Interesting video and good job -- given your process you would probably like Studio One's mastering Project Page setup, which makes album assembly much easier, particularly allowing you to directly return to the song's file if any small changes are required.
This was great Bill!!! I much appreciate this lesson! Very helpful! I am in the planning stages of an Ambient album or EP. Thanks again for this info! Blessing!
Another step I think is helpful, is to load up a benchmark track(s), i.e. something commercially produced, in the genre you're aiming at, for comparison 👍.
I actually don’t use a separate session for mastering as frequently anymore. Nowadays I just import mastering fx in master channel and mix the songs based on how the mastering fx are treating them. I think a lot of people look down on that method 😬 but it works for me.
I definitely do that for all of my UA-cam videos, and also when I am just dealing with a single piece. I find it easier to adjust tonal balance and loudness if I can quickly hear each song next to each other. But there are so many great tools out there - more than one way to work for sure!
I really am enjoying this series! How did you learn all your mixing and mastering? Was there someone you knew you helped you out over the years or is it self taught?
I started mixing multi-track reel tape deck audio back in the late 70s through the early 90s. I then took that experience and used it to make the transition to digital. Mastering has been an interest of mine over the last 20 years or so. Many books, blogs, videos and forums... :-)
Lots of good stuff here, I was especially impressed by that stereo image tool. I could use something like that myself! For my own mastering, I definitely try to 1: get as much done in mixing as possible and 2: do it quickly. Over-thinking and over-listening never did me any good and it feels like an easy trap to fall into.
Throughout the second half of the video I wanted to say, «Bill, turn off the solo midrange listening in the Imager». But in spite of that, it's a very useful video. Just in the mastering stage of my ambient/post-rock album.
Good stuff. Wondering why you don't use Ozone on the master buss for final level and mastering reverb, maybe you prefer those other plugins? 🤔 Also would like to hear an A/B of the tape simulator, maybe on the next one 👍
Hi Bill, very good, instructive video. Do you automate any of the parameters as you master a track? I'm thinking of stereo image, EQ, compression, etc. With HOFA, how did you decide on the 1.747 second break? Looking forward to the album!
the 1.747 interval is the default setting of the software. Always worked well for me as the starting point. As far as automation goes, sometimes I will automate in the mastering phase, but it is more likely in the mix.
No, -14 LUFS is still the most common standard, including Spotify. I normally master a couple of dB louder though to ensure that Spotify does not try to turn up my tracks and potentially engage it's own limiter.
For mastering, once I get all songs properly mixed, I would say a first pass mastering of each song is probably about an hour or so. If I pick up any major flaws, I will typically stop mastering, and go back to the mix of the problem child song. That way the mastering process is a little easier.
Thanks for sharing Bill. Best wishes from the UK 👍👍🎶🎶🎶🎶😊😊😊😊
Great run through! Love Ozone 10. Your album is sounding really good!
This is awesome. I commented before that I'd like to see your mixing/mastering process, and here are two lovely videos! Bill delivers!!
Sounds great! Looking forward to hearing the whole album.
Wow amazing sir I really love to learn this n make my song wonderful Into stereo
Such a well explained video
Yet anorher good one!
As always, great videos! Thanks for the mood! I'm learning from you to do ambient. Thank you!
Interesting video and good job -- given your process you would probably like Studio One's mastering Project Page setup, which makes album assembly much easier, particularly allowing you to directly return to the song's file if any small changes are required.
Thank you so much for this insight!
Glad it was helpful!
This was great Bill!!! I much appreciate this lesson! Very helpful! I am in the planning stages of an Ambient album or EP. Thanks again for this info! Blessing!
Another step I think is helpful, is to load up a benchmark track(s), i.e. something commercially produced, in the genre you're aiming at, for comparison 👍.
I actually don’t use a separate session for mastering as frequently anymore. Nowadays I just import mastering fx in master channel and mix the songs based on how the mastering fx are treating them. I think a lot of people look down on that method 😬 but it works for me.
I definitely do that for all of my UA-cam videos, and also when I am just dealing with a single piece. I find it easier to adjust tonal balance and loudness if I can quickly hear each song next to each other. But there are so many great tools out there - more than one way to work for sure!
I really am enjoying this series! How did you learn all your mixing and mastering? Was there someone you knew you helped you out over the years or is it self taught?
I started mixing multi-track reel tape deck audio back in the late 70s through the early 90s. I then took that experience and used it to make the transition to digital. Mastering has been an interest of mine over the last 20 years or so. Many books, blogs, videos and forums... :-)
Great video! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Lots of good stuff here, I was especially impressed by that stereo image tool. I could use something like that myself!
For my own mastering, I definitely try to 1: get as much done in mixing as possible and 2: do it quickly. Over-thinking and over-listening never did me any good and it feels like an easy trap to fall into.
Good tips!! Thanks!
Throughout the second half of the video I wanted to say, «Bill, turn off the solo midrange listening in the Imager». But in spite of that, it's a very useful video. Just in the mastering stage of my ambient/post-rock album.
Oh man! You are right. So sorry.
@@chordsoforion you should not worry about it
Good stuff. Wondering why you don't use Ozone on the master buss for final level and mastering reverb, maybe you prefer those other plugins? 🤔 Also would like to hear an A/B of the tape simulator, maybe on the next one 👍
Hi Bill, very good, instructive video. Do you automate any of the parameters as you master a track? I'm thinking of stereo image, EQ, compression, etc.
With HOFA, how did you decide on the 1.747 second break?
Looking forward to the album!
the 1.747 interval is the default setting of the software. Always worked well for me as the starting point. As far as automation goes, sometimes I will automate in the mastering phase, but it is more likely in the mix.
I'm still using Ozone 9...Curious, was 10 really worth the upgrade ?
Awesome vid as usual! Is -11lufs now the standard and not -14lufs? Or is that just a spotify thing?
No, -14 LUFS is still the most common standard, including Spotify. I normally master a couple of dB louder though to ensure that Spotify does not try to turn up my tracks and potentially engage it's own limiter.
@@chordsoforion oh okay!! Thanks for the response Bill!
As far as time, how long on average do you spend on one song? I've always wondered, I'm sure everyone is different depending on task at hand.
For mastering, once I get all songs properly mixed, I would say a first pass mastering of each song is probably about an hour or so. If I pick up any major flaws, I will typically stop mastering, and go back to the mix of the problem child song. That way the mastering process is a little easier.