Hi!
I just want to briefly share with you my system when making a master for CD and export MP3s in one project when the CD factory wants a DDP file.
After mixing, I export every melody as a BWAV32 float, making it suitable for importing it to the master project. Every file has this naming convention: NN-MySongTitle.wav (without spaces - old habit), why will be quite clear when you look at the screenshot, here is an explanation of what you see:
Now, it's time to do the actual mastering. With this layout, I have one channel strip for every song and a quick mouse-click at the top of the ruler bar makes it really easy and fast to compare every song and parts with each other.
Finally, we export one big wave file with that will be the DDP file for the CD and one MP3 for every song.
I use the program suite "DDP Mastering Tools" for making DDP files and this is my preferred method because it gives me total control. However, many clients like to have every single wave file and take it from there, then I just use the Time Span method there as well.
I see that mastering questions comes up from time to time and hope that this little article is helpful for someone. Enjoy!
I just want to briefly share with you my system when making a master for CD and export MP3s in one project when the CD factory wants a DDP file.
After mixing, I export every melody as a BWAV32 float, making it suitable for importing it to the master project. Every file has this naming convention: NN-MySongTitle.wav (without spaces - old habit), why will be quite clear when you look at the screenshot, here is an explanation of what you see:
- Every song is imported into the master project, I prefer to drag and drop them one by one into the editor window under the master track.
- The first track starts > 2 secs after the start location marker, complying with the RedBook protocol.
- I align the songs so every transition from one song to another sounds right.
- Then I right-click at every track and select the region name -> Ranges -> Add Single Range Marker. Now you see why I named the exported files as I did and these markers are for exporting the MP3-files later.
- Now I do the CD markers. Use the actual title of the song. This will help to produce a correct cue fie together with the big wave file
- Finally, put the end of every range into the next range start. This will make the pause (if any) between the MP3 sound as from the CD (unless the MP3 player settings override it)
Now, it's time to do the actual mastering. With this layout, I have one channel strip for every song and a quick mouse-click at the top of the ruler bar makes it really easy and fast to compare every song and parts with each other.
Finally, we export one big wave file with that will be the DDP file for the CD and one MP3 for every song.
- The wave file with CD settings and normalizing to peak and ticking that a QUE file also will be produced
- For the MP3s, I use the "Time Span" where I tick off the session and enables every range. Here I Normalize loudness and for this project, I choose a loudness of -13 LUFS. For this project, I was able to export to MP3 directly and for this project, the song levels were well balanced when I played the MP3s. Finally, I tag every MP3 file.
I use the program suite "DDP Mastering Tools" for making DDP files and this is my preferred method because it gives me total control. However, many clients like to have every single wave file and take it from there, then I just use the Time Span method there as well.
I see that mastering questions comes up from time to time and hope that this little article is helpful for someone. Enjoy!
