What Does Mastering a Recording Mean?

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Mastering is the process of adding compression and equalization to the final stage of a project to make it loud enough to be broadcast quality while making the project more pleasing to the ear. If you are using a computer or DAW you can use plug ins to great effect to master a project. If not you may have to send the audio out and through a compressor and equalizer and back to a recording medium. If you can afford it expensive tube driven equalizers and compressors are great for this. Try to get a sound that is loud without destroying the timbre and transient qualities of a recording. Don't fall into the trap of who's CD is louder than who's. Studies have shown that over compressed songs are perceived mostly as noise and are ignored making them have less impact than a better recorded recording.

After you have compression and Eq taken care of you should add silence to the intro and outro of all songs if this wasn't done in the original song. Next check your mix on a boombox, in your car, and as many other places as you can. Make notes about any weaknesses in the mix. If you are unhappy with the results make changes and print the CD again. Check it out again and again until you get the right mix for all mediums. It's a tough process but you should have your perfect mix in a few days to a few weeks.