Chapter 19 - Posted on 2015-12-08 by Javier Melendez

Chapter 19  was about the mastering process and is the final chapter before the final. For the review day with my mentor Luis, we started off going over the chapter quiz and discussing the answers. One thing we focused on for a while was the iZotope Insight plugin that Luis liked to use when mastering. It was pretty cool to see visual representations of the sound on a spectrum analyzer and how much more control over sound you could have with certain plug ins. After a while of seeing some examples of what the Insight plugin could do, we focused our attention on the Wave Burner program and how you could use it to finalize an album to a Red Book CD standard. This program allows you to place the songs in the order you choose, with any desired time gap between songs, allows you to add CD text to the subcode channels, and allows for the engineer to compare and edit levels between tracks, as to make it a cohesive and even sounding album. After talking about mastering and hearing some mastering related stories from Luis, we switched our focus to the final mix project I have been working on. So far, I've added EQ, compression, and effects to some of the tracks, but I felt like I could use an experienced engineers point of view on what else could be done to the project. Luis' input was definitely helpful. He helped me apply a keyed compressor to a kick drum, so it could allow the bass guitar through the mix. Also, he helped me EQ and level the synths to prevent them from sounding overpowering or making the track sound too "busy". Overall, it was another good experience at Audio Mix house, and it's a bitter sweet feeling to be finishing this course. There's a good chance, in the near future, I will be taking the more advanced course The Recording Connection offers.

Jam Of The Week: Empire Cast - Powerful (feat. Jussie Smollett and Alicia Keys)