Sam Fischmann - The TRUTH About Mastering in Modern Music Production (AKA: It's OK To Master Your Own Music)
Sep 4, 2024
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Sam Fischmann, cofounder of Musik Hack and a devoted advocate for accessible mastering, dives into the complexities of the mastering process. He discusses the significance of loudness standards and demystifies the -14LUFS target. Sam emphasizes trusting personal taste over technical norms, exploring how machine learning is revolutionizing audio tools. He also reflects on the balance between creativity and technicality, the ethical implications of AI, and the growth that comes from mistakes, all while encouraging musicians to embrace their unique roles in music production.
Mastering is essential in music production, enhancing the sound quality while aligning with the artist's vision and style.
Loudness standards can sometimes distract from the creative process, prioritizing sound quality over strict adherence to numerical targets.
AI and machine learning offer opportunities in music production, but ethical concerns regarding artistic integrity and consent must be addressed.
Deep dives
The Role of Mastering in Modern Music Production
Mastering plays a crucial role in music production by refining the final sound of a track, making it ready for distribution. The mastering process ensures that tracks sound cohesive and polished, comparable to seasoning a dish to enhance its flavors. There is an ongoing debate regarding the relevance of traditional mastering engineers versus automated AI tools, where personal taste and a second set of ears are essential for the creative touch in the final product. The conversation emphasizes that mastering should align with the artist's vision and personal taste, rather than solely adhering to technical metrics.
Understanding Loudness and Its Impact
Loudness has become a significant focus in music production, often tied to industry standards like Spotify's normalization levels. The obsession with achieving specific loudness measurements can detract from the overall creative process, leading producers to prioritize numbers over the actual sound quality of the music. It is crucial to listen to how music feels when loud and to trust one’s judgement rather than worry excessively about numerical targets. Submitting tracks that exceed loudness targets is not inherently damaging, as adjustments can be made without compromising the track's quality.
The Effect of Technology on Music Creation
The discussion around AI and machine learning technologies in music production highlights both opportunities and ethical considerations. While AI can enhance workflows and automate certain tasks, there are concerns about the potential misuse of artists' creative works in training datasets without proper consent. The conversation stresses the importance of maintaining artistic integrity and ensuring musicians are informed about how their work may be utilized by tech companies. Ultimately, artists should trust their creativity and intuition while navigating these technological advancements.
The Importance of Taste Over Technical Skill
Creativity in music production is intertwined with personal taste, which should be prioritized over purely technical considerations. Mastering engineers provide a unique perspective that complements the artist's vision, emphasizing that it is essential to ensure the final track resonates with the artist's intent. The conversation also touches on the diminishing need for extreme technical expertise, as modern tools make mastering accessible to those who truly trust their artistic choices. Listening to reference tracks and being open to experimentation can enhance an artist's sound without getting bogged down by overly complex technical tasks.
The Vision Behind Music Hack
Music Hack is rooted in the desire to empower musicians and producers by eliminating technical barriers in music production. The aim is to create user-friendly tools that allow artists to focus on creativity rather than getting caught up in complicated technicalities. The journey highlights the importance of persistence and adaptability in the face of challenges, as well as the value of finding a supportive community. Ultimately, the mission is to bridge the gap between technical excellence and artistic expression, enabling more musicians to achieve their sonic goals with confidence.
Sam Fischmann is a cofounder of the audio plugin company Musik Hack. As a software developer and musician he is passionate about demystifying the mastering process and making it accessible to everybody by creating tools that enable musicians to focus more on the creative and less on the technical.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The Truth Behind Loudness Standards
Where the -14LUFS Target Came From
Developing and Trusting Your Own Taste
How Machine Learning Can Help Us Build Better Audio Tools
The Ethics of AI Audio Tools
Growth through mistakes
Separating Creative Instincts from Technical Instincts
Owning the Role That You Are Best at, Even If It’s Not The One You Want
