What is mastering ?
Mastering is the process of preparing and transferring audio material, adapting it to the medium for which it is intended, with a view to mass production and distribution. It can be destined for physical media (vinyl, CD) or digital media (streaming services).
This is a crucial stage, during which quality control is carried out and final modifications applied in order to achieve the best possible sound result before marketing.
State and evolution of the recorded music market:
The IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) report for 2023 shows that the recorded music market has grown by 10.2%, with total sales of $28.6 billion. 67.3% of these revenues come from streaming, and physical sales are also up, by 13.4%. This is the third consecutive year of growth for both digital and physical sales.
Forecasts predict revenues of around $42 billion for 2029.
To give an idea of this evolution, in 1999, worldwide revenues were $22.2 billion and solely linked to physical sales. This figure dropped to 13 billion in 2014, before rising steadily to reach the aforementioned figures.
Synchronization rights linked to advertising, film and TV placements are also a steadily growing source of revenue.
Changing listening habits and delivery media:
The way listeners consume audio content has evolved considerably over the last few decades. At a time when music was distributed exclusively on physical media, it was necessary to take the time to listen to an album at home on a stereo system with a CD, vinyl or cassette player.
Today, in the digital age, listening is increasingly nomadic. As a result, there’s a greater multiplicity of listening devices in use. It could be in the car on the way to work, with headphones while doing sports, in a club, on a sound bar for television, directly on a telephone or via a laptop.
On the other hand, with the advent of streaming platforms, the role of singles is now more important than that of traditional albums, via playlists created by the listener or a music curator.
Audio formats have not been left behind either, as we have moved on from well-known standards such as CD (Red Book standard, 16 bits, 44.1 kHz) or vinyl (with its own constraints linked to the physical, analog medium), to files ranging from compressed formats (i.e. AAC or mp3) to high-resolution files (24 bits, 96 kHz).
For their part, streaming platforms apply file normalization with their own encoding algorithms, with no universal standard, although there is a trend towards normalization to an integrated level of -14 LUFS.
In broadcast, a standard has been found (recommendation EBU R-128) which sets the sound level at -23 LUFS and a true peak level not exceeding -1 dBTP.
Immersive audio is also booming, with formats such as Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio and Ambisonics. Their applications can be as varied as music, virtual reality, video games, etc..
What are the options for mastering?
Today, for an artist, producer, label or publisher, there are four mastering options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Mastering services based on artificial intelligence :
Artificial Intelligence (AI) affects many sectors and professions. It is a process that seeks to replicate human intelligence by means of algorithms, all in a dynamic computing environment. This system deduces results from the large amount of data it receives (machine learning and deep learning). It has the capacity to automate and optimize complex tasks by processing and analyzing this data.
Some companies have therefore turned to this solution to offer automated mastering services.
The advantage is that you can quickly obtain a master that meets predefined specifications, based on genre for example. Some services also allow the user to modify certain parameters according to the desired result, for greater flexibility. The cost, depending on the service used, is relatively low.
The disadvantage is that the result may not be personalized, in the knowledge that the AI will follow a predefined target. The quality of the final master produced remains open to discussion.
Do-It-Yourself Mastering (DIY) :
DIY, or Do-It-Yourself, is about doing things yourself.
The advantage is that you can control all stages of production, from composition to recording, mixing and mastering. This is facilitated by the increasing accessibility of equipment in terms of cost, mainly due to the arrival of digital audio workstations (DAWs), plug-ins and increasingly powerful computers (Moore’s Law).
The disadvantage is the learning curve and time required, as with any activity, with sources of information often disparate in terms of quality. Despite the accessibility of the equipment, it is often difficult to achieve results as conclusive as those achieved by a person dedicated to and trained in this activity.
It’s also difficult to have sufficient distance from one’s own work.
On the other hand, mastering requires dedicated acoustic treatment with the most neutral audio reproduction chain possible and with maximum resolution for decision-making, which is very costly.
Multi-service studio and engineer :
Studio offering a range of services, from production to recording, mixing and mastering.
The advantage is to use the services of professionals whose main activity is recording, in a dedicated space and with professional equipment. The cost can be advantageous, since they often offer all-in-one packages for all phases of production.
The disadvantage is the lack of hindsight required for mastering if the same engineer is in charge of all production phases.
On the other hand, each phase requires specific knowledge and a particular mindset. A mixer doesn’t pay the same attention to detail as a mastering engineer. The equipment used to carry out all these stages is not necessarily suited to the practice of mastering. It may lack precision, or the use of a mixer, for example, will have negative repercussions on acoustic perception because of the reflections it induces, which is not desirable in mastering.
Dedicated studio and mastering engineer :
This is a sound engineer dedicated to mastering.
The advantage is to use a professional with the necessary experience to carry out this stage of production. He or she will have a thorough knowledge of the different musical genres, as well as the aesthetic trends associated with them and the media for which they are intended. He or she has an outside view and the necessary hindsight to decide whether or not to make the necessary modifications to the audio material. This quality control is carried out with equipment and in listening conditions dedicated to this practice, often very costly. The result will logically be of superior quality.
The last point to mention is the fact that you can communicate and be accompanied by this professional.
The main drawback is the cost, which is invariably higher than using automated services or doing it yourself. It can also be difficult to find the right engineer, as rates vary widely according to experience and references. With the accessibility of equipment mentioned above, and the ease of sending files over the Internet, some people can offer these services without having the necessary experience and knowledge to do so.
This makes it difficult to find one’s way around the wide range of services on offer.
Conclusion:
With the rise of streaming music, changes in listening habits and the multiplicity of listening media used and available, it seems more important than ever to obtain a quality master for your project. The aim is to touch listeners emotionally and capture their attention. Mastering does not replace the other stages of production, but works in concert with them. Nor will it ever replace a marketing campaign, which is increasingly necessary to break through the mass of accessible music.
As for the mastering solutions currently available, they all have their place and meet different needs. It’s up to each individual to make his or her choice according to budget and objectives.
Some people see the end of the profession approaching with the arrival of artificial intelligence, but in view of its fields of application, it seems complicated that it will one day equal an engineer whose job it is. Music requires a high degree of sensitivity, and AI is not designed to have a decision-making aspect, which is essential in mastering, but rather to analyze and process.
