Major Label Mastering: Professional Mastering Process / Edition 1

by Evren Göknar

Overview

Major Label Mastering: Professional Mastering Process distills 25 years of mastering experience at Capitol Records into practical understandings and reliable systems. Containing unparalleled insights, this book reveals the mastering tricks and techniques used by Evren Göknar at one of the world’s most notable record labels.

Beginning with the requisite competencies every Mastering Engineer must develop, Major Label Mastering delves into the particulars of the mastering studio, as well as fundamental mastering tools. Included among these tools is The Five Step Mastering Process, a rigorously tested system that equips the practitioner to successfully and confidently master a project to exacting standards of audio fidelity. Covering all bases, the book discusses both macro and micro considerations: from mindset approach and connecting with clients down to detailed guidelines for processing audio, advanced methods, and audio restoration. Each chapter ends with exercises intended to deepen understanding and skill, or to supplement course study.

Suitable for all levels, this is a unique resource for students, artists, and recording and Mastering Engineers alike. Major Label Mastering is supplemented by digital resources including audio examples and video tutorials.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138058583
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/08/2020
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Evren Göknar is a Grammy® Award-winning Mastering Engineer who has been employed at Capitol Studios in Hollywood for 25 years. His work is sought after worldwide, with his mastering credits including legendary recordings and artists ranging from Mariah Carey to KISS, along with hit television shows The Voice and Songland.

Table of Contents

Preface xvii

Acknowledgments xxi

Credits/Gratitude/Disclaimer xxv

Introduction xxvii

Mastering Defined xxvii

Major Label Mastering: Professional Mastering Process xxvii

Part I The Key Competencies and Understandings of a Mastering Engineer 1

Chapter 1 The Mastering Engineer 3

Competencies 3

Become an Audiophile 4

A Note on Sampling Frequency (S) and Bit Depth (BD) in High-Resolution Audio 5

Musical Genres 5

Musicality 6

Deliberate Listening and Subjective Assessment 6

Become a Critical Listener 6

The Image or Soundstage 6

Playback System Considerations 7

Become Aware of Recording Methods and Technologies 9

Become Knowledgeable About Audio Mastering Tools 10

The Primary Colors of Mastering 10

Electronic Components and Circuit Design Topologies 11

Know Audio Frequencies 12

Understand Panning 13

Know Loudness Metering/Level Measurements 14

Become Knowledgeable About Acoustics and Listening Environments 16

The Effect of Acoustics on Sound 16

Become Proficient With Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) 16

Become Adept at Quality Control (QC) Methods 17

Become Able to Generate the Audio Master 17

Implement Recallable Workflow Approaches 17

Mastering Notes and the Capitol EQ Rundown Card 17

Notes on Recalling Settings 18

Naming Conventions 19

Become Personable and Entrepreneurial in Demeanor 19

Key Understandings to Possess 20

Sampling Theorem 20

Analog Domain vs. Digital Domain Considerations 21

Conclusion 21

Exercises 22

Chapter 2 Listening Experience: The Mastering Engineer's Primary Concern 25

The Eleven Qualities of Superb Audio Fidelity 25

Level/Apparent Loudness 25

Image 26

Transient Response 26

Depth 27

Definition 27

Clarity 27

Detail 27

Extension 27

Correct Dynamics (Musicality) 28

Vocal (or Featured Instrument) Halo 28

Blossom 28

Conclusion 29

Exercises 29

Part II The Mastering Studio and Fundamental Mastering Tools 31

Chapter 3 The Mastering Studio 33

A Critical Listening Environment 33

The Room 33

Common Design and Treatment Approaches 33

Acoustic Properties and Sound 34

Common Acoustical Issues-Standing Waves, Flutter Echo, and Comb Filtering 36

Acoustical Testing and Treatments 37

Speaker Monitor Calibration 37

Front/Back Treatment Approaches 37

Power and Grounding 38

Speakers and Power Amplifiers 38

Soffit-Mounted 38

Freestanding 39

Near-Field Monitors 39

Off-Axis Listening (OAL) 39

Power Amplifiers 40

Monitor Path/Monitor Control 40

Signal (Channel) Path 42

Mastering Console vs. Point-to-Point Considerations 42

Cabling/Interconnects/AC Cords 43

Digital Clocking and Dither 44

The Anatomy of a Professional Mastering Studio 45

The Three Zone Mastering System 45

Conclusion 46

Exercises 46

Chapter 4 Fundamental Mastering Tools and The Primary Colors of Mastering 49

Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Converters (AD and DA) 49

Mastering Reference Levels 50

Equalizers (EQ) 51

Equalizer Configurations 52

Compressors/Limiters 55

Varieties of Analog Compressors 57

Expanders/Gates 65

Brickwall Limiter (BWL) 65

BWL Safety-User Tips 67

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) 69

Conclusion 69

Exercises 69

Part III Professional Mastering Process: The Five Step Mastering Process 71

Chapter 5 Step I: Objective Assessment 73

Verify the Sampling Frequency (S), Bit Depth (BD), and File Type 73

Measure the Decibels Full Scale (dBFS) RMS and Peak Levels of the Audio File 76

VU Meter Reading 78

Target Levels of Mastered Audio 78

Waveform Inspection 79

Conclusion 80

Exercises 80

Chapter 6 Step II: Subjective Assessment 81

Deliberate Listening Revisited 81

Three Questions That Frame Subjective Assessment 81

Is the Listening Experience Pleasing, Effective, and Genre-Appropriate? 82

Are There Mix Issues? 82

How Present or Lacking Are the Eleven Qualities of Superb Audio Fidelity? 82

Musical Genres 82

Subjective Assessment Before Mastering 82

Subjective Assessment After Mastering 83

Conclusion 83

Exercises 83

Chapter 7 Step III: The Mastering Game Plan 85

Setup-The Mastering Game Plan 'Flight Check' 85

Select Sampling Frequency (S) and Bit Depth (BD) of Mastered Audio 85

Select Signal Path 85

After You, Kind Sir: Compressor or Equalizer First in the Mastering Chain? 88

Monitoring Positions in Signal Path 88

Oscillator Sweep the Signal Path 88

Verify L/R Integrity Through Mastering System 89

Select the Critical First Mix to Master 89

The Best Sounding Mix 89

Organize the Mixes 89

Execution of The Mastering Came Plan 90

Gain Structure 90

Gain Distribution in The Three Zone Mastering System 90

Compression/Limiting (Dynamics) 91

EQ 91

Capture 92

Conclusion 92

Exercises 92

Chapter 8 Step IV: Assembly-Links in a Chain 93

Tops/Tails Editing and Song Spacing 93

PQ Encoding/Indexing 94

Metadata 94

CD-Era Shenanigans: Hidden Tracks 94

Conclusion 96

Exercises 96

Chapter 9 Step V: Delivery-Generate the Master 97

Plant Master Compact Disc (PMCD) 97

Disc Description Protocol (DDP) CD Master 97

Digital Audio Files (.wav, .aiff, .dsd, .flac, .alac) 98

High-Resolution Digital File Formats (.dsd, .flac, .alac) Overview 98

Mastered for iTunes File (MFiT)ZApple Digital Masters (ADM) File 99

Streaming Services 99

Files for Vinyl Mastering 99

Generating the Master 100

Dither/Render/Burn 100

Quality Control (QC) 100

Check All Song Starts and Transitions 100

Listen to the Entire Album 100

Information to Verify 101

Audio Integrity to Approve 101

For Digital File Masters 101

CD Master Designations 102

Conclusion 102

Exercises 102

Part IV Professional Mastering Process-Macro Considerations 103

Chapter 10 Before the Mastering Session 105

Preliminary Dialogue With the Client 105

Genre-Specific Considerations 105

Experiment Regularly 106

The Mastering Shoot-Out 106

Pricing 106

Conclusion 106

Chapter 11 The Inner Game: Mindset Approaches 107

Mastering Is Either Effective or Not 107

Psychoacoustics 107

Lead the Listener by Embracing Macro-Dynamics 108

Work Habits 108

Be Meticulous 108

Documentation (Notes) 109

Listen Universally 109

Manage Problems With Humility and Professionalism 110

Conclusion 110

Chapter 12 Session-Saving Mastering Tips 111

Mix Evaluation-Reject a Subpar Mix or Project 111

Oscillator Sweep the Signal Path Redux 112

Spectrum Analyze the Mastered Audio 113

When In-the-Box (ITB) Mastering Is Your Friend 113

What If Your Client Is Difficult? 113

Conclusion 114

Part V Professional Mastering Process -Micro Considerations 115

Chapter 13 Detailed Guidelines for Processing Audio 117

Select Converters and Signal Path 117

Equipment Sequencing Considerations 117

The Three Zone Mastering System (Detail Moves) 118

Zone 1 Moves-PBDAW Adjustments 118

Set Optimal Mix Playback Level 118

Write Macro-Dynamic Automation 119

Preserve Leading Edge Transients 120

Advanced PBDAW Adjustments 120

Zone 2 Moves-Analog Signal Path 121

The Mastering Console (Gain and Other Features) 121

Zone 3 Moves-After AD Conversion and in the RDAW 122

Adjustment Sequence: Gain Structure, Dynamics, and EQ 122

Match Mix and Master VU Metering 122

Conclusion 123

Chapter 14 Advanced Mastering Chain Tools and Techniques 125

Side-Chain Compression (s.c.) 125

Multiband Compression/Limiting (MBC/L) 125

Serial Peak-Limiting 127

Dynamic EQ 127

Saturation 127

Analog Tape Compression 128

Clipping 128

Parallel Processing (Compression and EQ) 130

Mid-Side Processing (M/S) 130

Hybrid Domain Mastering (Both Digital and Analog) 132

Line Amps and Transformers 132

Stem Mastering 132

Intercuts (Mastering Moves by Song Section) 133

Adding Reverberation 133

Conclusion 135

Exercises 135

Chapter 15 Mid-Side (M/S): An Elixir of Mastering Hope 137

M/S at Capitol Mastering 137

M/S Stereo Recording Technique-History and Origins 138

Microphone Signals 138

At Console Input 138

Signal Summing Matrix at Console 138

In a Mastering Context 138

Encoding From Stereo Into M/S 139

Decoding Out of M/S Back Into Stereo 140

Creating an M/S Matrix in Pro Tools 140

Encoding (DAW Example) 140

Decoding (DAW Example) 140

Practical Applications of M/S in Mastering 142

M/S Hardware Processors for Mastering 144

M/S Plug-Ins for Mastering 146

Conclusion 146

Exercises 146

Chapter 16 In-the-Box Considerations 149

Drawbacks 149

When to Use ITB Mastering 149

Basic and Advanced Setups 150

Digital Hardware Options 150

Sampling Theorem and ITB 150

Conclusion 152

Exercises 152

Chapter 17 De-Noising/Audio Restoration (Out, Damned Spot!) 153

Sonic Solutions NoNoise 153

Izotope RX7 154

Cedar 155

Options Onboard Your DAW 156

Conclusion 157

Exercises 157

Chapter 18 Conclusion and Summary 159

Appendix I Common Mastering Acronyms and Terms 161

Acronyms 161

A-C 161

D-F 162

G-L 164

M-R 164

S-Z 165

Appendix II Awards and Notable Projects 167

Awards and Notable Projects 167

Appendix III Mastering Biography 175

Index 177

Editorial Reviews

"Absolutely essential for anyone seriously considering any aspect of mastering as their passion or career choice […] this is an under-the-hood approach which anyone involved in mastering can use to understand the entire process." - Greg Calbi, Sterling Sound

"One of the first songs that Evren mastered for me was a very open, old-school sounding, Ray Charles-esque type of song. He suggested using one of the classic Capitol Records echo chambers on the mix. My first thought was, 'thats insane!', but my second thought was, 'thats cool!, let’s do it!' I realized very quickly that I was working with a very creative, open-minded Mastering Guru, who was going to take my mixes to a new level of creativity. Since then, Evren has mastered well over 800 songs for me. In addition to the great sounding final master, what I value about Evren is that he understands the importance of building the relationship between the Mixer and Mastering Engineer. Over the years my mixes have evolved and improved based on what I've learned from Evren and his creative approach, techniques and ideas that he has added to my mixes. It's as if we're on the same football team and I pass him the ball around the 30 yard line so to speak, and Evren runs it in the rest of the way for the goal! Now he has put his techniques and creative approach to Mastering in writing. This book is a must-have for any aspiring student or professional alike seeking a better understanding of the fine art of Mastering!"

Bill Appleberry, Producer, Mixer (The Voice, The Wallflowers, Operator, Puddle Of Mudd, Stone Temple Pilots)

"This is great. Evren is one of the best mastering engineers in the world and he's written a book about his craft." - David Holley, Group Managing Director Wise Music Group (Former Managing Director Abbey Road Studios, Former SVP EMI Music)

''Mastering is often considered a mysterious black art, but while there is certainly a lot of artistry involved Evren Göknar’s book, published in April 2020 (Routledge/Focal Press), dispels the mystery in a very readable and understandable way. For anyone with an interest in mastering, either for DIY projects or as a potential career path, Evren has crammed a lot of really helpful information and very practical advice into this book, along with very sensible and constructive guides to developing and honing the core skills, techniques and approaches that make a good mastering engineer. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on developing and honing listening skills. It’s well worth adding to the book shelf.'' SOUND ON SOUND (SOS), Hugh Robjohns

"Whether a budding engineer or a seasoned pro, readers will come away from Major Label Mastering with far greater understanding and appreciation for the newly demystified process of mastering."

Clive Young, ProSoundNews

From the Publisher