A Dive into the Audio World: A Stroll through Mastering with Ozone 5

Mastering in audio can be termed as the last stage of Post-production. It is the mediator between the final mixing process and distribution. When a track is mastered, it is ready to be released. This final mastered track is often put up against other commercially released sounds. These compared and test in aspects of loudness and quality, often resulting in infamous ‘loudness war.’

Using Ozone 5 to master, is a gradual step-by-step process that requires considerable amount of skill and experience to master. The first module in ozone 5 includes a EQ, followed by the reverb and shared cross over. This includes three multi-band processors. The cross over enables frequencies set in different bands shared with all the three processors. The next step of Multi-band processors also includes dynamics like compressors, limiters, gating, expanders etc. The EQ also comes with built in pre-sets along with an option to save your desired pre-set. When it comes to workflow, Rolling off frequencies under 40Hz leaves for more headroom. Cutting frequencies between 250-400Hz also removes muddiness and unwanted swelling in the track. By Holding down option, alt and clicking the spectrum, it is possible to focus on frequencies and drag to change the q. The multi-band compressing helps to glue the track together and care should be taken not to change the sound of the track or end up having a flat sound. In Ozone 5 each module has an amount control adding more or less dynamics, with the default setting being center to fine tune what’s going on. The Exciter can be used to add distortion to the track. Although this might not sound like a good thing, it can bring a lot of life into the track. The excitation can also be done in four bands. The percentage of the High-mids can be used to add sparkle to the sound. Gating can also be used to remove any noise or hiss, when the track is quite by rolling off the high frequencies on the multi-band.

The Ozone 5 also comes with an EQ Mid/Slide setting. Mid consists of everything that is equal in both channels. For example, the stereo imaging of the kick, snare lead vocals etc. The side can be used as anything that is unequal. This invariably includes a lot of high frequency instruments like hi-hats, cymbals, synth pads etc. The Mid and Side can be heard individually and multi dynamics can also be added, but this would be a slightly complex process. Last but not the least, the stereo imagining can be used to either widen or narrow the sound based on different bands of the track. It is a general rule to always mono the bass or any extremely low frequency content, since it will result in saving a lot of space and make the kick, Bass sound more punchy.