Glossary: Mastering | Sweetwater.com

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Mastering

Though used (too) generically in our industry, this word can mean many subtly different things. The most common (and correct) understanding is that mastering is the process where recorded material is taken from a "master tape" and prepared for duplication in the format of the final release media. Historically this originated with transferring material from tapes to an acetate master disk, which was the first process in making phonograph records. The entire process was as much an art as a science, and as production quality and technology advanced, many practices were developed that helped make better and better sounding records. This advancement included many potential processes of the audio signal such as equalization, compression, limiting, normalization, widening the stereo image, editing fades, and just putting the songs in the correct order. They started out as simple tweaks that had to be done to make audio play correctly on vinyl records, but producers learned that a good mastering engineer could be the difference in how an album ended up sounding as a whole. A well mastered record was better and more consistent in terms of levels and tone quality, which became more and more important as radio airplay and home hi-fi systems became more prevalent in our society.

Nowadays, with the convenience, quality, and affordability of digital audio equipment, many of these steps are done in the recording studio (home or otherwise) where the material was recorded. A significant percentage of the equipment sold at Sweetwater Sound is for this purpose and is being purchased by beginners and pros alike. Still, however, the last few steps of the mastering process, which is very different for CD's than it was for LP's (see WFTD archive LP), are done after the material leaves the studio. Sometimes an actual mastering house is used, and other times the "mastered" material is sent directly to a duplication facility where they can also do the final few steps. The lines between how much of it are done in the studio, versus a mastering house, versus the duplication house are very blurry at this point.

More in depth info on mastering can be found at the following Web sites:

M-RAM (Magneto RAM)	M-S Stereo	M4P
Macassar Ebony	Machine Control	Machine Head
Machine Room	Macro	MADI
Mag	Magneto-Optical	Mahogany
Mains	Major Scale	Makeup Gain
Mandocello	Mandolin	Mandolin Rail
Mannheim School	Manual	Maple
Mapping	Map Shape Nationals	MARCAD
Marcato	Marker	Marquetry
MAS (Motu Audio System)	Masking	Master
Master Fader	Mastering	Master Volume
Matrix Mixer	Matrix Surround	Max/MSP
Maximize (Maximizer)	Maximum SPL (Sound Pressure Level)	MDF
MDL	MDM	Mean-free Path
Measure	Mechanical Right	Median Plane
Media Transfer Protocol (MTP)	Medium Diaphragm	Mega
Megabyte	Melisma	Melisma
Melita Bridge	Mellotron	Melodeon
Melody	Membranophone	Menu
Merge Files	Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP)	Metadata
Metal Particle Tape	Meter	Meter Bridge
Metronome	Mho	MHz, Megahertz
MI	Mic Amp	Mic Level
Microfarad	Microphone	Microphonic
Microtone	MID	Middle C
MIDI	MIDI Channel	MIDI Clock
MIDI Control Change	MIDI Controller	MIDI Delay
MIDI Echo	MIDI Implementation Chart	MIDI Interface
MIDI Log Jam	MIDI Manager	MIDI Merger
MIDI Mode	MIDI Part	MIDI Port
MIDI Thru	Midrange	Miller Effect
Mini Disk	Minimalism	Minimum Terminating Impedance
Mini Plug/jack	Minor Scale	Minor Second
Mix	Mixdown	Mixed-Mode Disc
Mixing Console	Mix-Minus	Mix to Disk
mLAN	MMA	MIDI Machine Control (MMC)
MME	Mnemonics	MOD
Modality	Mode	Mode
Modeling	Moderato	Moderato
Modified Sine Wave	Modifier Keys	Modular Synthesizer
Modulation	Modulation Noise	Mod Wheel
Maximum Output Level (MOL)	Momentary Switch	Monitor
Mono	Mono Bridge	Monophonic
Monotone	Morado	Mordent
Mortise-and-tenon	Motherboard	Mother of Pearl
Motif	Motion Graphic	Motorized Fader
Mount	Mounting Ring	MOV
Moving Coil	Moving Fader Automation	MP3
MP3 Surround	MPC	MPEG
MPEG-2	MPEG-4	MPU-401
MRB	Mrs. Mills	ms
ms	MSB	MTBF
MIDI Time Code (MTC)	MTS (Multi-channel Television Sound)	MTS (MIDI Time Stamping)
Mu (µ)	Mudrange (slang)	Muffler
Mult	Multi-mode Filter	Multi-Pattern
Multi-Sample	Multi-threading	Multiband Compressor
Multimedia Card	Multimode Filter	Multipath
Multipattern	Multiplex	Multisession
Multitasking	Multitimbral	Multitrack
Musette	Musical Telegraph	Musique Concrete
Mustache Bridge	Mutation Stops	Mute