ABSTRACT
This chapter starts the exploration of mastering tools and observing the effect ‘tool type’ has on the processing outcome and how pathing can help make clear what is and is not a mastering tool. The first consideration in selecting any tool for mastering is that 100% of the original signal will pass through the process unless utilising a parallel path. This means all of the tool’s ‘sound’ or ‘colour’ will be imparted onto the source audio. This is in addition to the actual main process, for example, compression or equalisation would be the primary outcome. The sound of the processor’s circuit is the ‘tool type’. Testing is a key consideration for any mastering engineer, and approaches to evaluate these outcomes are covered in detail. Furthermore, practical attributes of mastering tools, channel pathing and use for A/B comparative are explained. Primary and secondary outcomes are considered in relation to dynamics. Examples are explored linking tool type, primary and secondary outcomes.
