# Audio Mastering **URL:** \ **Category:** Music Production\ **Created:** [September 4, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338 "2011-09-04T00:19:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DJBambii](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/djbambii/32/13017_2.png) [@DJBambii](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJBambii)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/1 "2011-09-04T00:19:45Z")
**Audio Mastering** Alright so I just recently started school (my second semester) For audio engineering. Im really bombing so far(never do the hw) BUT my professor said for every FULLY mastered track I bring him that I did myself , he’ll drop one hw grade(He’s awesome I know). This is where I ask you guys, If you would like to have your tracks mastered, semi-professionally for free, I would like you to email me your track’s project fileOR.wav (perferabbly file, it’s easier to work with) to master, I assure you I am not taking your work, just trying to pass my engineering class. I’ll send back your track when it’s finished. I have at my disposal professional mastering equipment and ABleton and FL10 Thanks in advance for helping me out ---
**Author:** ![strategicsilence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@strategicsilence](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/strategicsilence)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/2 "2011-09-04T04:38:29Z")
are you looking for any specific style to work with? ---
**Author:** ![Nephew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/nephew/32/15077_2.png) [@Nephew](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Nephew)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/3 "2011-09-04T05:44:39Z")
What are you using for mastering exactly, and why would you need the project file? All the a mastering engineer needs is a stereo mixdown to do their job. ---
**Author:** ![biru](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/biru/32/11089_2.png) [@biru](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/biru)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 7:36am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/4 "2011-09-04T07:36:03Z")
> [@Nephew](#): > > What are you using for mastering exactly, and why would you need the project file? All the a mastering engineer needs is a stereo mixdown to do their job. +1 I think OP has mix down and mastering confused. And “professional mastering equipment” plus ableton and fruity loops… 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![djchriswoods.co.uk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@djchriswoods.co.uk](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/djchriswoods.co.uk)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 11:07am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/5 "2011-09-04T11:07:44Z")
> [@biru](#): > > +1 > > I think OP has mix down and mastering confused. And “professional mastering equipment” plus ableton and fruity loops… 🙄 is fruityloops classed as professional? most universities etc and mastering studios tend to use logic etc… troll i know lol ---
**Author:** ![DJBambii](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/djbambii/32/13017_2.png) [@DJBambii](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJBambii)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/6 "2011-09-04T13:43:49Z")
No we basically use everything, and sorry my train of though wandered while posting, I meant stem files, not Project files as for what Im using to master, I’m using WaveLab6 . sorry for being unclear and as for style, Idc, I can work with anyreally, just a little different for each ---
**Author:** ![Glen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/glen/32/15341_2.png) [@Glen](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Glen)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/7 "2011-09-04T13:50:08Z")
Do your homework kid ---
**Author:** ![Nephew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/nephew/32/15077_2.png) [@Nephew](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Nephew)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/8 "2011-09-04T17:00:30Z")
Stems? A mastering engineer doesn’t need stems, all he needs is the stereo mixdown like I said before. Sounds like you want to do full on mixdowns. What one is it? ---
**Author:** ![Nephew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/nephew/32/15077_2.png) [@Nephew](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Nephew)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/9 "2011-09-04T17:03:02Z")
And I did go to school for audio engineering as well. We used Pro Tools the whole time from start to finish except for when we learned the very basics of midi, and for that we used Logic. Where are you going to school at? ---
**Author:** ![DJBambii](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/djbambii/32/13017_2.png) [@DJBambii](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJBambii)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/10 "2011-09-04T17:20:44Z")
1. Stems are optional. Its called Stem Mastering 2. Im going to Expressions. We use Ableton(w/Wavelab) and Logic, there’s different classes for each, it’s pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Nephew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/nephew/32/15077_2.png) [@Nephew](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Nephew)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/11 "2011-09-04T19:17:09Z")
> [@DJBambii](#): > > 1. Stems are optional. Its called Stem Mastering Stems are a fix for problem mixes, but they aren’t what you should look to first. A stereo mix should have the balances and creative vision the artist and producer were looking for. Those decisions should already be made and mixing should preferably be finished before it gets to mastering. However, there are times when an inexperienced mixer wants the help, or due to certain conditions a mix is in bad shape and stems may offer a fix. Still, they’re a backup, not a primary. So if you get a really shitty mixdown, then you might want the stems, but in all actuality you would just tell the artist to go back and look over a few things instead of taking it upon yourself to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Nephew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/nephew/32/15077_2.png) [@Nephew](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Nephew)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/12 "2011-09-04T19:28:27Z")
Is this where you are attending? Because after looking over the curriculum, the only DAW’s they mentioned were Pro Tools and Logic for their Computer Music Production (aka MIDI class) from what I could see, there was no mention of Ableton or Fruity Loops. ---
**Author:** ![nubz69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e47c2d/32.png) [@nubz69](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/nubz69)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/13 "2011-09-05T00:58:23Z")
Stem mastering seems to be a new thing. I never heard of it but a little googling showed me it is now somewhat common. What I want to know is what playback gear you plan on using while mastering. A lot of guys do not have a system with the resolution required to do proper mastering. If I had a track I would send it your way. If for some reason I get bored and decide to make one I will be sure to have you master it for me. Some of you guys should jump on this, its a chance for you to learn what is required to get a track ready for release. ---
**Author:** ![DJBambii](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/djbambii/32/13017_2.png) [@DJBambii](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJBambii)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/14 "2011-09-05T01:46:35Z")
Heres all the equipment: 27 inch iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 16GB Ram 1TB Hard Drive Mackie HR824 & Genelec Monitoring Avalon VT 737sp Mic pre Nuemann TLM 102 M-Audio Profire 2626 Firewire interface M-Audio Axiom 49 Wavelab 7 ---
**Author:** ![biru](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/biru/32/11089_2.png) [@biru](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/biru)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 7:25am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/15 "2011-09-05T07:25:41Z")
[QUOTE=DJBambii;344502]Heres all the equipment: **27 inch iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo** **16GB Ram 1TB Hard Drive** Mackie HR824 & Genelec Monitoring **Avalon VT 737sp Mic pre** **Nuemann TLM 102** M-Audio Profire 2626 Firewire interface **M-Audio Axiom 49** Wavelab 7 [QUOTE] What do mics, preamps, computer HW and Midi Controllers have to do with mastering? Also, the photo has a MacPro not an iMac and who would want to master in a room with a jet engine in a box? (I love macs but the pros are NOISY). ---
**Author:** ![Nephew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/nephew/32/15077_2.png) [@Nephew](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Nephew)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/audio-mastering/29338/16 "2011-09-05T10:12:56Z")
[quote=“biru, post:15, topic:29338, username:biru”] [QUOTE=DJBambii;344502]Heres all the equipment: **27 inch iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo** **16GB Ram 1TB Hard Drive** Mackie HR824 & Genelec Monitoring **Avalon VT 737sp Mic pre** **Nuemann TLM 102** M-Audio Profire 2626 Firewire interface **M-Audio Axiom 49** Wavelab 7 > [@](#): > > What do mics, preamps, computer HW and Midi Controllers have to do with mastering? Also, the photo has a MacPro not an iMac and who would want to master in a room with a jet engine in a box? (I love macs but the pros are NOISY). Exactly, all you need for mastering is a couple high end filters, multiband compressors and a proper listening environment. I had a chance to spend an afternoon with Bob Katz with my instructor and was blown away by how simple, yet elegant his set up is in his studio and we had the chance to just watch him work and do his thing. But the part that was the most bizarre was the room itself. It was such an odd shape, never seen a room like it before but now I know why it was built that way. No mater how good your engineering tools are, if you have a shitty room you’re phucked from the start.