How I Master My Tech House Tracks

Check Out The Brand New Techno Patches Here
www.evosounds.com/technoserum...
In this video, I go over a track I'm releasing with Tech House producer XY. During the track creation process I got to do the Final Master on the track which the label liked and accepted. In this video, I try my best to explain to you what the purpose of the Mastering Chain is so that you too can master your own music. When Mastering I feel one crucial element we miss is the 2nd set of objective ears we get with an engineer. Objective is the keyword as this is his first time listening to your song and he can give good feedback on song structure, and mixing. With that being said Join me in learning how to master a Tech House track
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:14 What Is The Master?
02:13 -6DB Headroom Magic
03:51 Ozone Imager 9
04:10 How To Use Imagers Example
08:57 Magic Pill for Low-End EQ
11:25 Ozone 9 Exciter (Saturation)
13:58 EQ Shaping BrainWorx
17:12 Resonance Control Gullfoss
19:12 Compression In The Master
23:24 Limiting Phase
28:23 Creating Moments WITH Utility?
29:31 Ozone Match EQ For Last Polish
31:25 Outro
Follow Me
zenworldmusic
zenworldmusic
zenworldmusic
www.soundcloud.com/zenworldmusic
Follow Evolution Of Sound
eospodcast
www.soundcloud.com/eospodcast
evosounds
Visit Our Website for Free Sounds VIP Sounds and sample packs.
www.evosounds.com

[@ZenWorld]

If you guys enjoyed the video and want to support ME you can check out the song here on Beatport www.beatport.com/release/can-i-ask-you/3746744

[@MKNZ.]

Dope track! That bass in the breakdown tickles my ears nicely 😵

[@djjameshayes9766]

What is your name on Spotify dude? Just bought Deceiver vol 2 🔥

[@ZenWorld]

@@djjameshayes9766 Zen World should be there soon as well appreciate you THANKS

[@alexej2544]

Mate, you felt it! I was listening to a demo in one of your packs just a few days ago and thought: damn, how does he do mastering? And you drop a video! NEXT LEVEL

[@ZenWorld]

Yes I felt YA IN ME DEEP IN my brain yes I got you

[@RichardAgain]

Zen you are a legend! I was just finishing up a new track so this was a real treat :)

[@leeavilo]

you’re such a beast zen i just barely started out and i hate all my tracks so far since i didn’t know wtf i was doing at first so don’t even check them out but i’ve been training.. and now i’m building one i feel wayy more confident with thanks to you!! you’re a amazing teacher brother! never stop!

[@gravity00x]

great walkthrough and banger sounding track!

[@carlostorres633]

Been waiting on this

[@azadshigmurad5759]

Thanks Zen, this is very helpful. You're a great teacher.

[@fordman7460]

awesome video!! thanks!

[@prodbymira]

Great video on demystifying what each element does in your master in an entertaining way and without being too dry about it! Really appreciate it What I noticed though is when using third-party plugins you always get that black square, which is only useful if you assign values to the x and y axis to quickly make changes. 99% of the time I tend to not use it, so what I do is minimise the plugin and if the situation occurs, where I have to map parameters, I open it, make the changes and close it after. Huge impact on keeping the plugin chain organised and not getting depressed by seeing black squares all day. Have a great day, y'all! :D

[@djronakdelhi]

Cool track and informative video as always

[@martinlarrivee5081]

Thank you for the Black box advice on the kick. I used it very lightly but it added that little something it was missing

[@Darksagan]

Great video, nice to see you also use acoustic audio plugins. One thing I found that I wish I knew years ago..put your compressor on, use headphones and turn the threshold up. Then start moving the attack and release slowly..you can literally hear the pushing and pulling of the sounds almost like a imager. I almost never even look at the numbers and play it by ear but its harder to notice via monitors without a trained ear.

[@derrickm5013]

Love your channel Zen. I'll be happy to buy some stuff from your site soon. Thanks!

[@infidiem4145]

bro cant thank you enough for this video 🙏🙏🙏

[@Semperf11]

I’m back again.. few months later mastering some things I made. Appreciate this video man I can literally hear a difference now 😮

[@jerem2353]

NAILED IT 🤙

[@lowjhon]

what a banger!

[@poriante]

Great Video for mixing and mastering

[@mcewan-media]

I really like this track man, sits somewhere between tech and melodic, nice sweet spot

[@LOWKEYOfficial1]

This video was absolutely awesome. This guy is helping future artists all over in a BIG way.

[@ZenWorld]

Glad you found it super useful bro

[@gabrieldumitru6427]

good job Zen !

[@mellman8799]

congrats on 200k subs zen

[@OperculumAudio]

Amazing video, thanks for this. This is one of my weakest points in music production

[@Dramaki]

Awesome tips

[@TheNxtzHD]

love bro

[@lucabonaccio]

Cool track btw, with MPH drums style

[@simenga4414]

@11:40 - ozone imager saturation, agree sounds great, but you can enable M/S mode, so you can saturate Mids and Sides seperatly. Triode is fine for most things. Just as an FYI. For fixing highs in the track, and making it sound smooth, soothe is your friend, works wonders, don't overdo it obviously, but yea. Makes the track really pleasent to hear. especially those piercing high mids/highs

[@MadebyKeezy]

A true legend

[@Swiftopher755]

Now the world knows about the secret sauce of Gullfoss! Amazing plugin!

[@ZenWorld]

yES AMAZING SOOTHE2 HAT? SOOTHE NOTHING

[@___ziaddd]

bro drinkin that la croix lemon cello i see you 😂😂 Cool video, i've been mastering my own tracks only the past 2 years and sometimes it gets really frustrating specially with all the plugins I keep trying different approaches everytime but all the tools you used here are the most important ones to, at least understand the purpose then decide which plugin comes next Keep it up

[@jakesigalmix]

I was struggling so hard with getting the mix right even with solid headphones, I said screw it and invested in a monitor set up. Made a world of difference.

[@djjondaniels]

Amazing

[@hazedbeats]

Thanks for all the knowledge Zen, would love to collab with you someday!

[@monsieur171]

sounds good! would you mind doing a tutorial on this particular track?

[@djerikfox]

...the song is amazing too...regards

[@VAKABULARDJ]

Hey, Zen Nice Video as always. I pretty sure you know that most of Ableton plugins (Utility, EQ 3 etc) affecting sound - even when you not touch any value. (any one can try stack 20 eq3 and see what it does to sound) so... My way using most of plugins (arrangement) on master (as you did with "Utility" for breakdowns) it's automate "on/off" - not the value. I keep -2db for example and switching whole plugin by itself when needed. Same for eq3 for example - when need to cut low's in breakdown - just switch "on/off". Hope that's help for some one. Cheers Greetz from Koh Phangan.

[@mellman8799]

please show us how you mixed it it, sounds insane

[@teko5739]

Bassroom and Mixroom are really good plug-ins. At Bassroom you forgot to show you gotta compensate the volume if needed in the speaker icon in the plugin

[@ZenWorld]

You right I did! I did do it in this track I remember SSOL telling me about it but forgot to show X_X

[@hermianofficial3400]

You should try out the T-Racks plugins. I absolutely love their Clipper, Bus Comp, Opto Comp, VC-670 and their linear phase EQ. Amazing plugins, they sound really good.

[@gravity00x]

😂😂😂

[@davidhiggzmusic]

Really cool! Will try to use these steps with my tracks :). What are your thoughts about a soft clipper on the master?

[@joepboorsma776]

Hi Zenn, Like this video and also your older video #6 Mastering Saved The Day! where you have an other mastering chain. - You dont use the make up gain on your compressor? - And why did you use the exciter before the compressor? I Learned that you place the exiter after the compressor.

[@ZenWorld]

Hey bro I’m not perfect so I’m not sure what’s the right way I just work forward and forget. For the compressor I just use the limiter to makeup for volume lost as it won’t hurt anything that way. Either way you can use the makeup gain in the professor if needed. I had a Mastering mentor awhile back correct me when using Saturation after the compressor and he had me use it in the beginning of the chain along with the Imager so it just stuck with me!

[@mcewan-media]

Saturation... One knob, one love man!

[@ChrisAngel87]

I watched a livestream of AHEE making a sick track with nothing but a pro l limiter on the master on default setting. I took on the challenge and made my best song I’ve ever made. Just believe in layering you can do it. It’s in the mix.

[@mikeadair1828]

Hey Zen. Great video as always - thanks for making it easy for us beginners to learn how to master with little to no experience. Also do you or anyone else in the comments know if there are any free alternatives to Ozone 9 Imager? Thanks

[@ali.riza.sengun]

A1 Stereo Control

[@Semperf11]

My ninja zen world!!

[@7ars471]

Funfact, i was always wondering what the attack does on the L2 since essentially its never letting any transients through no matter the attack time. So essentially the attack on the limiter is basically acting as a crossfade between limiting and clipping. Slowest attack: 100% clipper and 0 attack: 100% limiting

[@freakfreak786]

1:54 i almost choked lmaoo

[@kafkakos3618]

pity the ozone is so damn expensive! Great video mate :)

[@corey5111]

I heard you like to use a bx EQ, which bx eq do you like to use because they have a sale and id like to get the one you use

[@jayR0191]

Nice track can you do a track break down of this ??

[@moods.beatzmx]

Amoooo esta canción papi te la rifaste alv

[@joepboorsma4478]

Do you guys use an exciter before or after the compressor?

[@milanmacik6094]

no matter the tutorial.. the track is fire.

[@scotthstevenson]

There’s a prevent anti phase button in ozone settings section

[@JETFU3L_Music]

how much db must the kick n the sub be at ?

[@areo400]

Dope Video! I've seen that you used the "normal" Gullfoss version in your chain, they released a version specifically for Mastering free of charge for Gullfoss owners. It is great and more surgical than the standard version. :)

[@ZenWorld]

Gotta check that out I didn't know!!!

[@jamest3336]

My chain: EQ cutting for sub 25hz, and 25khz, Any corrective EQ and air for high 20khz, multiband, imaging, soothe, ssl glue, tracks clipper (sometimes), l2 limiter

[@jamest3336]

and transient shaper to taste!

[@lorens2143]

Great vid. (i know im one year behind on this one, but... xD) Ty for putting out inspiration and knowledge! ... And since Sharing is caring... i just wanna fill in one thing. When using reference tracks... in plugins that then "shape yout track" from another. And especially for low end reference. Use tracks that are in the same key as your track. Cause... if the plugin are "listening" to a low end reference where the bass is in one key... it WILL shape your bass for THAT key. And it can really mee up things since in the low end... waves and "fundamental peaks" are so far appart.

[@ZenWorld]

Thanks for the wisdom king!!

[@lorens2143]

@@ZenWorld I am the one in totall awe, Master! 🙌

[@ZenWorld]

We can all learn from each other. I'm not gonna use those references anymore well that technique just more for decisions

[@coolkidsdreambig3921]

Dope mastering but then doesn’t the Eq at the end? Increase volume?

[@johnmurphy2655]

Whats ur artist name or do u go by zen world also?

[@marioferre6253]

Luca Pretolesis says that highs around +10k should be more mono than stereo as transients should be more in the mid to be cleaner

[@ZenWorld]

I did not know that I’ll try it out next time I’ve always liked my closed hats and open hat centered but with John Summit and crew teaching width on top end I caved in

[@gepvpr]

You know what I say? Redlining means headlining

[@TENKATRANCE]

what happned to you studio?

[@joaoR9988]

hey zen so i was watching this techno mastering engineer talk about imaging. He was like " everything below 300hz has to be mono." what do you think?

[@ZenWorld]

I talk about it in the video for me it’s 250hz and below

[@luvloofy]

Yo Zen can we get a video on the style of Matt Sassari.

[@gabrieldjias]

Hey bro, let me ask: can I use the Bassroom, and his brother, Mixroom, in the mix stage? If I do it, would it create a big deal using they again in the master stage?

[@ZenWorld]

I’d only use Bassroon personally but I know a producer who uses both. I’d say bassroon only

[@redhood_dj]

can I ask you is my favorite song

[@BasicFTB]

what happened to Zen? Why i'm looking at Deorro? xd

[@ZenWorld]

Laughsx_X_X_X

[@m3dc016]

beep beep!

[@RP-vq4wd]

Don't use saturation (bcs of the intermodulation distortion that occurs) on a complex mix, use it on individual channels where needed. Do the imaging inside your mix. You still don't know how to use a compressor properly. Better leave your master without it. It doesn't sound better with it. Sounds more squashed. Use a duplicate of that track with a compressor and an original track without a compressor, reverse the polarity phase of one of the signals and see what the compressor does to your mix(awful isn't it?). Use a clipper instead of your limiter, if the peaks are on kick drums/snare hits it will sound even better and snappier. If you need any other help, feel free to let me know! Cheers

[@ZenWorld]

Always open to learn from people. I read up on the first one but didn't see the problem with it as I make electronic music.Compressor maybe? I kindly disagree. I'll try the clipper out! I saw some people using it in their masters but when doin this one It didn't cross my mind to try it out. Appreciate your comment I know it comes from a good place 🙏

[@hermianofficial3400]

It's dance music, so squashed isn't necessarily a bad thing. Frankie, keep doing what you do brother!

[@UrbanLikwid]

This high end mastering is all smoke and mirrors. I literally been in the studio with one of the biggest house/tech house producers who releases on labels like defected. They take his master like it is. His master chain is literally an L2 and a Fab Limiter 2. It’s all about the mix down baby.

[@ZenWorld]

This aint HIGH END Mastering you thinking too highly of ME LOL This is BOOTLEG MASTERING

[@Jonathan-lb5se]

I assume that they would master for release, as u said if it’s a good mix down you got it basically done

[@schallfarben5614]

Dude dont event know where to start with this comment.. maybe not at all just keep goin bro!

[@siematic9262]

23:29 **I´m sweating big times**

[@JonDaviz]

Step 1: Don’t fuck your mix

[@ZenWorld]

Pretty MUCH but a good Mastering Engineer and unfuck alot as long as it's nothing irreversible

[@itsvictoralves]

first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@@@@@@@@@

[@ZenWorld]

Don't crash the CHOPPER

[@Vendoman500]

damn what ever happened to -14 lufs?

[@ZenWorld]

That's for the Spotify which I doubt

[@jamest3336]

ffs i've been using stereoize setting forever :( usually short ms though

[@zerberk]

Guy said “prestoli”

[@iWhy_Music]

If you used a Knock plugin, you know there's time and money saving tools... still

[@Skrenja]

"YoU dOn'T nEeD tO bUy PluGiNs" 😂

[@18Hands]

Steve is thicc.

[@ZenWorld]

Yes PAPA

[@khelmeri]

*Pretolesi

[@Nova_Afterglow]

It’s crazy, I played Do Some Drugs for you, and you said it was trash before you even started listening, then went on to say it was still trash, without giving me anything actionable to work on. “It’s 2013” was the only criticism besides you literally calling me a lazy producer. I played Do Some Drugs for the cute 20 something lady at the hotel front desk and she vibed out legit the whole track. You can say the track was wack, but at the end of the day I’m not here to impress producers. I’m here to make music for the people and the people think the exact opposite of what you said. Ngl kinda butt hurt one of my main instructors did my track so dirty but what evs. As long as the cute girls are fuckin with me it’s all good.

[@ZenWorld]

It all comes from a good place, Nova. The stream is meant for roast/feedback, and you submitted knowing how it's run. I don't do good to you if I'm not honest about my opinion and how I feel about the track. I hope that my feedback didn't hurt your ego too much. I know the feeling of having my music put on blast and rejected, which happened recently. I feel having a bit of anger and disappointment comes from our egos. I apologize if you thought I didn't provide good feedback, and that's a valid criticism for me to improve on. With tracks that sound like they were made for 2013, I usually don't give good feedback as the genre's a bit outdated, and that's usually my feedback if you are trying to make it as a producer. Good to hear the girl liked the track, bro that's what it's all about we are a bunch of producers online and sometimes forgot about the consumer of the music we make so props. It came from a good place NOVA didn't mean to make you less just my honest thoughts and hope you can move past this

[@Nova_Afterglow]

@@ZenWorld No sweat Zen. Ive been watching Hip Hop Evolution on Netflix and some of the Illest in the game were told they were wack by somebody. I'm new bro. Less than 2 years in. DSD was the culmination of being in Ableton every day, trying to push myself beyond where I should be at my XP level. You bet my ego was involved. I wasnt gonna even say anything, but seeing that one girl jam out made me wanna roast your roast lol. You honestly just lit a fire. I thought DSD was an undeniable track, but you slapped it down like Amber Heard slappin Johnny. My next offering will be undeniable.

[@ZenWorld]

@@Nova_Afterglow Cant wait to hear it if you send it in :)

[@Nova_Afterglow]

@@ZenWorld lol you can’t get rid of me that easily. I can’t go without buying your packs. I have 5 of them 😅you bet ima submit my next offering when it’s done.

[@ZenWorld]

@@Nova_Afterglow Appreciate you man thanks !

[@partlysimpson5154]

so this is mastering, just smack ozone on master, spend 10 minutes and bam ready. I have heard that mastering can take days per track, but people spend 10 minutes per track, thats a skill

[@ZenWorld]

I mean I had it done beforehand but it took about an hour or so but in reality if you know what you want yes it’s fast

[@partlysimpson5154]

@@ZenWorld Yes, it can be. Keep up man! I want to hear some of your tracks in russian tank AUX drop something good here!

[@distopic9722]

wtf is Lucas prestoly ahaha

[@schallfarben5614]

Zen, love the way you spread knowledge! But honestly, you might should focus on sound Desgin/ Producing. Mastering is a craft itself and by only studining it for the last two months, so not knowing much, I know that what you explain is far off and only contributes to bad sounding tracks and people thinking they know everything about mastering after this video. Just my 2 cents.. cheers!

[@LukeLjJames]

Take it to a mastering pro , or buy all them thousands of pounds of hardware 🤣🤣

[@ZenWorld]

IDK whatever works hehe

[@LukeLjJames]

@@ZenWorld only for tracks like yours n westenders n stuff …. Bangers 💪. . Us lot it doesn’t matter because we suck lmao 🤣

[@j.NAVINaus]

Really annoying that you use plugins worth over $50 each....

[@ddddieggggo]

ENOUGH WITH THE UGLY DUCKLING HATE

[@ali.riza.sengun]

Mono bass is oldish and boring, People like stereo bass in stream world. Check big names tracks you will see almost everyone has got stereo bass.