How to get great results mastering audio for podcasts - AND record and mix them. Plus - how to build a studio from hay bales (and why you'd want to), what really IS a "home" studio in the 21st century, and the mic Ian uses to record this show.
Links
The Mastering Show - Acoustic treatment
Man what a show!! I smiled when you talked about the triangle for your mic. I had just spent $130.00 for a face shield about a year ago and seen a Young Lady using a $27.00 piece of Acoustical Foam, to do the same thing. I liked the hay bales as well.
Quick question. I know you like to be around an 8 for the dynamic range for your music, does that hold true for podcasting as well or is there some leave way?
Just so you know, there is a 20db difference between the audio from your website, compared to SC. SC is at a much lower volume. Thanks for what you do and what you have taught me. If you ever jump the pond, you have a place to stay, you little tart! ;-)Mack.
Lol !
To be clear, I suggest a minimum of 8 dB peak-to-loudness at the loudest moments - for music. Overall, for material with some dynamic variety, I'm looking for more like 10-12 dB PLR.
For speech, I suggest 14-16 dB peak to loudness, which is roughly where this podcast sits.
When you say there's a difference between the audio level if you listen on the site versus on Soundcloud, I'm surprised - both of them use the SC embeddable player, and play the same file. Maybe there's a volume setting different somewhere ?
Ian
Just so you know, I got me a "Ian Folder" on my desktop. I take screenshots and place them there when you give advice. I need to make another folder! ;-). I use a Digital Sound Level Meter, A & C Weighted. https://goo.gl/VwtVmu. I am thinking that it is softer from sc, as it is their main platform, but I really have no idea.
I have been testing all the streaming services. I place it 4 inches from my monitor and never touch the volume on my system. YT is the loudest so far.
One more thing, your Google+ Community, SWEEETTTTT!
I'm so glad you're continuing The Mastering Show, Ian. Learned so much so far and this time was no exception.
The episode with Lij Shaw about podcasting was quite an eye opener. So much great information as always.
I have to admit gasped when you revealed your podcasting microphone of choice. I was expecting a piece of gear worth thousands. Just shows that it's not so much the equipment that counts but how you use it.
Next big DIY project here: acoustic treatment panels!
Glad to hear I surprised you in a good way 🙂
Hey Ian ad Lich
Thx for the great episode. Ian, a Engineer said in a tutorial after using a analog modeling Compressor plugin which introduces some noise to the signal that this noise would be sufficient to "mask" quantification errors when bouncing down to 16 bit. Thus, no dither would be necessary. True? Can any type of noise like pin or white noise be used instead of dither and if yes, what would be the benefits of dither vs. other "noises".
Thx
Yes, noise like this can work - the main difference compared with dither is that because this "fake analogue noise" is added as a "flavour", it's typically much louder than dither.
Another terrific show that makes me feel like there needs to be a 'Donate' button cause I'm learning so much for free!
Would love a future show in which you do a post-mortem on a track you mastered that meets your idea of 'loud enough/super dynamic', i.e.:
1. "Here's what the client sent before mastering"
2. "These were there notes, and this was the reference track"
3. "Here's before I added "x" about of EQ boost, and why I did it at "4K" instead of "6K",
4. "Here's the compression settings, and why I chose.... blah blah blah. "
Thanks again!
Great show. I appreciate the added insights into reference tracks.
The general EQ of this podcast seemed a little "thinner" than previous broadcasts, but still sounded good.
Take care.
I loved it that your recording chain was so simple after your guest had gone to great lengths to explain his chain! As he mentioned each part of the chain I was getting more angst, this to boost, that to cut this to add and that to take away, I've got nothing against the guest but it was a tad pretentious for me.
I have to say your podcasts sound superb and I thought his was a touch "wispy" or processed.
I'd love you to do an episode on Beatle recording techniques, especially vocals.
Cheers
I love and listen both to your and Lij's podcast. You two are sonic juggernauts; you're the Godzilla and Gamera of audio engineering podcasting!
Have you ever had a situation where you wanted a new remix and couldn't get it, so you chose to make use of mid/side manipulation because some instruments prescence are more prominent in just the sides instead of the mid? If so, have you ever used this plug-in to do so? I haven't but it sounds almost too good to be true:
http://www.mathewlane.com/DrMS.html
curious to your thoughts on this as a "remixing" tool.
P.S. I love perception.
Hi Ian!
I have to say, that your chosen level for podcast (-16 LUFS) works out great! I've just listened to this podcast from my cell phone speaker while driving a car (what a coincidence...) and I believe I didn't miss a word!
Great podcast, I love all of them 🙂
Cheers!
Norbert