Top 7 Mastering Hacks

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[@Barncore]

Wow, lots of value packed in for such a short vid. Been mastering for years now and this has served as a good reminder for some stuff. Kudos. Subbed

[@paulsnyders7975]

I've been home recording for forty years, and worked as a repair tech for studio gear for twenty. Soaked up many great recording and mixing tips over the years, and came to respect mastering as the very top level in terms of informed sonic intention and subtlety. This vid is excellent and super-useful. Your clarity and density of ideas are especially appreciated - thank you! Subscribed (and will commend you to others also).

[@sageaudio]

Thanks Paul! Great to hear that you found it useful! I appreciate you subscribing as well! SageAudio.com

[@Keroser1983]

WONDERFUL TIPS!!!! Literally taking notes right now!!! Thank you very very much.

[@sageaudio]

Thanks so much! Glad to hear you're liking the video! SageAudio.com

[@marlonkigera]

Honestly, your content is very informative and helpful.Thank you.

[@sageaudio]

That's great! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@weststarr2046]

This vid is 100% GOLD guys...✨ THANKS A LOT..for this one!!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@DavidWilliams-ub3mt]

Very useful techniques!!!! Thank you so much Sage Audio

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching David! SageAudio.com

[@Wardog01Actual]

Cool stuff, my friend! I hadn't heard of many of those techniques before, but I can already visualize their usefulness. Thank you. Here's a like and a sub!

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching and subscribing! SageAudio.com

[@rafalvarezsevilla]

your videos are very underrated, great work dude

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@effsixteenblock50]

RE the cross-talk feature in the Tape plugin - just last week I found that by using extreme amounts of that cross-talk, I heard a sound that I haven't heard since the late '70's - it sounded *exactly* like a Panasonic cassette deck that I had years ago. Instantly reminded me of a tape that I had that had Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" recorded on it way into the red that sounded particularly cool. I urge everyone to try it. Not something I'd put on a pop record though.

[@sageaudio]

That's awesome! It's cool that particular technical errors can create some nostalgia. Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@Stiddo]

There is more bass in your voice than in any of my songs combined lol, good stuff

[@zonasound]

thats because it hasn't been mastered yet. Tomorrow they will remove a tiny bit at 300 hz..

[@Stiddo]

@@zonasound lmaooo

[@sageaudio]

Haha you can thank seasonal allergies for that. Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@Stiddo]

@@sageaudio I feel ya, they’re killing me right now too

[@KristohanongBisdakMusic]

How could someone dislike this video? Keep it up Sage Audio! 👍

[@traezaX1]

Probably not a Sage 😂😂😂😂

[@ayobabanla8817]

Probably jealous types. Or whom think himself "king of mixing&mastering"

[@sageaudio]

Haha it happens. Thanks for watching and for the support! SageAudio.com

[@maxborosiuk3570]

A lot of tricks described. Thank you 🙏

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! Great to hear you enjoyed the video.

[@jon0830]

great tips! as for limiter release, I find shorter than 50s can sound punchier and cleaner depending on the material (especially if its periodic transient peaks hitting the limiter and none of the body of the sound)

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! That might cause a little distortion, but if you don't mind that, it'll help make the song louder for sure! SageAudio.com

[@Rgdonaire_07]

This is absolute gold!

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@mrnelsonius5631]

Amazing channel. So many great tips again. I’m already structuring a lot of my pseudo mastering this way, but I didn’t realize some tape plugins had a genuine crosstalk feature. I thought summing certain console channel strips was the only way to get some of that in a ITB mix. But..that way you don’t ultimately have any granular control over what it’s doing. Have to have a play with some things ;)

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching Mr Nelsonius! Glad you're enjoying the channel. Crosstalk functions are definitely helpful for getting a little stereo widening! SageAudio.com

[@DominikDale]

Thanks for explaining crosstalk that’s awesome!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it! SageAudio.com

[@GaryCunninghamyouareenough]

So helpful .. as always. Thank you Sage 🙏

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching Gary! SageAudio.com

[@arkishpromusic3395]

THANKS...VIDEOS ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@quineagle6566]

I really appreciate this video thank you sooo much. I want to do course on mixing and mastering though. Wanna be really professional about these too things.

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Glad you're enjoying the videos! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@danilolimas]

this is gold! thanks!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching Danilo! SageAudio.com

[@TheMonkBeatsOne]

One understands if a youtube channel is good just listening to the audio quality of the videos: perfect voice, pleasant overall Eq and adeguate levels: 10/10. That said, I ask: has the Sonnox Oxford limiter the same features as the inflator? Thanks.

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! The limiter utilizes different processing than the inflator. SageAudio.com

[@PharaohLawLess1]

This is a great video. Thank you

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@saricubra2867]

I use tape compression (Satin and Slate VTM) to smooth the transients.

[@sageaudio]

Nice! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@erkamoztoprak]

im learned a lot this channel thank you

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! That's great to hear! SageAudio.com

[@erbavetro8013]

Please Sage Audio, tips and hacks for mix bus mixing process! Great videos as always!

[@sageaudio]

That's a great suggestion! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@user-zr5xy5pv8w]

Thx, Good job! I need more of this. 😂

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@rionvalet]

WOW!! This is the sauce Sage Audio!! This is Brilliant!! Thank U for the Infos it's really helpful!! Well I have a suggestion sage Audio! Can you make a video called "Mastering With Ozone 9"?? Then you'll walk through how to properly master a song using only Ozone 9. (Especially cuz we don't have fabfilters, or softube plugins and more, but maybe some of us has Ozone only for mastering, including me, I have only Ozone)

[@Keroser1983]

AGREE

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching Rion! We'll make something with Izotope Ozone in the future! SageAudio.com

[@rionvalet]

@@sageaudio wOWW!! thankU for telling us Sage Audio!!😄 I'll be waiting!!❤❤

[@mikewhiteman23]

Great vid

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio!

[@VSARecordsDelhi]

Great. Really useful

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@yorgochamata1043]

Hello i need a pro mastering to hear my song pro in social media ? And what is the secret to hear it on the phone

[@wltcs]

Thank you!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@princemaxwhoobayangbon1516]

Great educator!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks Prince! And Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@luigidaniellmusic]

always clear !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@neuroxik]

4:25 is the release time of 10ms on the booster just an overlook because you guys wanted to focus on the use of boost before limiting or you would still go the "50ms minimum" route?

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching and good eye! Just an oversight! SageAudio.com

[@charodeyjeddy5677]

Thanks for cool vids!!!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@LucasMichalski]

Thank you for another great video! I have one question. In the video you said that 50ms is the shortest release time on final limiter. 50ms is right when the lowest frequencies in your master are 20Hz, but when it's 30Hz according to your other video (and maths) the right release time should be 33ms ect ect. In your other video you were showing how to calculate release time on final limiter based on the lowest frequencies of your mix. 50ms is right for 20Hz, but for 30Hz it's 33ms. Can you clarify it more as your two videos give different information Thank you.

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching Lucas! You got it right! You can use a shorter release time for high frequencies without distortion occurring, but since most masters will be 20Hz to 20kHz, we'll need at least 50ms to ensure that no distortion occurs. If you're working on a track without low frequencies, you can use quicker release times based on those same calculations you did! SageAudio.com

[@kennethhunterlk5]

Does this mean mixes with less low end information can be made ‘louder’?

[@nicholsondavids1574]

Real good video

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

If you, for whatever reason, HAD to get 8db (or more) of gain reduction on your mastering limiter in order to reach the desired level, would you rather use 2 limiters or more? If using multiple, do you set the ceiling the same for all of them? Lastly, would it be better to hit the earlier limiters harder, or the final one? Thanks so much!!

[@sageaudio]

I'd say use 2, get about 5dB of attenuation on the first, and then 3dB on the second. Let the channels be processed individually on the first limiter, and then collectively on the second. Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

@@sageaudio Wow thanks for your responses. Just so I’m clear, when you advise having the first limiter process the tracks individually, do you mean having it in dual-mono mode or in mid side? And the following limiter in stereo mode? Thanks again!

[@phil1353]

If I have a track already mastered but it was mastered just a touch to low and needs to be brought up to match professional radio levels what could I do to get it up to match without changing dynamics or transients? I only have the .wav of Master.

[@NOOBeMAX123]

Adding a limiter will bring it up to level, but will sacrifice some dynamics. This is where a nice transparent limiter like the Pro-L2 shows why it is the industry standard

[@phil1353]

@@NOOBeMAX123 maybe you can master it for me?

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching Phil! Feel free to reach out via our site if you need it remastered. SageAudio.com

[@effsixteenblock50]

How common is it that mastering MEs mess around with relative volumes between verses & choruses etc..? Aren't those decisions better made in the mix phase?

[@sageaudio]

It's not too common! Typically it's best to keep that a mixing decision, but if there's some communication happening between everyone involved, then it doesn't hurt to try. Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@phadrus]

Awesome content! Any good free maximizing plugins out there? When I search I find that the term maximizer seems to be confused with limiters and exciters.

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! @Ra_Sharpness has you covered! SageAudio.com

[@phadrus]

@Ra_Sharpness_ hey thanks! Which of these does the upward compression? I didn’t think that TDR Nova could do that and can’t find any documentation to that effect. Thanks!

[@phadrus]

@Ra_Sharpness_ Awesome thanks! I have OTT but don’t know how to use it. I’ll put in the time and learn it.

[@RicoTTENT]

Awesome

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@ayusharipirala3121]

Can you list the plugins you've used in this video?

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! Petroian has you covered! SageAudio.com

[@prettyboyjj]

Can you do a video on mastering a song that has a mastered two track in it

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! Like mastering something with a sample included in the mix? SageAudio.com

[@DJCHAMAK876]

NICE!!!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@DJCHAMAK876]

@@sageaudio yeah love the content 💯

[@notoriousace7021]

Do I really get a free mastering of my song demo from the website?

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! We send you a free mastered sample of your song. So a clip of your song mastered by us, not the full track. SageAudio.com

[@saviwaves5337]

i started using Mv2 on my masters a couple weeks ago. had no idea why no one else had thought of it so i figured i might be wrong. guess not.

[@user-mz3ni8yu4v]

I be doing that sometimes too. I just go by, if it sounds good and feels good, it works! But I’m for sure going to try my MV2 on masters, never thought of that

[@saviwaves5337]

a subtle amount of downwards like -0.5 to -1 and for upwards go +1 to 3 makes a huge difference.

[@sageaudio]

Cool to hear! A little bit helps a lot. Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@mywavesrecords]

Great

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@HolySmokeOfficial]

Way to pack 10 lbs of info in a 5 lb video! 🎯

[@sageaudio]

Haha thanks! Also, thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@miltonex]

Hello New suscriber here!!!! Stay safe

[@sageaudio]

Awesome! Thanks for subscribing! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@Darko.mp3]

Seems like a good video but you neeeeed to include audio examples of what you are talking about..

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! Currently we're leaving those out to provide as much info in as little time as possible. Hopefully you can replicate some of them in your sessions and determine which you do and do not want to use. SageAudio.com

[@EdwinDekker71]

1:57 LOL a tape recorder does not have separate reels for the L and R channels 🤣😂

[@tawixdu64]

can u add translation in english so i can understand please ??

[@sageaudio]

There's an auto translate function in the player bar! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@tawixdu64]

@@sageaudio yes but the bot don’t recognize english but vietnamese

[@tawixdu64]

@@sageaudio set english in the video’s settings

[@anilkanasegana]

Buya blogging or not

[@sageaudio]

Sorry I'm not sure what you mean! SageAudio.com

[@RVM2M]

Do not use MS dynamic EQ, you will cause horrendous smearing which will sound terrible.

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! I haven't had this issue! SageAudio.com

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

What’s the reason?

[@RVM2M]

@@HollerAtcherBoi just like using MS compression, the centre and sides moving independent of one another causes smear, much like dual mono compressions can cause spin.

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

@@RVM2M interesting. Thanks for the response. Do you suggest avoiding these on mixbus & mastering only? What about on a vocal buss?

[@RVM2M]

@@HollerAtcherBoi firstly avoid smear. Secondly, try to avoid tricks and make a good mix in the first place. If the mix isn’t sounding great then it’s because you haven’t front loaded. Mastering can’t help that. Mixing/mastering aren’t a magical process that makes things sound great, the song has to be the magic. That’s where the focus should be. Otherwise you have an amazing sounding shit song and your girlfriend/boyfriend won’t give a crap about how good your mixing/mastering is, they’ll just hear a shit song.

[@zaidallan9447]

this is a regular information dude... in mastering we should use analog gears much better than this :)

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@justtosharefiles678]

Third

[@sageaudio]

haha nice! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@TheRealNewBlackMusic]

OMG those tape plugins are horrifically awful

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! Softube Tape? SageAudio.com

[@TiuqueErrante]

Second

[@sageaudio]

So close! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@immersive_______9925]

First

[@sageaudio]

lol awesome! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@thbe51]

Irritating zooming in and out all the time. Please stop that. I stop watching after 3 minutes!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for letting us know! Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com

[@BigMuff75]

OMG those aren't even "hacks".

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! SageAudio.com