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Academy

Mastering

Levels, loudness, saturation and comparison with a reference: the decisions of the last stage.

Advanced6 lessons≈ 51 min

Objectives

  • Recognise poor gain staging.
  • Tell peak level, average level and loudness apart.
  • Diagnose a master's faults and compare with a reference.

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Modules

  1. 01Levels

    Gain staging, peak, RMS and LUFS.

    1. Gain stagingToo low, you hear the noise; too high, you clip.
    2. Peak and average levelTwo sounds with the same peak level can sound very different.
    3. LoudnessLUFS measures perceived level, weighted like the ear.

  2. 02Final checks

    Saturation, typical faults, references.

    1. Saturation and clippingSoft saturation colours; hard clipping damages.
    2. A master's faultsToo much bass, too much treble, over-compressed: learn to diagnose.
    3. Comparing with a referenceA reference is only useful at equal level.