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Mastering Your Music: A Professional’s Guide to Master Bus Processing

pt.2

Reading time: ~7 minutes

Welcome to part two of our professional mastering guide. In this tutorial, we’ll dive into tone shaping and frequency control, exploring how to achieve a commercially bright mix without any unpleasant harshness in the top end.

In this tutorial series, you can follow along using our Mastering Rack by professional Mastering Engineer, Alex Braithwaite, aka SUB-human:

Download the Mastering Rack

(free for a limited time)

Tone Shaping

Every genre has its sonic characteristics. In hip hop, for example, listeners expect powerful lows and a bright top end. While many producers default to a “smile curve” EQ to achieve this sound, this approach often leaves the crucial midrange lacking. Furthermore, simply boosting the high frequencies will often result in a sharp or harsh sounding top end. Let’s explore a more sophisticated approach.

  • Unlike surgical EQ, this tool uses broad shelving filters to shape frequency ranges more naturally
  • Target frequencies strategically: start your adjustments slightly before your target frequency (e.g., for a 3kHz boost, begin shaping around 2kHz)

Steps:

  1. Engage the Analog-modelled Tone Shaper. Start by boosting the H Shelf Gain Macro
  2. Move the frequency back and forth until if feels like you are catching too much of the mids. Anywhere from 1-5khz is a good starting point.
    • Use the “push and pull” technique: boost until it’s slightly too much, then dial back to find the sweet spot
  3.  Boost the low frequency with the L Shelf Gain Macro.
  4.  Apply the same process for the low frequency. A boost is used in this demonstration – use your judgement on whether you need to boost or cut.

Pro Tip: Bus tone shaping offers a different result to applying EQ changes to individual tracks in the mix. The effect is greater so a little goes a long way on the master bus.

Multiband Compression (Targeting Harshness)

High-frequency harshness can quickly fatigue listeners, traditional EQ alone can create more problems than it solves. While EQ affects an entire frequency range constantly, multiband compression only acts when needed, providing a more intelligent solution for controlling harsh frequencies while maintaining top end brilliance.

Precision-tuned Bands:

  • Air Control: 9.2kHz – 22kHz
  • Harsh Control: 2.09kHz – 9.2kHz

Steps:

  1. Start with Air Control:
  2. Reduce the macro until you see GR (Gain Reduction) triggering
    • Aim for movement that resets rhythmically with your track
    • If you’re seeing constant reduction, you’re likely over-compressing
    • Find the sweet spot between control and natural movement
  3. Apply the same process to Harsh Control
  4. Reduce the macro until you see GR (Gain Reduction) triggering
    • Listen for improved clarity without losing presence
    • Pay special attention to vocal and lead synth clarity

Soul Checker: Your Mix’s Reality Check

The Soul Checker isn’t just a mono button – it’s your mix’s truth serum. By collapsing the stereo field, isolating midrange frequencies, and reducing volume, it reveals the emotional core of your track.

Key Functions:

  1. Phase Correlation Check:
    • Minor volume reduction in mono is normal
    • Significant drops indicate phase issues
    • Quick fix: boost problematic elements’ mid signal using M/S EQ
  2. Mono Compatibility:
    • Critical for club systems and mobile devices
    • Even modern stereo devices benefit from solid mono compatibility
    • Ensures your mix translates across all playback systems

Steps:

  1. Engage the Soul CheckerCheck:
    • Focus on key elements (vocals, leads, important harmonics)
    • Verify the mix maintains its impact and balance
    • Important: Disable before final export!

Coming Up Next: In Part 3, our final tutorial, we’ll explore stereo imaging techniques and professional reference mastering. Don’t miss it!