

- #Stereo master vs stem master drivers
- #Stereo master vs stem master free
- #Stereo master vs stem master windows
Mastering for radio can mean a specific master which will sound better when broadcast. This can be advantageous to know about because for a very small nominal fee a master can be prepared and optimized to suit a more specific purpose. On occasion I will converse with a producer/musician or label and they will know exactly where and how they are promoting their music. I wanted to bring these issues up and then focus on the title of the entry as it goes some way to explain the potential need for specific versions of a master.

A further example of being able to optimize translation and fidelity for different purposes. A mastering engineer can now use various real time auditioning technologies to hear how these codecs and bit rates affect the sound of the audio and as such can optimize for a variety of audio codecs. 5) File format and streaming codecs / YouTubeįile formats and lossy compression algorhythms can change the sound of music, this is a fact. Modern electronic dance genres tend to carry this additional bass weight. it is likely to have heavier bass than an acoustic rock/folk track. This taste can be extended to genre based expectations… a good example would be that of a heavy drum and bass track…. A good mastering engineer will be able to incorporate and advise on whether such taste preference is likely to cause any negative technical consequences. As such an important aspect of mastering which may be divorced from the 3 sub headings above which are largely technical. We are humans, we are “same-same but different”, we have tastes and therefore it is normal to have preferences. (not least that at least one major players volume normalization is not very good ! ) 4) Taste and genre translation You will be unable to know whether an end user has such volume normalization switched on or off. Some of these systems now employ volume normalization systems further complicating the goal.
#Stereo master vs stem master windows
These could be online internet radio, FM broadcast radio, any number of given media player / media distribution channels such as iTunes, Spotify, Windows media player, VLC player, Winamp etc. There are different reproduction systems (devices and sound systems) and also different mediums of “transmission”. It is one or the other or an optimization somewhere in the middle and why it is very important that good communications occur prior to a mastering job commencing. Although I do want the track to sound contemporary and be competitive with current releases.” That is squarely a contradiction. “I like to maintain the dynamics in my music as I am not a proponent of the loudness war as such. There is no right or wrong it is goal related.Īs an aside it is quite common to hear a client say. And of course many take the middle route as an optimal compromise between the 2.
#Stereo master vs stem master free
Some may want a blisteringly loud master and some favour free and largely untouched wide dynamics on their tracks. As well as considering the perceived volumes for different systems some musicians may have a very clear taste or genre specific requirement. So when mastering such considerations must be taken into account. promotional means, radio transmissions or a club situation) A good example is that listening to a cd in a car (with a large dynamic range) might mean some soft musical passages are obscured by road noise relative to chilling out at home with headphones on in a quiet room. This is a very complex issue in modern times and often the one where most compromise is born relative to a desired purpose.
#Stereo master vs stem master drivers
An in-store system might only comprise of a sole driver whereas a club system might involve 4 or more drivers covering the complete spectrum from deep sub bass to the highest highs. As such an engineer must be able to ensure that any given mix will be tonally balanced to sound as good as it can for either reproduction system. system is very different than a club sound system. We can easily understand that an in-store P.A. This is important as different sound systems are voiced differently due to their transducer (speaker) arrangement and physical size. one that is not too bass heavy or bass light, or one that is too bright or not bright enough, or conversely a harsh sounding master vs one lacking in presence. Tonal translation relates to the play back tone of a master, i.e. Let’s discuss that personal train of thought for a while : 1) Tonal translation This goal has become more complex in modern times and can now be broken down into numerous sub headings. The goal of mastering is to provide a master which translates well. Mastering for radio may mean specific tweaks on the end results that may not strictly be appropriate for other purposes. This topic will cover mastering for radio broadcasts and ask what a “radio ready” master is ?
