering series with Serban Ghenea. Everyone is dying to see what’s under the hood in his mixes.

[ianrunacres]

Absolutely brilliant. Clear, helpful and informative. Can't wait to work through the other videos and I've requested the PDFs too. I think this is all going to be invaluable.