These are all based on analog EQ effects and are worth checking out. If you want to add extra character to your master to make it sound like a tape recording, consider using the Vintage EQ plug-ins available in Logic Pro X. But remember that even minor changes can significantly affect how things sound. Keep all of your EQ changes on the small side during mastering. If anything needs a lot of EQing, the track should be sent back to be mixed. You don’t want to make drastic changes to the EQ during mastering. EQĮQ is another important element for every mastering situation, but it doesn’t come into play as much here as it does during mixing. The digital compression will give you more of a modern sound while the vintage option adds more old-school depth and character. The Platinum Digital and Vintage VCA are Logic’s main built-in compressors. The compressor will be installed on the track, and you can make any further adjustments wanted or needed in the compressor window. (Screenshot taken in GarageBand on my Mac)Ħ. With your mastering project open, press X to show the mixer view. You can add the compressor effect to your mastering channel by following the steps below.ġ. The stock compressors in Logic Pro X can be used to help you master tracks. This element helps to put everything together and will make each instrument or vocal or any other aspect of the song work together rather than stand out from one another. CompressionĬompression is one of the most critical aspects of mastering in Logic Pro X. This will almost always be at 44.1kHz, but just be sure to double-check when you bounce the track. You also want to keep the sample rate the same as your project when you bounce it. If the waveforms reach the top of the track, this will result in distortion that you want to eliminate by turning the track’s overall volume down. You can take a quick listen to your project while viewing the waveform of the tracks to check for any peaking. Peaking causes distortion, which is bad news in a mastered track. And before you bounce the track, you want to ensure enough headroom in the mix to avoid peaking. Most masters will use a little bit of all of the elements described below.īefore you master, you need to bounce your mix in Logic Pro X. Here are some of the most important elements, effects, and techniques to consider for knowing how to master in Logic Pro X. In that sense, mixing is like a micro look at the project and mastering is more like a macro look at it. Mastering uses many of these same elements and effects but applies them to the entire project rather than individual elements or tracks. The mix will also have compression and other effects on the tracks and generally be at a point that is near a finished product.

But they do go hand-in-hand to create high-quality recordings.Ī good mix will have each track set at the proper levels, with EQ already in place on anything that needs it. Just because you have skills at one of these, doesn’t mean you’ll be good at the other. Mixing and mastering sometimes get clumped into the same category, but they are pretty different. The mastering process won’t be as straightforward or effective if your project isn’t mixed well. Mixing and Mastering in Logic Pro XĪnother thing to remember before you learn how to master or take your recordings to someone else to master for you is that you need good mixes to create a good master. The best way to get better at it is to practice and get more experience with the entire process. The information below will provide you with these basics and some other vital information to help you start learning how to master. But there are a handful of essential things you need to know about and keep in mind when it’s time to master. So that means there isn’t an exact step-by-step process to follow when you want to master a song or an album in Logic Pro X.

Much of the mastering process involves skills and techniques that a producer or audio engineer develops over years of work with different projects. There isn’t one single way to go about mastering in Logic Pro X or any other audio production software.

High-end mastering situations often require third-party plugins or external equipment, but there is still a lot you can do right within Logic Pro X.

The stock plugins and effects built into Logic Pro X give you the tools to master recordings within the app.

Mastering, like producing, involves many different tools and techniques, so there isn’t one right or wrong way to do it.

How long will it take to master in Logic Pro X?.

Mastering plugins logic pro x