CD Mastering using Har-Bal

Feel free to download the entire manual detailing the mastering process from Har-Bal complete with pictures of all the tools needed to create a great sounding mastered cd .

http://hdqtrz.com/Files/Har-Bal_Mastering_Process.pdf

Please remember that you can experiment with different presets in Waves LMB. If you want light limiting use the "Adaptive Multi Electro Mastering" preset and follow the same process..

Whichever sound editor(Sound Forge, WaveLab, Cool Edit) you are using you should have a method to look at the statistics of your track.

Sound Forge ....Tools/Statistics Wavelab Analysis/Global Analysis

I am sure there are others in the forum that can give you the path in their editors

You want to pay special attention to your RMS levels. You should adjust these based on the genre of the music.

I know there are a few mastering engineers out there that hate the loudness war (rightfully so) happening with certain types of music. But the fact remains, if your music isn't matching in volume to another song in your genre it will appear weak sounding. These are just the times we are living in.

1. Check your RMS level in your mix....lets say the average RMS is -17.34 in your track. 2. We need to get it to -10 or -11 to suitably fit in with other similar songs. 3. Take out your calculator and input 17.34 and now subtract 10.00 you should get 7.34 This is the number we are shooting for. and will probably be the number you feed into your limiter. (Remember with RMS levels the lower the number the louder the song)

You can input this number as a negative into your limiter and your RMS level for your overall loudness will be -10.00

For example: Which song is louder RMS level -18.23 or -12.16

-12.16 is louder

Quite a few mastering engineers use what they call a mastering chain and during the course of building or fattening the song they already have an idea what they would like the end result (RMS) to be.

As you get into mastering deeper you will find that it is more than just sticking a number into the limiter and your done.

A mastering chain should consist of the following: (Below are some options)

1. When you are finished mixing a track, input it into Har-Bal and check for peaks and valleys. 2. Open a wave editor (wavelab, sound forge) 3. Place the following plugins into the chain in this order and save as a preset.

a) Waves Q10 Paragraphic EQ (or something similar) b) Linear Phase Multiband Compressor c) Stereo Imager - Correct any phase issues and RMS mismatches d) Limiter - Always use this and set the outceiling for -0.1

Now keep in mind that you may not need to use every one of these each time and can simply bypass any of them.

Always, always listen to your song at 85db while mastering. This is not loud and it enables you to darn near HEAR your music almost flat. You can pick up a sound pressure meter from any Radio Shack (roughly $30.00). If your song is too bassy or trebly you will know immediately at this volume. I am sure there are some more engineers in this forum who can elaborate on this concept a little more scientifically.

Three meters you should always have open are: All software included with Wavelab

Phasescope - To check the stereo image

Level Meter - Checking the peak and rms levels constantly (Make sure you are buliding up the song without clipping) How is it sounding....constantly keeping the levels at 85db by bringing down my main volume. In other words even though I am increasing The overall volume I am still maintaining my listening level.

Spectrum Analyzer - checking for sudden spikes and overall patterns

You should get into the habit of taking any commercial song and studying them while these meters are running. It will open a whole new world of understanding.

If you master your next project better than the last, you are only getting better. Get used to it. You will discover on a daily basis the real concept of mastering and the real reason why there are no perfect settings that can be used with every song.

The trick is to listen to a song completely and KNOW which tools to use. This knowledge comes from an understanding of the functionality of those tools.

Har-Bal International www.har-bal.com

Earle Holder is well known to American music artists, and is one of the few top legendary award winning mastering engineers who have managed to gain worldwide recognition for his work and is a rare individual, born with "golden ears", a definite prerequisite to becoming a great mastering engineer.

His home site is http://www.hdqtrz.com

---

The Secrets of Correctly Stringing Your Guitar

Why do you care about stringing your guitar you may ask. Well the reason is simple. It will make you sound better because if your guitar is... Read More

Bono: From Music To Fashion To Helping The Poor

U2s lead singer Bono isn't content with being part of a top band. Fashion and Music ? well I'm sure they can mix! Bono was born Paul... Read More

The Dark Side of P2P File Sharing

P2P file sharing programs are free. Period. But there are P2P scam sites out there that want you to pay them instead. P2P scam sites are rogue... Read More

Karaoke Singing

This article is designed to help anyone to enjoy karaoke and improve their singing performance whether it be as a "virgin" karaoke singer or as someone starting... Read More

Pakistani Pop Music

Pakistan is blessed with talent and when we talk about Pakistani Music, you can never stop picking up one of the best Pakistani pop song uptill now... Read More

Guide to Finding Music Online

Are you frustrated because finding your favorite songs on the net has become more of a chore than an enjoyable activity? Read this simple guide to finding... Read More

Composing for Dummies

When most people hear the word composer, they automatically think of classical composers like Mozart or Beethoven. This is the point where many "would be" composers freeze... Read More

How to Download Music From The Internet

Most of you have probably heard of the RIAA's quest to crush online music piracy. The illegal sharing of copyrighted songs via the MP3 format over the... Read More

How To Make a Fortune Teaching Piano (or Guitar, or Drums, or Singing, or?) To Beginners

"But I'm not in it for the money" you say.Me neither.I LOVE music and I LOVE to teach music. I feel sorry for people that go into... Read More

George Winston and New Age Piano Playing

The first time I heard George Winston play back in the early 1980's I was blown away. I didn't know why I liked this music. All I... Read More

Five Great Practice Ideas I Learned From My Piano Students!

Sometimes the teacher learns more from the student than the student does from the teacher. Hopefully, not too often, but today I would like to share with... Read More

Jazz: What In The Heck Is It?

All of us know what jazz is when we hear it, but trying to define it is a different matter. With so many variant styles, coming up... Read More

Can You Really Learn To Play a Musical Instrument From an Online Course?

Out of the 250 million people in the United States, about 25 million of them play an instrument of some kind, or used to when they were... Read More

Formal Highland Attire: The Correct Wearing of the Kilt; the National Dress of Scotland

We don't simply wear a theatrical costume; we wear the national dress of Scotland. While some people might think that any proposed definition of what is "correct"... Read More

Zen and the Art of New Age Piano

We all want to be in the moment. That's where real transformation takes place. For some, walking gets them there. Others like to play sports or watch... Read More

How to Start Your Own Band

Every once in awhile a guitar student will express a desire to be in a band someday.If this is your ambition too, then read on. Whether you're... Read More

If Setting The Gain Correctly is So Important, Why Dont Mic Preamplifiers Have Meters?

When you first learn how to use a mixing console, you will be shown how to set the gain. Your instructor - either in audio school or... Read More

Why Do Music Lovers Still Prefer to Buy Records?

In the late 1940's, the 45-RPM record replaced the 78-RPM record. The 45 was smaller, less breakable and could be made and sold more cheaply. Despite these... Read More

Launch Pad Introduces Subliminal

Who would have ever thought that a call out for a guitar player from the audience would turn into such a wow! Beginning the night off at... Read More

Killer Piano Playing Secrets of a Chord Addict!

I wish you could have seen me play the piano when I was just learning. I was the nearest thing to "hopeless" that you could imagine. I... Read More

Music Making as Spiritual Experience

If you've been playing piano for some time, you may come upon periods where you forget yourself and only the music remains. You might even have had... Read More

Music as Therapy?

Frustrated in a gridlocked?Job got you stressed out?The children have you going crazy?You pop in your favorite tune and you take a deep breath and as if... Read More

Top 7 Donts for Successful Improvisation

1. Don't try and make something happen. Trying blocks the creative flow and will result in blocks.2. Don't expect to create something good. Expectations will always come... Read More

How to Create Backing Tracks If You Dont Play All the Instruments... or Any

Congratulations! Your singing has become amazing, and it's time the world knew. You've also written some songs that are just kick you-know-what. They need to be recorded,... Read More

Growing and Keeping Loyal Fan Support

Fan support for musicians is a two way street. You make the music, release the CDs, and play the shows. You need fans to show up at... Read More

Learning How To Improvise

Those of you who have been reading my articles for some time now know that I believe improvisation to be the cornerstone of musical creativity. Why? Because... Read More