Online Mastering is an algorithmic and automated mastering service available today offered by many different firms. Online Mastering services usually offer a lower cost and quick turnaround, however, at the cost of having a poor capacity for editing, original sounds, high quality mastering, and possibly an inability to process a complete mix in a special way. The majority of online mastering services offer original recordings and mixes in the audio format. Mastering is a very complex and lengthy process involving many steps.
Mastering begins with the recording. The session starts with recording software such as Nuendo, Pro Tools, Sonar, Sound Forge or Reason. The music is then played through headset (phones) or digital studio monitor and the music is heard through speakers. After the music has been listened, it can be organized into different sections of the material. These sections are usually labeled tracks.
An engineer then works with each track to balance, mix and locate any areas that may need improvement. Once the initial round of editing is complete, the music is recorded into high quality audio and transferred to a hard drive or CD. At this point, it may have several different versions with different mixes. Online mastering services often use a variation of conventional mastering techniques.
Most Online Mastering firms have large libraries of talented engineers and mixers. However, they are not trained or experienced in every area of audio engineering. This is where the service can benefit the artist. Instead of having to do the work themselves, they can call upon the services of an experienced technician to complete the job. These technicians may be freelance engineers that work from home, or they may belong to established studios that have agreements with reputable online mastering companies. Artists have many options when they are looking for someone to complete their projects, whether they are working with an established company or an individual artist.
Music online mastering offers an unprecedented level of control and freedom for aspiring musicians. Since artists have complete control over the final sounds produced, they can make adjustments to the sound according to their preferences. The engineer simply transfers the file to the hard drive, and the file can then be utilized by other artists if they are interested.
Online mastering can offer benefits to both the artist and the professional who undertake the job. With better sound quality, the end result can be far better sounding than what could have been achieved traditionally. With more options available to artists, online mastering offers them more flexibility and options when it comes to the final product. They can create as many variations on the original, as they desire, which makes the finished product far more appealing to their fans.