Mastering Synth/Electro Pop Music Like a Pro

Learn how to transform synth/electro pop track into a radio ready hit packed full of style, dynamics and analog flavor.

Created byFuad Murad

Last updated 12/2013

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

By the end of this course you will be able to professionally master your next synth/electro pop hit
Learn to inject analog style and flavor into your cold mixes
Learn to create warmth, depth, clarity and punch during mastering
Learn proper listening techniques and logical mastering chains

Course content

3 sections • 14 lectures • 1h 41m total length

Listening5:26
Begin listening from start to end, take notes on fixes or enhancements, check eq balance, bass, high end, and mids, prior to using emus, compressors, or limiters.
Notes4:54
Preserve and enhance the 1980s electropop vibe with an analog flavor, glue the mix with compression, warm the bottom end, and widen the stereo image using a multiband imager.

Analog Flavor4:56
Explore adding analog flavor to an 1980s electro pop track by using analog-emulating Waves plugins, adjusting drive for subtle saturation, and comparing before and after to avoid placebo effects.
Glue Compression5:49
Use a glue compressor such as SSL to apply low ratio, long attack, and automatic release in the mastering chain to unify drums, vocals, and elements.
EQ Part 116:04
Apply mid-side eq to split the mix into mid and side signals, surgically cut harsh frequencies, and subtly boost the kick in mid to tighten bass and preserve stereo.
EQ Part 29:19
Boost sub frequencies around 30 Hz to add warmth and punch. Use attenuation to control neighboring frequencies and gently lift the high end with guidance from a spectrum analyzer.
EQ Part 38:28
Boost the 500 hertz midrange to restore warmth and bring vocals forward, while dip around 200 hertz to 300 hertz to reduce mud and smooth high-end warmth at 5000 hertz.
Multiband Compression5:44
use a multiband compressor to tame nasal vocal peaks in the 2 kHz–4 kHz range, tuning attack, release, knee, and threshold to reduce gain only when those words occur.
Multiband Stereo Widening5:33
Widen the track using ozone's multiband stereo imager, keeping low frequencies in mono while widening high and upper mid bands to sharpen vocal presence and instrument separation.
Multiband Harmonic Exciting6:23
Utilize a multiband exciter with tape emulation to subtly boost harmonics for warmth and depth, enable the learn feature, oversampling, adjust bands, and balance output for a clearer result.
Peak Compression6:02
Apply moderate overall compression to catch peaks and bring the mix together, using a four-to-one ratio with fast attack and release that avoids pumping.
Limiting14:52
Compare the sound before and after mastering to ensure warmth and impact improve, not just loudness; adjust threshold and ceiling together to reach around minus 10 dB for radio.
Dithering2:45
Master dithering when converting from 24-bit to 16-bit to prevent data loss in CD or mp3 exports; set the target to 16 and export a 16-bit wav.

Requirements

Headphones with good bass frequency response or studio monitors
Pen and Paper
Digital Audio Workstation (Live, logic, Protools, etc...)
High quality mastering plugins

Description

Forget all the talk that says you can only boost or cut 3dbs here and there and that you shouldn't do this or that when to comes to mastering. In this course I'll be showing you how to do what it takes to transform a well produced, yet cold, lifeless mix into a hit ready for the airwaves.

Mastering is not some dark, mysterious art, it's a learning process and takes experience and knowledge of the tools and techniques you have at your disposal. There's no need for expensive gear and fancy hardware, everything you need is inside your computer.

Who this course is for:

Recording artists
Musicians
Mastering engineers
Electronic music producers

Mastering Synth/Electro Pop Music Like a Pro

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 10min

Mastering11 lectures • 1hr 26min

Finale1 lecture • 5min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: