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Questions! Sticky

A topic by Lone Rabbit created Sep 18, 2022 Views: 523 Replies: 14
Viewing posts 1 to 6
HostSubmitted

Feel free to ask questions about the jam here!

Submitted

Hi, I’m considering joining this jam but I’m wondering if the track(s) I make have to be mastered? I have zero clue how to master a track but I know it helps make the audio quality better so I was wondering if that’s a requirement/recommendation. If so, would using an online mastering tool be okay?

HostSubmitted

Hi! That’s all up to you! I personally have a limited knowledge about mastering as well, so I usually mix it so that it sounds good enough. It’s not a requirement, but it is recommended as there’s a rating category (Quality) which rates on the mixing/mastering and choice of sounds of the tracks. Using an online mastering tool is also ok, ultimately it’s all your choice!

Hope this helps ^^

mastering is an overglorified term. if the song sounds good that's all that matters

Submitted (1 edit)

You definitely need to master them if you want to make more than one tracks.

Mastering has several levels:

  • The basic level should be making the tracks similar. At least, you need to make the music the same loudness.
  • Next level, it's time to fix the issues you missed during mixing. Say, LR balance, dynamic balance, etc.
  • Even further, you can adjust the tonal balance and others, just to make it a bit better.

Relax, it's just a jam, a game, a chance to have fun. Don't be too stressed. Do whatever you could.

Submitted

Is LR balance like panning? I really don’t know a thing about mastering since every time I try to read about it I get so confused (it’s just so technical), so I end up just using bandlab for it. Of course, I still try to balance the volume levels out when I’m mixing but that’s about it. I’m very new to all of this, this jam is the first time I’ll be putting my music out there, so if you have any other tips for beginners, I’d love to learn as much as I can :)

Submitted

Well, when I refer to "LR balance" it's similar to "panning" but not exactly the same. Yes, it's about positioning the instruments so we have a better stereo effect. But for "LR balance", it's more like "balance the loudness of the left and right channel so they are the same".It's nothing with the stereo field.

For the loudness, I still prefer to make a final check when mastering. During the mixing step, we could try to make them the same but there is no guarantee. We can always make some mistakes and leave one track a bit louder than the other. Setting all 6 tracks in a row and checking them one by one is a lot easier than setting the loudness in each track.

Submitted

Ah okay, thank you! I'll try my best and see what I can do! At worst my efforts aren't all that great but I'll probably learn something from it regardless.

Submitted

Hello! I have a question. When I upload my project, can I activate the donation option?

HostSubmitted

Yup!

Submitted

Ok ok ok :)

hi quick question! i havent submitted anything in the jam, but i wanted to vote in it since it's open to everyone, but i can't figure out how to do it. 

Submitted

I forgot to include my username in the track names, and now the files are locked! Was that a necessity or just a recommendation?

Submitted

Oh, crud! Ditto!

Submitted

I mean I don't think you'll lose ratings for it? It seems like a strong recommendation as opposed to a rule, that's my guess at least. Maybe someone else will come and give a better answer 😂