The History Of Mastering Explained From Tape To Pro Tools

Mastering is the vital final stage of the music production process, and Pro Tools is one of the industry's most widely used tools for carrying it out. But how much do you know about why we master, and why we use the techniques we do? In this short video from the course Pro Tools 105: Mastering Essentials, Joe Albano explores where the concept came from, and how it has evolved over the years.

Pro Tools 105: Mastering Essentials

Going back to the early days of production, Joe explains that mastering was initially a way to ensure a consistent sound when transferring audio material from tape in the studio to vinyl, for playback by record buyers. As time went on and digital formats began to develop, mastering became less of a simply technical exercise and more of a creative process. It wasn't just about transferring media any more - changes to the sound would actively be made during mastering.

These are just a couple of the gems you'll learn from this video, and be sure to check out the full course using the links below, for a comprehensive guide to mastering music in Pro Tools.