I’ve been making music since 2009 and I’ve never had a proper listening equipment until end of 2022, so that’s a long road of never knowing how to properly master my songs (construction is nice to me but mastering was impossible)
I need to know compression which is what I’m always criticized, though even that one meme comparing a compressor to your mother to explain how it works doesn’t get inside my brain
and i feel like my ears can’t pick frequencies well to equalise anything, my biggest issue in mastering
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In music production, compression is used in both the mixing and mastering stages, but for very different purposes and applied differently at each stage.
During mixing, compression is applied to individual tracks or groups of tracks to control dynamics, enhance certain elements, and ensure that each part of the mix fits together cohesively. It helps manage the dynamic range of instruments and vocals so that they sit well within the mix.
In mastering, compression is applied to the final stereo mix to achieve overall loudness and consistency across the entire track or album. The goal is to ensure the final product sounds balanced and polished on various playback systems.
Mastering compression is usually more subtle and aims to enhance the overall sound rather than dramatically alter it. This process often involves multiband compression to control different frequency ranges separately. Engineers use gentle compression settings to avoid over-compressing, which can lead to a loss of dynamics and an overly squashed sound. Limiting is also used in mastering to increase the track’s loudness without introducing distortion.
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