mastering of a record

[jk333]

what does mastering of a record/song accomplish? what is it? how is it different from mixing...

lillywhites wasn't mastered, correct? if so, why does it sound so damn good (better than busted stuff, imo) that is if mastering is as important as people make it out to be...

[AdamCU81]

I think mastering is just getting every aspect of a recording exactly how you want it. It's mixing to the highest degree. Concerning Busted Stuff...I think BS is technically far superior to the Lillywhites. You might prefer the live sound of lillywhites over BS just as I prefer a Dave and Tim version of Stay Or Leave over the studio recording, but the fully mastered versions are no doubt higher quality.

[j_wyse]

No, mastering is done after the mix is completed. It is at the very least some slight sonic corrections, eq, multi band compression.
Mastering is an art unto itself. It's kinda hard to explain.
see
http://www.homerecordingconnection.com/news.php?action=view_cat&cat_id=12
This might explain things a bit clearer.

Jim

[AdamCU81]

thanks for that