You're Overthinking Audio Mastering | Do This Instead

Описание: 🎚️ Audio mastering doesn’t need to be complicated.
In this video, I break down how to master a song using a simple, real-world music production approach that focuses on loudness, tonal balance, and translation — not endless mastering plugins.

In the final installment of this series, I show how mastering really comes down to two core steps:

1️⃣ Getting your song to a competitive volume that holds up on streaming platforms
2️⃣ Tonal shaping so the music sounds balanced, musical, and finished — without losing emotion

If you’re struggling with mastering music that sounds harsh, flat, or over-processed, this video will help you simplify your workflow and make confident decisions at the final stage.

This approach is about clarity, restraint, and intent — not chasing loudness or stacking processors just because they’re available.

🎛 Mastering plugins & tools used in this video

I walk through my actual audio mastering chain using:
• LTL Silver Bullet for tone, colour, and analog-style shaping
• FabFilter Pro-Q 3 for precise and intentional EQ moves
• Studer A800 for density, glue, and harmonic weight
• Voxengo SPAN for frequency reference and balance
• Klanghelm VUMT for measuring volume
• Slate Digital VCC for controlling level

Every tool is used with intention — nothing here is added “just because.”

🔊 What you’ll learn in this video

• A clear, repeatable approach to audio mastering
• How to reach competitive loudness without killing dynamics
• How to shape the tonal balance of your track
• How to think about music production at the mastering stage
• When meters help — and when they get in the way
• How to stop overthinking and actually finish songs

🎶 Part 4 of a 4-part live-off-the-floor acoustic series

1️⃣ Tracking & mic placement
2️⃣ Mixing the acoustic guitar
3️⃣ Mixing the vocal
4️⃣ Mastering the final performance

This series follows the entire process — from microphones to master — so you can see how strong tracking and mixing decisions make mastering simpler, cleaner, and more musical.

If mastering feels confusing, overwhelming, or inconsistent, this video will help you reset your approach and focus on what actually matters.

⸻

🎸 Check out Eric Bolton online:
   / @eric_bolton  
  / eric_bolton