The Mastering Show

The Mastering Show Podcast

with Ian Shepherd and Jon Tidey

The Mastering Show # 38 - If you can’t hear it, does it really matter ?

September 19th, 2017 BY Jon Tidey - 1 Comment

If something is technically wrong but inaudible, is that a problem ? When is it OK to break the rules ? What is “audibility”, anyway ?

Topics include:

  • If everyone else is listening is listening on earbuds and phones, why shouldn’t we ?
  • If music is art, it’s just a matter of taste - so how can anything be wrong ?
  • Ear training - how do you learn to listen ?
  • Are the answers to any of these questions different for mastering engineers ?
  • Plus: The secret super-power of Stealth Tambourines

Links

TMS #21 - The dither episode

Geoff Emerick: "Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles"

Sample Rate Conversion comparisons

If you can’t hear it, it doesn’t matter, right ?

TMS #2 - The three Ms of mastering - Monitoring, Metering and Mindset
TMS #18 - The Emperor’s New Ears - how to test what you can hear

Can you trust your ears ?

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