ABSTRACT
This chapter is designed to help focus an approach to mastering, enabling an engineer to deliver positive outcomes for clients’ audio time after time. To support this chapter, there is a mastering analysis worksheet available. Each stage in approach is broken down into easily managed parts to create a considered path of processing based on the analysis conducted. This includes the approach to the first listen, use of reference audio during comparative analysis, constructive analysis using LRMS, corrective analysis and analysis in overview, leading to contextual processing analysis, transfer path construction and application of processing. Each task is clearly explained with supportive real-world examples to enable clear comprehension. Furthermore, evaluation approaches for loudness comparatives and the practical reality of mastering are discussed to quantify the approach. Lastly evaluations about how to be critical and reflective and most importantly be honest in the appraisal and approach to improving the audio are discussed.
