ABSTRACT
Once recordings have been made, the task of creating a version optimized for listeners remains. For stereo recordings, this process may involve equalization and gain changes that allow the material to suit the medium intended for distribution, a process known as mastering. For multichannel recordings, the individual tracks must first be combined, or mixed, in order to create the desired output. Each track may be processed with spectral and/or dynamic range processing in potentially complex combinations that yield a compelling final mix. In either case, we make decisions about the processing we use by listening to the results. The playback system is a crucial element in the decision making process, as it can affect the perceived sound and therefore our mixing decisions. Monitoring involves not only the loudspeakers but also the acoustical environment in which they operate – the listening room. Acoustical problems inherent in the loudspeaker–room interaction cause us to make processing decisions that also reflect the room behavior and are then incorporated into the mix. When such a mix is heard in a different room, it will not sound as we expect.
