Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 350))

Abstract

Mastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device (the master); the source from which all copies will be produced (via methods such as pressing, duplication or replication). Recently, the format choice includes using digital masters although analog masters, such as audio tapes, are still being used by the manufacturing industry and by a few engineers who have chosen to specialize in analog mastering. In order to make a deterministic process, mastering requires critical listening; there are software mastering tools available to facilitate this last step, but results still depend upon the accuracy of speaker monitors. In addition, “music mastering” engineers may also need to apply corrective equalization and dynamic enhancement in order to improve upon sound translation on all playback systems. This paper gives an overview of the audio mastering process and the various techniques used in it.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Reiss, J.D.: Design of Audio Parametric Equalizer Filters Directly in the Digital Domain. IEEE Transactions on Audio, Speech, and Language Processing 19 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Orfanidis, S.J.: High-order digital parametric equalizer design. J. Audio Eng. Soc. 53, 1026–1046 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mishali, M., Eldar, Y.C.: Blind Multiband Signal Reconstruction: Compressed Sensing for Analog Signals. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing 57(3) (March 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Holters, M., Zölzer, U.: Graphic Equalizer Design Using Higher-Order Recursive Filters. In: Proc. of the 9th Int. Conference on Digital Audio Effects, Montreal (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Orfanidis, S.J.: High-order digital parametric equalizer design. J. Audio Eng. Soc. 53(11), 1026–1046 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Peleg, S., Ben-Ezra, M.: Omnistereo: Panoramic Stereo Imaging. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence 23(3) (March 2001)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Barchiesi, D., Reiss, J.: Reverse Engineering of a Mix. J. Audio Eng. Soc. 58(7/8) (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Katz, B.: Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science. Focal Press (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Breebaart, J., Engdegård, J., Falch, C., Hellmuth, O., Hilpert, J., Hoelzer, A., Koppens, J., Oomen, W., Resch, B., Schuijers, E., Terentiev, L.: Spatial Audio Object Coding (SAOC)-The Upcoming MPEG Standard on Parametric Object Based Audio Coding. Presented at the 124th Convention of the Audio Engineering Society (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Simmer, U., Schmidt, D., Bitzer, J.: Parameter Estimation of Dynamic Range Compressors: Models, Procedures, and Test Signals. Presented at the 120th Convention of the Audio Engineering Society, J. AudioEng. Soc. (Abstracts) 54, 736 (2006); Convention Paper 6849

    Google Scholar 

  11. Barchiesi, D., Reiss, J.: Automatic Target Mixing Using Least-Squares Optimization of Gain and Equalization Settings. In: Proc. 12th Int. Conf. on Digital Audio Effects (DAFx 2009), vol. 1, pp. 7–14 (September 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Zolzer, U.: DAFx: Digital Audio Effects. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  13. McNally, G.W.: Dynamic Range Control of Digital Audio Signals. J. Audio Eng. Soc. 32, 316–327 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bharitkar, S., Kyriakakis, C.: Immersive Audio Signal Processing. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  15. Karjalainen, M., et al.: About room response equalization and dereverberation. In: Proc.WASPAA 2005, New Paltz, NY, pp. 183–186 (October 2005)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Miyoshi, M., Kaneda, Y.: Inverse filtering of room acoustics. IEEE Trans. Signal Processing 36(2), 145–152 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hans, M., Schafer, R.W.: Lossless compression of digital audio. IEEE Signal Processing Magazine 18(4), 21–32 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Rad, M., Mertins, A., Bumett, I.: Audio compression using the MLT and SPIHT. In: Proceedings of DSPCS 2002, pp. 128–132 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Irwan, R., Aarts, R.M.: Two-to-five channel sound processing. J. Audio Eng. Soc. 50(11), 914–926 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Faller, C.: Multiple-loudspeaker playback of stereo signals. J. Audio Eng. Soc. 54(11), 1051–1064 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Prince, S., Shankar Kumar, K.R. (2012). Survey on Effective Audio Mastering. In: Kim, Th., Ko, Ds., Vasilakos, T., Stoica, A., Abawajy, J. (eds) Computer Applications for Communication, Networking, and Digital Contents. FGCN 2012. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 350. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35594-3_41

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35594-3_41

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-35593-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35594-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics