Why is Audio CD Mastering necessary?

In the recording studio, you record one song at a time, and the focus of the recording or mixing engineer is to make each song great. The result, however, is generally a collection of songs that all peak at different levels and may have different EQs. In the post-production phase (called mastering), a professional engineer unifies the CD by using EQ, compression, and other dynamics processing to give it a consistent sound from track to track.

In addition, post production can raise your album's overall level through the careful use of compression, so your album can compete with any major label release. The audio mastering engineer also ensures that your music will sound great - whether it's being played through a car stereo, a portable CD player, or a top-of-the-line stereo system. In CD Mastering, the sound of your CD will be optimized, making it sound punchy, warm, and full, while raising the overall level (volume) and highlighting details that aren't already apparent. Post production is also helpful for addressing issues such as "pops," out-of-phase tracks, and overall noise reduction.

A fresh pair of ears can be the difference between a good-sounding CD and a great one. A real advantage of post production is that an unbiased sound professional has the opportunity to evaluate your audio master and determine how to get the most out of your production. After you've spent weeks or even months in a recording studio listening to your CD over and over again, a fresh pair of ears can put the project into perspective for you and let you know whether or not your CD will benefit from post production. After all, you only have one chance to make your music sound its best. The choice is up to you.

The audio mastering engineer, to improve your recording, can:

• Raise the overall level.

• Even out song levels and EQ individual tracks for cohesion.

• Correct minor mix deficiencies with equalization.

• Enhance flow by changing the space between tracks.

• Eliminate noises between tracks.

Free preview!
We're so confident that mastering can make a huge difference in the majority of recordings, that we are offering a FREE Mastering review - upon request - when you place a new CD replication order. As part of our mission to make your CD project a success, a SoundLab engineer will preview your master to determine whether or not your CD would benefit from post production. Call us and we'll give you our honest opinion with no sales pitch.