Everyone wants that glorious, sweet, silky-smooth top end in their masters - but how do you get it ? How do you stop things sounding harsh, tinny and brittle ? And even if the high frequencies do sound gorgeous, how hard should you push them ? In this show we’re talking about treble, and our topics include:

• What is “Newton’s 3rd law” of EQ ?
• How do room acoustics affect how you hear high frequencies ?
• How can you “calibrate” your ears so you’re aiming for the right amount of top ?
• How do dynamics interact with high frequencies, and why does it matter ?
• What’s a “spiderman” plugin ?
• Which EQ plugin or hardware unit should you use for the best results ?

Links

TMS #08 - You need this (Why acoustic treatment matters)
Building a home mastering studio - acoustics
7 crucial EQ bands to help balance your mix
Reference tracks - Ian’s “showreel” playlist
12 of Ian’s favourite albums for sound
Gearshoot - compare mastering EQ & plugins for yourself
Home Mastering Masterclass