Re-mastering a song involves taking a previously mixed and mastered track and applying new or updated mastering processes to improve it, adapt it to a new format, or simply give it a fresh perspective. This could be necessary for various reasons, such as:
- Updating the sound for modern standards (e.g., remastering older tracks for streaming platforms)
- Improving the quality for a specific medium (e.g., vinyl, CD, digital distribution)
- Making corrections or changes to a previous master (e.g., removing unwanted distortion, adjusting the balance, etc.)
- Adapting to new technology or trends (e.g., remastering a track to be compatible with a wider range of audio devices or formats)
Here’s a guide on how to re-master a song effectively:
1. Understanding the Original Master
Before you start re-mastering, you should listen carefully to the original track, and identify the areas where you think improvements or changes are needed. This includes:
- Tone and Balance: Does the track sound too bright, muddy, or thin? Is the bass too overpowering, or are the vocals too buried?
- Loudness: Is the track too quiet, or is the loudness level too high (causing distortion or a loss of dynamic range)?
- Stereo Image: Is the track well-balanced in the stereo field, or does it need more width or focus?
- Clipping or Distortion: Are there any parts of the track that are distorted or harsh?
2. Preparation for Re-Mastering
The first step is ensuring you have access to the highest-quality version of the original song for re-mastering. If you’re not working with the original stems, you’ll be working with a stereo mixdown (the final version of the track) that has already been mastered.
Important things to note:
- Check for Clipping: If the original track is already clipped, you may have to deal with some distortion. If possible, work with an uncompressed or lightly compressed version (e.g., the stems or a pre-master mix).
- Understand the Target Format: What is the song being re-mastered for? Streaming? Vinyl? CD? The mastering process varies based on the medium, so knowing your target format is crucial.
3. Listen with Fresh Ears
After loading the track into your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), listen through high-quality headphones or speakers. Take notes on:
- Frequency imbalances: Is there too much low end? Too much high-end? Any frequencies that sound overly harsh?
- Dynamics: Are the dynamics intact, or is the track too flat? Does it feel like the song breathes or is the compression too aggressive?
- Stereo Width: Is the stereo field wide enough, or does the track feel centered and narrow?
4. EQ Adjustments
EQ is a critical tool for shaping the overall tonal balance of a track. Here’s how to approach it during re-mastering:
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Correcting Frequency Issues: Identify any problematic frequencies from the original mix. For example:
- Too much bass: You may want to reduce low-end frequencies (below 60 Hz) to avoid muddiness.
- Harsh mids or highs: If the track sounds overly bright, use a gentle cut around 2-4 kHz to smooth out any harshness.
- Subtle tonal shaping: Sometimes you just need to enhance certain frequencies to make the track more vibrant, like boosting around 100-200 Hz to add warmth or lifting some high frequencies to make it more airy.
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Gentle Cuts: Avoid heavy boosts. It’s often more effective to make subtle cuts to reduce problematic frequencies rather than boosting others.
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Linear Phase EQ: If you're working with an older track and want to preserve the phase relationships of the original, using a linear phase EQ might help maintain transparency and avoid introducing unwanted artifacts.
5. Compression and Limiting
Compression and limiting help with controlling dynamics and achieving the loudness you want.
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Gentle Compression: When re-mastering, you typically want to apply gentle compression to smooth out the dynamics without squashing the track too much. Look for a low ratio (e.g., 1.5:1 or 2:1) and apply it lightly to avoid too much pumping or breathing.
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Multiband Compression: If certain parts of the frequency spectrum are too dynamic (e.g., the low end is too boomy or the high end too sharp), you can use multiband compression to control specific ranges. For example, tighten up the bass without affecting the mid-range or treble.
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Limiting: This is the final step of the mastering chain to increase the overall loudness of the track. A brickwall limiter can be used to ensure that the track doesn’t peak above 0 dB. The goal is to achieve competitive loudness while still preserving the dynamics.
- Avoid over-limiting, as it can introduce distortion and reduce dynamic range. Aim for a healthy balance of loudness and clarity.
6. Stereo Enhancement
If the track feels narrow, you might want to enhance the stereo width slightly. However, be cautious:
- Stereo Widening: Use subtle stereo widening effects to expand the stereo image, especially in the higher frequencies (like cymbals or vocals). Be careful not to overdo it, as it can lead to phase issues or unnatural sound.
- Mid/Side EQ: You can apply EQ separately to the mid (center) and side (stereo) signals using mid/side processing. For example, you could add a bit of clarity to the high end in the side channels without affecting the center (vocals, bass, etc.).
7. Final Volume Adjustment
Once the EQ, compression, and other effects are in place, ensure that the track is at an optimal level for its intended distribution:
- Target LUFS: For streaming platforms, aim for a loudness of around -14 LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) for optimal sound quality without clipping.
- Check for Distortion: Play the track back at various volumes to ensure there is no distortion or clipping, especially on peaks or loud sections.
8. Creating Different Masters for Different Formats
Consider how the track will be distributed. Different formats might require different levels of loudness or EQ adjustments:
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Vinyl Mastering: If you're mastering for vinyl, you’ll need to account for the limitations of the format, such as the need for more dynamic range and less low-end frequencies (since deep bass can cause issues with groove tracking).
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Streaming Mastering: For platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, the loudness standards are typically lower, so avoid making the track too loud, which might trigger loudness normalization.
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CD Mastering: For CD, you have more flexibility with loudness, but dynamic range should still be maintained. A high-resolution master (e.g., 24-bit) might also be necessary.
9. Test on Different Systems
After you’ve completed the re-master, listen to the track on different listening systems:
- Studio Monitors: For the most accurate representation.
- Headphones: To check for clarity and detail.
- Car Speakers: To see how it translates to more "real-world" playback systems.
- Consumer Speakers: Like Bluetooth speakers, laptops, or smartphones to test for overall compatibility.
Make any necessary adjustments based on how the track translates across these systems.
10. Final Check and Export
After making all the necessary adjustments, do a final check:
- Ensure the track is balanced, clear, and translates well across all systems.
- Export the track in the required format (WAV, MP3, etc.), ensuring you use the correct sample rate and bit depth for the target platform.
Conclusion
Re-mastering a song can breathe new life into an old track, adapt it for modern formats, or correct issues from a previous master. It’s a highly technical process that requires an understanding of both the artistic and technical aspects of sound, but with the right tools and approach, you can achieve a polished, professional result. Always listen critically, and use your ears as your primary guide.
By the Stealify Team!
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