Mastering for Vinyl
Mastering for vinyl is a unique process that prepares music specifically for the physical characteristics of vinyl records. Unlike digital formats, vinyl has specific needs to ensure the record plays smoothly and sounds great. Remember that vinyl is not a digital, but an analog medium, so we need to treat it differently. Here’s are some basic characteristics that makes it different:
Frequency Management: Vinyl handles low frequencies differently, so we need to address bass frequencies accordingly to prevent the needle from jumping or causing distortion. High frequencies may also need careful control to avoid harsh sounds on playback.
Dynamic Range Adjustments: Vinyl can’t support extreme dynamics well, so we adjust the track’s dynamic range in a musical way to ensure it fits comfortably within the grooves of a record. This keeps quieter parts audible without risking distortion on louder peaks.
Level and Duration: The loudness of a vinyl record is influenced by how much music is on each side. Longer tracks or albums require slightly lower levels to fit on the disc, balancing sound quality with playback time.
Physical Groove Limitations: Vinyl has physical grooves that hold audio information, so we tailor the track to fit these grooves effectively, which impacts stereo width, low-end frequencies, and loudness.