Mastering
MIST 001
MIST 001 is a five week online course in Mastering. A combination of self-guided study, weekly online classes with instructors and tutorials with Metropolis mastering engineers.
Course Overview
Mastering can be taught, but becoming a capable Mastering Engineer is a process of learning that encompasses all of your experiences, the dedicated hours of practice and the moments of epiphany when all the pieces click together.
It is the process of comparing your recent work to past work, noticing the incremental improvements and gaining trust in your abilities and ears. It’s the understanding that learning never stops and every track you master is an opportunity to develop. Mastering Engineers never stop learning.
We genuinely believe in learning by doing in the community. As a result, we only take on a limited number of clients for each course and positively encourage working together as a cohort. We have secure tools in place to allow the community to work together, influence one another and learn from one another. We want our course to be the start of many professional friendships that you can learn from for a whole career.
Master your music, the music of your friends and any mixes you can get your hands on to practise and develop your craft and always, be learning.
Scheme of Work
Week 1 – An Introduction to Mastering
- The role of a mastering engineer
- Understanding your listening environment
- Referencing across different monitoring setups
- An overview of the mastering process
- Digital audio principles for mastering
Week 2 – Mastering Tools and Frequency Shaping
- Audio processing tools used in mastering
- Digital audio workstations for mastering
- Setting up a typical mastering chain
- Uses for and approaches to EQ in mastering
- Mid-side EQ and creating clarity in a mix
- Adding tonal character, saturation and warmth
Week 3 – Loudness and Dynamic Processing
- How loud should a mastered track be?
- Loudness Units relative to Full Scale (LUFS)
- Loudness levels for contemporary streaming platforms
- Dynamics, loudness and clipping
- Approaches to dynamic processing in mastering
- Limiters and Maximisers
Week 4 – Stereo Imaging and Restoration
- Controlling the stereo image with elliptical filters
- Mastering techniques for adding width
- Avoiding phase cancellation during mastering
- Audio restoration and drop-out repair
Week 5 – Album Mastering, Metadata and Mastering For Vinyl
- Achieving consistency when mastering an album
- Application of dither when rendering a master
- File formats and metadata
- Considerations for final delivery to clients
- The rebirth of vinyl mastering
- The cutting lathe
- Limitations of vinyl mastering
Prerequisites
Requirements
- Time
- The course requires 5 weeks to complete
- The course requires a minimum of 3 hours per week of engagement, which includes a 1 hour scheduled feedback and Q&A session each week
- Availability for one of the feedback and Q&A session slots on either Thursdays 10:00 – 11:30 GMT, Fridays 10:00 – 11:30 GMT or Fridays 16:00 – 17:30 GMT
Skills and Understanding
- Competency using DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations)
- Fundamental understanding of DAW-based production and mixing techniques
- Experience using production and mixing tools such as EQ and compression
Technical
- Desktop computer or laptop (Mac or Windows) with a modern web browser
- Access to a DAW (Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Reaper etc.)
- Reliable internet connection
- Microphone and video camera (for interaction with online feedback sessions and tutorials)
- Studio monitors and/or good quality headphones
Get the course
This course is currently unavailable, please add your email address below to be notified when more places become available.
Metropolis Mastering engineers are world renowned and speak with absolute authority as professionals at the top of the business. Learn Mastering directly from our team through our course and get insight into how the world’s biggest hits are polished and refined.
MIST Mastering Team
This course is supported experts in music and audio tuition, world renowned engineers and a dedicated supporting team.
Andy (Hippy) Baldwin He / Him
Mike Hillier He / Him
Paul Ressel He / Him
PaulRez 
Nic Britton He / Him
nicbritton_64796 
Shea Stedford He / Him
Mariya-Zelda Bakhmach They / Them
Mariya_MIST 
Ellie Morgan She / Her
