An inexpensive mastering solution...

If you like this song, here's how it was done!

Programs needed: Sonar 5 producer and Sony sound forge 8...That's it!

Record your tracks. Use or don't use compression on the main vocal but don't redline!      Clone or copy all tracks. Save and archive the originals.      Now we are working with copies!            Process each track using gain and/or normalize. Get your tracks right at zero VU!

Before


After

The next few steps (and most important steps I might add) can be done with absolutely no monitoring if you wish. No more bleeding ears trying to get the perfect sound...it's all done visually folks! How to set high pass filters !!!      Select a track in the tracks pane and highlight the audio. Select Tools / Sound Forge.

   

Sound Forge will now open inside of Sonar just like any DX or VST plugin. Highlight the audio.

Select Alt+8. The Spectrum Analysis window will now open. Click normal display and wait...

In the bottom of the Spectrum Analysis window, you will see the following.  Take notes of the Prominent Frequency... (write this down somewhere)! 211 Hz for this track...

Exit Sound Forge and open the Console view in Sonar...Alt+3. Make sure the EQ button is selected for one band. It is located to the far left of the screen and just above the FX button. The button will be illuminated yellow when it is activated for one band.

Find the track that you have just analyzed in Sound Forge, set the band type for high pass, enable EQ and set for band one. The square box for band type will be white when enabled and the EQ enable button will illuminate yellow when enabled. Now type in your prominent Frequency and set Q to 1.0 as a good starting point or double click anywhere in the plot graph and the default EQ will open. You can set your parameters here and see your changes. Now turn on your monitors if they were turned off, adjust Q up or down in small increments until satisfied.      Repeat this process for all tracks.

 
Leveling

Once all of the filters have been set, leveling is a pleasure! Simply set the outputs to where the mix sounds like you want it to sound. Keep the master output near zero VU during mixdown. Create volume envelopes for each track as well as the master output.  Take a few hours off and listen to it again. When you are certain that the mix is right, it's time to master!

Mastering

Select all final mix tracks and export the audio to some location. Close Sonar. Now you have a file somewhere that I like to call "The Raw Mix".      Open Sony Sound Forge 8 and locate your mix. Analyze the audio and write down the prominent frequency. This is where I add reverb using the prominent frequency of the raw mix.      The prominent frequency for this song is 188hz. Preview the effect until you are satisfied and click OK. The reverb is added!

Sony Sound Forge 8 has a wonderful plugin called Wave Hammer. I used it to master this song using the preset "limit at 6 db and maximize", however, I reset the threshold to -5 db.

Before


After

Now it is time for the final stage of the mix and master process. If you have recorded the entire project in 16 bit / 44,100Hz then you are done at this point. If you have used some other bit depth and sample rate then you must convert the file. Sony Sound Forge makes this easy.      1. Go to Process / Bit Depth Converter and select the preset "Convert to 16 bit (dither and noise shaping)". Click OK.      2. Go to Process / Resample and select the preset "Resample to 44,100 Hz with anti-alias filter". Click OK. And that's the end!

This song sounds great over a telephone!
Try it out...I dare you...