Audio Mastering Course

Overview

Do you want your tracks to compare favourably with the ones you hear in clubs and on the radio etc? If so, the Audio Mastering Course is the finishing touch you are looking for. It is designed to help you develop/tune your ears, find out about mastering EQ, compression (including multi-band), limiting, mid/side processing and more. We think it makes sense to learn how to master your own tunes and get the results you need every time. We have based this course on Waves plug ins but the skills you absorb can be applied to any mastering software or hardware. The Audio Mastering course has been developed by JC Concato (mix engineer for The Cure, Erasure, US3) and Doug Shearer (mastering engineer for Jamelia, Gorillaz, Kasabian), with contributions from top industry professionals, Jim Lowe (producer/engineer for Stereophonics, The Charlatans) & Bunt Stafford Clark (mastering engineer for Thom Yorke, Manic Street Preachers, Aloe Blacc).Demonstrated by a professional mastering engineer at the top of his game who has worked with top acts in the best mastering studios in London, this is the culmination of your musical journey: the mysterious art of mastering is revealed!

 

Includes a minimum of 480 mins video / 8 x DVR™ (1-2-1 video feedback)/ 8 hours live masterclasses /1 year access / over 160 pages of course notes / 24/7 access to forum / exclusive audio resources to download. Optional: sign your track to Point Blank Music distributed by iTunes, beatport, Juno Download and Amazon.

 

   "Mastering is one of the most important stages of the production process and we're delighted that Point Blank have gone with Waves as their plugins of choice”

Gilad Keren, Waves Audio CEO

 

 

Course Preview

 

 

Course Contents

Week 1: What Is Mastering?

  • Mastering process: should I master while I mix?
  • What is mastering? A brief history
  • Perception, psycho acoustics, octaves, dBs
  • Speaker designs & monitoring environment
  • Levels (Fletcher-Munson); perceived vs absolute

 

Week 2: Digital Theory

  • Digital audio, Sample rate, bit depth
  • Metering: VU & peak, phase, spectrum analyzer
  • Preparation: file format, sample rate, bit depth
  • Project set-up and management
  • Introduction to plug-ins: a typical chain

 

Week 3: EQ

  • Spectral content: identify the bands
  • EQ designs: analog & digital
  • EQ types: filters, peaks and shelves
  • Corrective EQ
  • Creative EQ

 

Week 4: Compression

  • The role of compression at the mastering stage
  • Compressor designs & parameters
  • Typical uses of compression
  • Limiters at the mastering stage
  • Brickwall and the war of loudness

Week 5: Practical Dynamics

  • How EQ & compression interact
  • Understanding transients; how to control them
  • Corrective techniques
  • De-essers
  • Parallel compression

 

Week 6: Mastering in Action

  • Demonstrations in various different music styles
  • Instrumental dance
  • Electronic with vocals
  • Rock/live
  • Acoustic

 

Week 7: Advanced Techniques

  • Dealing with problematic mixes
  • Multi band compression: strengths and uses
  • Stereo width: tools and techniques
  • Mid/Side approach: EQ, volume and dynamics
  • Use of reverb at mastering

 

Week 8: Working on Albums, Compilations

  • Album vs compilation; a different approach
  • Editing: fades, cross-fades, gaps
  • Level and tonal coherence
  • CD (red book, PQ coding, ISRC)
  • Preparing master for pressing plant

Back to programme
 Programme details

Weeks: 16

Price:
£1,190.00

And you save money!

Enrol on a programme and you save £100.00 over the cost of booking each course individually.

FAQ Schedule
 Course details

Weeks: 8

 Available Dates
5th March 2012
30th April 2012
25th June 2012
20th August 2012
15th October 2012

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