An audio mastering engineer is an audio professional responsible for the final step in the music production process, ensuring that a recording achieves its highest potential in terms of sound quality, consistency, and overall sonic impact. Their primary role is to polish and optimise the mix to make it suitable for distribution across various formats and playback systems.
A mastering engineers duties typically include:
Enhancing Sound Quality: The mastering engineer will use a combination of technical tools and artistic judgment to enhance the clarity, depth, and dynamics of the audio. This may involve applying EQ, compression, stereo widening, limiting and other processing techniques to achieve a balanced and cohesive sound.
Ensuring Consistency: Mastering engineers work to ensure that all tracks on an album or project sound consistent in terms of volume, tonal balance, and overall character.
Optimising For Different Formats: A mastering engineers will prepare the final audio for distribution across various formats, such as CD, vinyl, digital streaming, and broadcast. This involves tailoring the audio to meet the specific technical requirements and limitations of each format while preserving the integrity of the original mix.
Correcting Technical Issues: Mastering engineers will identify and address any technical issues in the audio, such as imbalances between channels, removing harsh frequencies and rebalancing the frequency range.
Adding Final Touches: In addition to technical adjustments, mastering engineers may also apply creative enhancements to the audio, such as adding saturation, stereo widening, or other processes to enhance the emotional impact of the music.
Quality Control: Mastering engineers perform rigorous quality control checks to ensure that the final audio meets industry standards for clarity, fidelity, and compatibility across different playback systems.
Overall, the role of an audio mastering engineer is critical in transforming a mix into a polished, professional product ready for distribution and consumption by audiences worldwide. Their expertise lies in both technical proficiency and artistic sensibility, making them essential collaborators in the music production process.
ABOUT PAUL ASHMORE
Paul co owns and works at Audio Animals as the lead mixing & mastering engineer. With over 2 decades of experience under his belt mixing & mastering for some of the world biggest artists and films. Paul has established himself as one of the industries go to engineers for all genres.
The pride of Paul’s mixing & mastering studio is his 9.1.4 PMC Dolby Atmos speaker system. With 15 speakers positioned perfectly around him. Paul mixes in a fully immersive 3D space, achieving a sound unlike anything you have every heard before.
ABOUT NICK BURCHALL
Nick co owns and works at Audio Animals as the lead mastering engineer. With over 2 decades of experience under his belt mastering for some of the world biggest artists and films. Nick has established himself as one of the industries best engineers for all genres.
The pride of Nick’s mastering studio is his £150,000 mastering chain consisting of the legendary UnFairchild 670m mk2, Shadow Hills optograph compressor and Elysia Alpha compressor. Three of the industries most sought after compressors money can buy. Using such high quality equipment in Nick’s unique way achieves a sound unlike any other.
