Mastering Academy

Newsblog

Fundamentals first? Our guides: Learn mixing · Learn mastering · Audio engineer training

#012 Understanding Compressor’s Parameters – Part 1

#012 Understanding Compressor’s Parameters – Part 1

There is a common way how the compressor parameters attack and release are explained. As it has turned out a simplified but not completely true story became “standard” and had been passed by and has established a wrong concept of the mechanics of attack and release. I must admit that I fell into this trap […]

 #011 Mastering Workflow Sheet – Part 2

 #011 Mastering Workflow Sheet – Part 2

To understand this post, it is advisable to have read blog post #010 (Part 1). In Part 2, we will look at the Aims, which are shown in green in the lower half of the diagram and are distributed across the three processing steps. The aims are clear: aesthetic EQing, depth & three-dimensionality and of […]

#010 Mastering Workflow Sheet – Part 1

#010 Mastering Workflow Sheet – Part 1

For whatever reason, my brain is somehow wired to immediately and playfully break down complex processes into schematics. In this case, a stimulating exchange with my wonderful and esteemed colleague and MA coach Farzad inspired me to put the three mastering processing steps I like to postulate into a slightly larger context. The result is […]

#009 Loudness Penalty

#009 Loudness Penalty

Friedemann’s thoughts on Ian Shepherd’s Loudness Penalty initiative Our dear students often ask me about Ian Shepherd’s website www.loudnesspenalty.com and how to deal with it. First of all I am grateful for Ian’s work in continuing my PMF heritage. The PMF was the Pleasurize Music Foundation I founded back in 2008 in California which had […]

#008 Get your mix mastering-ready

#008 Get your mix mastering-ready

Get your mix mastering-ready: How loud should I mix to get it mastering-ready? Guys listen, because this is going to be a crucial chunk of information to get your mixes perfectly mastering ready! We at Mastering Academy teach our students to think first and determine the desired “after mastering loudness” of the track when it […]

#007 Unlocking the Enigma 2

#007 Unlocking the Enigma 2

Unveiling the Advanced Secrets Behind True Peaks in Audio Mastering – Part 2 Now I can start with the actual blog story for those who sometimes struggle with finding the right balance between our responsibility to do it right and the customers’ desires of loudness-craziness. In fact this is not so easy. Despite the general […]

#006 Unlocking the Enigma

#006 Unlocking the Enigma

Unveiling the Advanced Secrets Behind True Peaks in Audio Mastering – Part 1 I assume that you are familiar with the basic concepts of True Peak (TP) measurement versus the old school Sample Peak Program Metering (SPPM) which was the insufficient predecessor of TP. For those who are not familiar, here is brief summary before […]

#005 The Power of Habit

#005 The Power of Habit

Our Students know that I occasionally talk about habits and use to teach them also in our modules. This lasts way back and already 2005, when I was working on my Mastering Book I have already integrated these teachings without really understanding why, just out of a gut feel.

#004 Unveiling Sonic Sorcery

#004 Unveiling Sonic Sorcery

…as Jayson Tomlin, inventor of the process and friend of us at MAAT says, “FiDef is weird mojo.” That about sums up what is – to some a valuable tool and, to others, a hoax or “snake oil.”

#003 Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours

#003 Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours

The API sound and one of my favorite albums: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours Occasionally students ask me for my favorite sound references and which productions have impressed me most. I still owe my students a complete list but possibly my perfectionism keeps me back as it is not just about a list. It’s much more about […]

#002 Yoda’s teachings and what you can learn from his wisdom

#002 Yoda’s teachings and what you can learn from his wisdom

Yoda’s teachings and what you can learn from his wisdom when you feel stuck in your progress creating great audio mixes and masters Yoda says: “You still have much to learn. You must unlearn what you have learned.” Besides the remarkable general wisdom of the Jedi master Yoda, this quote particularly reminds me of the […]

#001 Who’s the Yoda of the Music Industry?

#001 Who’s the Yoda of the Music Industry?

Who’s the Yoda of the Music Industry? – A reading recommendation I’d love to start with a dramatic pause to make it more exciting and let you guess… and then transition into a drum roll. Would it be Al Schmitt? Most likely he would show up on the short list as an outstanding personality and […]

#000 Pulsar Modular

#000 Pulsar Modular

Pulsar Modular P42 Climax and P11 Abyss As mixing and mastering engineers, we constantly embark on exploring journeys, scouting for new and advanced audio tools facilitating our daily work. During one of these exploring journeys, we discovered Pulsar Modular: a software developer, being specialized in applications for professional recording studios. The P42 Climax plugin instantly […]

This Week at Mastering Academy #3

This Week at Mastering Academy #3

This Week at Mastering Academy #3 Hi! Another eventful week at the Mastering Academy is ending. I’m starting to realize that I’ll be on vacation soon, compressing the work I’m still desperate to get off my desk. Soon there will be big news to report from the Mastering Academy, but I’m not allowed to write […]

This week at Mastering Academy #2

This week at Mastering Academy #2

This week at Mastering Academy #2 Much work takes up most of my time, but little is interesting. Therefore, this week’s blog post is shorter than last. I’m doing office stuff and video editing, so nothing spectacular, but I like to point out some topics that may interest you. Friedemann in a live talk at […]

This week at Mastering Academy #1

This week at Mastering Academy #1

This week at Mastering Academy #1 Hi! My name is Thomas and I recently started working at the Mastering Academy. As the newest member of our professional, international team, I’ve noticed that the things that happen behind the scenes at the Mastering Academy are often exciting. To give an insight into what’s happening here and […]

Who is Friedemann Tischmeyer?

Who is Friedemann Tischmeyer?

Friedemann Tischmeyer: A Portrait Friedemann Tischmeyer is an instance in the field of mastering and in the recording studio alike. Born in Germany, he lives in Hamburg and runs his own studio there. His educational videos on DVD and his mastering book have sold in very high numbers worldwide. He is now using his outstanding […]