Mastering is the final step in the production process for audio, where the tracks are balanced, polished and optimised for distribution across streaming platforms and physical media. Usually mastering engineers use their keen ears, expertise and specialised hard/software to enhance the music, ensuring the best quality for the final product.
With the future of mastering and the evolving world of technology, mastering engineers utilise a blend of artistry and technical skill to hone in the mix, with the future poised to be revolutionised by the integration of AI driven tools and online services. Plugins like Ozone use machine learning algorithms and neural networks to analyse the users audio data and make intelligent decisions based on processing techniques to greatly aid the user in their workflow and guarantee more consistent results.
For example they can analyse audio data quickly and make processing decisions in real-time which reduces the amount of time spent on manual adjustments, leading to faster turnaround times for mastering projects. This includes tasks such as noise reduction, dynamic range optimization, and harmonic balancing.
Another progression in mastering is spatial audio. Spatial audio involves creating a sense of space and depth within the audio experience, allowing listeners to perceive sound as coming from various directions, heights, and distances. With the increasing rise of audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio, mastering engineers are tasked with not only preserving the artistic intent of the music but also enhancing it for multidimensional playback environments.
www.dolby.com. (n.d.). What is spatial audio? How it works and how to use it. [online] Available at: https://www.dolby.com/experience/home-entertainment/articles/what-is-spatial-audio/#whatisspatialaudio.
Anderson, N. (2024). AI can now master your music—and it does shockingly well. [online] Ars Technica. Available at: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/02/mastering-music-is-hard-can-one-click-ai-make-it-easy/#:~:text=AI%2Dpowered%20mastering%20systems%20allow [Accessed 15 Apr. 2024].