Mixing and Mastering Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of a high-pass filter (HPF) on most non-bass instrument tracks?

Answer: Remove unwanted low-frequency rumble and mud

HPFs eliminate sub-bass energy on non-bass instruments that clutter the low end without contributing musically.

In the context of mix translation, what does it mean when a mix 'translates well'?

Answer: The mix sounds balanced across various playback systems

Good translation means the mix sounds consistently balanced on headphones, car stereos, club systems, and consumer speakers.

What is 'inter-sample peaking' and why is it important in mastering?

Answer: Peaks that occur between sample points during D/A conversion that can cause clipping

Inter-sample peaks exceed 0 dBFS during reconstruction, causing distortion on decoders even when the waveform shows no clipping.

Which metering standard is most commonly used for streaming platform loudness normalization?

Answer: LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale)

LUFS is the integrated loudness measurement standard used by Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other platforms for normalization.

What is the function of M/S (Mid-Side) processing in mastering?

Answer: It allows independent EQ and compression of the center and side signals

M/S processing decodes stereo into mid (center) and side (difference) components, enabling targeted treatment of each element.

What is 'gain staging' in the context of a mixing session?

Answer: Managing signal levels at each stage of the signal chain to optimize headroom and avoid distortion

Proper gain staging ensures each plugin and channel operates in its optimal range, minimizing noise and distortion throughout the chain.

A mix engineer notices harsh sibilance on a lead vocal. Which tool is the most targeted solution?

Answer: De-esser

A de-esser is a frequency-selective compressor specifically designed to tame harsh 'S' and 'T' sounds in vocal recordings.