28
Aug
Mastering.
Working in our custom-built and sound treated Mastering Studio, this course is a deep dive into the art and science of mastering – the crucial final step in music production that polishes a final mix into a commercially-viable release.
Overview
Whilst music production and mixing is widely understood by many, mastering remains a skill that is relatively unknown, even amongst experienced mixers. This mastering course aims to demystify the process and teach you the skills you need to turn a mix into a professional release.
Delivered by an industry-active mastering engineer with 25 years’ experience, this course is a deep dive into every aspect of the mastering process. You will be trained on how to refine your listening skills to the highest level and understand genre-specific considerations and how to use reference material. You’ll learn how to use advanced EQ techniques to fix resonance issues and improve tonal balance; work with a range of compression tools to control the dynamics of your master and improve transient detail; add character and tone to your masters with both digital and analogue saturation; enhance the stereo image; and apply peak control to create a loud, impactful master that retains dynamics.
In addition to understanding all the key components of a mastering chain and how to apply them, you’ll learn about professional delivery formats for a range of platforms, and how to use advanced metering. The tricky concept of loudness will be explored in detail in relation to current industry trends.
This course explores both digital and analogue approaches to mastering, as well as looking at how to combine these processes to achieve a final master that can be the absolute best version of itself. By the end of the course, you’ll know how to transform a mix into a release that will stand up next to commercial releases on radio and streaming platforms.
Key info
- Qualification: Spirit Studios Certificate
- Duration: 3 months
- Mode of study: Part-time
- Hours of study: 3 hours delivery per week plus studio time and 1-2-1 tutorials. Lessons run 7-10pm on Tuesday's.
- Start date: 9 September 2025
- Fees: £175 per month or £472.50 if paid in full.
- Entry Requirements: An understanding of basic mixing and music production techniques, and how to use EQ and compression in mixing. Find out more
Get in touch
Get in touch
If you have any questions about this course, your application or if you'd like to arrange a tour of Spirit Studios, please get in touch on:
0161 276 2100 OR Contact usFeatures and Benefits
Learn from industry experts
Training from an industry-active mastering engineer with 25-years experience.
World-class facilities
Access to our custom-built mastering studio, with exceptional monitoring and a wide range of software and hardware equipment.
Real-world equipment
Training on the latest and most advanced industry-standard mastering equipment.
Real-world examples
Taught using real-life examples of mastering for actual releases.
28
Aug
Course details
All of our courses are constantly evolving to ensure teaching and learning remain relevant and up to date. Here is the latest example of the curriculum our Mastering course:
YOUR COURSE
Learn how to apply all the possible steps in a professional mastering chain, including: gain staging, fixing audio errors, equalisation, dynamics processing, saturation and analogue emulation, stereo imaging techniques, limiting and analogue processing using industry standard outboard equipment. You will even learn how to add character and tone to your masters with genuine analogue tape saturation, “bleaching” to a reel-to-reel analogue tape.
You’ll be trained on how to apply advanced EQ techniques, such as dynamic EQ, Mid / side EQ, Match EQ, Linear phase EQ and analogue EQ to tracks to correct and enhance tonal balance, and bring creativity to the mastering process through colourisation and in-depth control of frequency across the stereo image and in discrete bands.
Learn the subtle but essential art of using compression to control the dynamics of your master and enhance transient detail whilst promoting consistency and impact. We’ll deep dive into multiband compression, with a focus on setting crossovers effectively, and ensuring attack and release times are working with rather than against the key rhythmical elements of your audio. We’ll also look at hybrid approaches, combining digital and analogue processing, and single with multiband compression in 2-stage processing chains that enable transparency and microscopic control of your audio’s dynamics without compromise.
You’ll work with advanced stereo imagers, understanding how to manipulate the stereo field of your masters whilst retaining mono compatibility in the low end to ensure your masters translate to different listening environments. You’ll also explore the role of both analogue and digital saturation tools, to enhance harmonic detail and add grit, warmth or tone to your mastered tracks, giving them the wow factor they need. Finally, we’ll demystify loudness concepts and explore both the science and psychoacoustic human interaction with this tricky concept to ensure you’re equipped to make your master pack a punch in the right areas.
Teaching and learning
Teaching takes place in a variety of formats including lectures, workshops, demonstrations, peer reviews and one-to-one tutorial support. Our aim throughout is to encourage your creative exploration and hone your technical skills, all so you’ll leave us as a confident, independent professional.
What careers will a Mastering course prepare me for?
- Mastering Engineer
- Mixing Engineer
- Music Producer
- Sound Engineer
Your tutors
Stuart Avery
Tutor
Stuart is a studio/mastering engineer who is heavily involved in the Manchester scene. As an experienced producer, promoter and events organiser, he's been a key player in the city's cultural output.
Stuart has worked with:
- Blossoms
- Badly Drawn Boy
- KiD BRiTiSH
- Orchids
- The Irrepressibles
Entry requirements
- Experience An understanding of basic mixing and music production techniques, and how to use EQ and compression in mixing.
- 16 years Applicants must be at least 16 years old
An understanding of basic mixing and music production techniques, and how to use EQ and compression in mixing. You’ll also need to have basic literacy and IT skills. Non-native English speakers should have good spoken and written English. As a guide, we require English to be of a standard similar to IELTS 6.0.
Fees and funding
- £175 Per month for 3 months
- £472.50 Paid in full.
If paid in full, you will receive a 10% discount on the total cost of the course.
Any questions? Speak to one of our course advisors
If you have any questions about this course, your application or if you'd like to arrange a tour of Spirit Studios, please get in touch on:
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