From Demo to Delivery

Chapter 6

A. What Is Mastering?

Russ Hepworth-Sawyer

In This Chapter

■   Introduction

■   Mastering Was …

■   Mastering Is …

□   Mastering Is … in Part, Listening

■   What Can Be Done?

□   A Look at the Processes

□   The Codes

•   PQ Codes

•   International Standard Recording Code

•   Universal Product Code/European Article Number

•   Other Codes

■   Delivery

□   To the Mastering House

□   To the Manufacturer

■   The Loudness Wars

□   What Is Loudness?

•   The K-System

■   Further Reading

Mastering is the skill of modifying the sound of a mix to give the best reproduction possible via its delivery format (CD, Vinyl, etc.) and the service to produce the final master(s) from which all the manufactured copies will be made. It is also the last opportunity ...