mastering a multi track project in logic 8

hi,
mastering is an art of sorts.
logic? - a tool.

the first one has to be learned, the second, can be bought.
DR9.

Well then, interesting reply there, now let's address your question, I do know in File/New/Production there is a Mastering button, is that what you were looking for? I would be interested if you find something there that works for you as I'll be doing the same thing myself soon...

Hello shantastic,

You can select from the template menu, and choose a mastering template as already mentioned.

You can also experiment with the mastering channel-strip presets in the project you are currently working on. Look above the main out fader just above the EQ (the setting button) and you will see the channel strip button. You can choose from "final rock master" or "pop master" and a number of others from the drop down window. Sometimes I will start with one of these and tweak it a lot, but it is still a good starting place.

Good luck!

delton

I think what DR9 is trying to say is that you don't master a recording by using a mastering plugin and experimenting with it. It can only be done by someone with a great deal of knowledge of sound, psychoacoustics and arguably very expensive "Class A" equipment in a tuned acoustic environment. While you may experience a significant improvement in the quality of your mix by applying a mastering plugin in Logic it should be known that it is not equivalent to being professionally mastered.

Cheers

ambient8 I agree 100%

I was thinking that he/she is coming to the final stages of the song and wanting to experiment with mastering, at least that is what I was to understand from the question. Some folks may not have the budget for pro, or maybe it's more of a hobby... who knows.

I am in a similar situation and I am learning a lot by fiddling about. It is a lot harder than I though it would be. I am a very experienced live audio engineer, but finding it somewhat difficult to achieve a good mix. My first approach was to mix with the live mentality, loud and full... this did not translate very well obviously.

Several times over the years I have had a studio engineer show up to mix their band live and it was a disaster, many times having to take over and bail them out. Kind of on the other end of it now in this.

Anyhow, when I am done writing and recording and ready to have a quality record I will definitely bring it to a pro.

-delton

Shantastic,

Logic Plug-Ins are quite fantastic for Mastering as well..Multipressor...Adaptive Limiter..Linear EQ...Graphic 30 band EQ...and so on...

Some will suggest you to bring the Final Mix to the Pro for Class A Mastering...

You s'ld ask yourself..what's the purpose of the final product?For 100 times income of the Mastering Payment?If it's just your DIY product...why not take a try by yourself?

2ndly, What's the quality of your input/source? if you doing everything in your budget Home Studio...Will you be able/feel 'worth' to send to Class A mastering production company?

3rd, start learning...it'll be a good guide when you deal with the others...learn about the frequency...what's over and what's under...and so on...

try to check out online..googles it..you'll got a lot of info there...bookmark it..why? cause, one day, after you experiment on all the plug-in of Mastering and those Steps...come back to the bookmark...you'll get some new inspiration to emphasize your project!!

cheers

What does it mean to "master" a multitrack project? Wouldn't you be mixing it? If so, wouldn't you try to make it sound as good as you possibly can while mixing? At what stage in mixing would you refrain from improving the sound to the best of your ability, instead choosing to make this improvement in a later "mastering" process?

I've spent most of my life in professional recording studios, and I used to think I understood what "mastering" means. Originally it was necessary to control levels and keep the stylus from jumping out of the grooves on the record player. It was a final step before manufacturing, ensuring that the tracks on a lp, tape, or CD were in the right sequence, were of the right duration to fit on the side of an lp or cassette, and had an output and tonal curve that conformed to manufacturing and broadcast standards. When different tracks (for an album) came from different producers and studios, an attempt was made to make the tonal palette of the different tracks more consistent with one another.

In almost all cases mastering took place in specially designed rooms, using extremely expensive amplifiers and monitors, and highly specialized mastering engineers who generally weren't known for mixing multitrack. As I played, arranged, wrote, produced, I never gave it a moment's thought.

So I'm a dinosaur, somebody bring me up to date. I see this word everywhere now; 22 year old guys with seventies hair in music stores talk about it. What does mastering mean today, to a composer/producer, project studio owner, and Logic user such as myself? How do I improve the sound of my music through mastering? (As it is, I judiciously use an assortment of compressors, limiters, and eq's, as well as assorted monitors and headphones, whenever I mix.)

A good mastering engineer will spend about 8-10 hours on an album project typically. It goes far beyond sequencing the songs and making sure levels stay fairly even.

It's true that you should get your final mix as close to what you want as possible, but the realities are, in pop music especially, a top mastering engineer (about 300 per hour) can do things you can't. Not just because he or she uses his own bag of tricks, but in most cases because the mastering house is going to be listening to your music in an environment that's about 300 times better than your home studio. They will hear things you miss, and generally get your mix sounding better than you can at home. There are of course exceptions, but if cost is no object, a top mastering engineer can work wonders.
TH