> HOME > Mastering > Basic work process of sound reform

Basic work process of sound reform

We will keep the video and sound source, and basically we will remodel it in the following work process. There are various sound conditions, so we will approach it according to the situation. Rather than just raising the sound pressure by sandwiching the maximizer appropriately, we carry out careful reform by combining careful audio repair and bold editing. We will do the editing with time and effort.

Depending on the media you keep, in the case of analog video, it will be captured by video capture and converted to MP4 data. For other digital media, data is imported from the computer drive without down-conversion. Then load the video file into your DAW and split the video and audio. Except when the stored media is high resolution, the audio is up-converted to 48kHz.24bit.

Workable media

VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, MP4 (file), CD, DAT, CT (cassette tape), and other music data files in general. (DSD not possible)


Preprocess the extracted audio data. The audio data is imported into the audio repair software Rx 8 and the noise is carefully removed by the plug-ins Denoice and Remove Hum . Correct distorted data that had problems during recording with Declip and Declick. In each case, we analyze your voice data and perform the most effective processing. Use Spectral Repair to clean the specified noise requested in advance (howling of unnecessary parts, noise in the venue at the pianissimo part, etc.) . (This is the main work in the Sound Treatment menu.) Careful preparation will improve the accuracy of subsequent editing. Noise removal can be done specifically like this .

① Video capture and audio division

(2) Audio preparation by RX 8 Advanced


The file that has been prepared is imported into the DAW / NUENDO to actively create sounds. (As of 2020, EQ mainly uses Fabfilter pro Q3)

Adjust the equalizer while considering the recording status and the balance of sound output. If the instrument balance during recording is extremely bad, go back to the pre-processing and perform Music Rebarance (drums, vocals, bass, and other rebalancing) processing on the RX 8. Organize the overtone components that make the song stand out more, and search for comfortable points so that the edges of the sound image are linked to the grooves. In many cases, UAD / NEVE1073 is passed before EQ to add a texture unique to analog.

③ EQ adjustment


Considering the balance and sound quality of the recorded instrument, multiple compressors and limiters will be used to create overall firmness. Recently (November 2020) My favorite setting is UAD Shadowhills Mastering complessor → Ozone 9 Vintage Limitter → Ozone 7 Dinamics. A more natural sound pressure can be obtained by setting the sound pressure hierarchically and weakly.

For live recordings, Ozone 7 Dynamics often adjusts the output balance for each band.

④ Dynamics adjustment


(2) EQ adjusted the overall sound quality, and (3) the compressor limiter adjusted the overall sound pressure. The performance is almost ready. Next, we will process the band that we want to emphasize with an exciter. Speaking of pictures, the image is that it would be colored a little more vividly. Since each instrument of a live sound source with a lot of air components can be heard far from the sound image, it is processed with the image of adding a slight edge to the band of the instrument, which tends to be buried. Of course, if the sound output is good, it is not uncommon to choose not to use it.

⑤ Adjust the front and rear image with the exciter


Once the basic sound image is in place, adjust the stereo sound image for each band. The finishing method varies mainly depending on the music and instrument composition, but in the case of a live sound source, it is used in a way that arranges the image of how the sound spreads at the venue. Small-scale live house sound sources tend to be fluffy, but they are often finished with the image of a clear live album. We balance the recording condition and the finished image from the customer and set the best sense of presence. Depending on the sound source, it may not be used.

⑥ Sound image adjustment with stereo imager


The final equalizing is done before passing through the maximizer, which determines the final sound pressure. Here, rather than aggressive processing, it has a strong meaning of smoothing with sandpaper. Depending on the playing genre, choose manley_massive_passive, Pultec EQP-1, etc. to raise and lower the high range and mid-low range naturally.

⑦ Shelving EQ

FG-X slatedegital
oxford reverbの透明度

Depending on the direction of your music, we will adjust the sound pressure for the master when the balance and timbre of each instrument are roughly determined. For rock and electric music, use the maximizer to gain sound pressure and punch the sound. We will choose Ozone 9 Advanced and FG-X with high effect to finish the voice master. In addition, depending on the situation, plug-ins such as reverb, saturation system, and channel strip of vintage console are used depending on the situation. The better the original sound source, the less frequently it is used and the more delicate the blend is to support the natural sound, but assuming that the original sound source is not in good condition, the sound is made bolder than general mastering.

⑧ Sound pressure finish with maximizer & others


When the audio is finished in Edius Pro 9, replace the original video audio with the reformed audio. Adjust the volume between songs outside the performance according to the video here, taking into consideration the audio from the MC. Edit the title, optional song title, and end roll telop here. After all editing is completed, write it out to the requested media (Blu-ray, etc.) and check it with Sony's consumer playback device. Depending on the media, the audio is uncompressed and encoded with the highest quality of the media.

⑨ Video / audio replacement and video media finishing


When ordering a PAC plan or AUDIO plan, after working from ① to ⑦, import the reform sound with the mastering software Wavelab, divide the song, write the file, set the playback position marking, and burn it to a CD. I will include it. We also perform dither processing according to the media so that the highest sound quality can be maintained.

⑨ Export to CD or music file

It was a rough explanation of the remodeling process of the Sound Reform plan. AIR recording sound sources in poor condition are mainly performed in step (2). These cannot guarantee perfect results.

January 10, 2016



November 06, 2015


December 05, 2015



Please reload

Why don't you improve the sound quality by sound reforming an important sound source that can be used as a business card for the band? We will remodel it into a beautiful work with a sense of realism by removing noise and editing the latest sound. Please use it for making demo tapes .