A noobs question about mastering

[Stretch DR]

Basically I have finished a remix for a competition and obviously the mixdown and mastering is the next stage to make it sound phat (without killing it), but I am no expert on mastering and have no idea about it. The hosts of the remix say they would get it professionally done if it did indeed win, however I was wondering if there is something I could do in the meantime to just make the overall sound a bit fatter and louder with out over doing it obviously.

Cheers in advance.

[Dellity]

I am by no means an expert on mastering but a few basic tips ...
-Make sure your master volume does not exceed +0.1 DB overall as the sound starts to distort or 'clip'
-Listen to your mix through a number of different meduims, i.e monitors, car, headphones to determine which sounds need to be louder/quieter
- Mix down all elements individually
- Use Limiters and EQ's, as they are critical in the overall sound quality
-Use compression if need be!

Good luck with the remix comp!

[Manny]

Advice on mastering on audacity would be appreciated as well.

[Stretch DR]

I am by no means an expert on mastering but a few basic tips ...
-Make sure your master volume does not exceed +0.1 DB overall as the sound starts to distort or 'clip'
-Listen to your mix through a number of different meduims, i.e monitors, car, headphones to determine which sounds need to be louder/quieter
- Mix down all elements individually
- Use Limiters and EQ's, as they are critical in the overall sound quality
-Use compression if need be!

Good luck with the remix comp!

Wow! Thanks man, this helped.

[FrenziBeatz]

I don't know much about it either, but I totally agree about the listeneing to it through a number of different mediums things.

There's so many times I made a beat, then I listen to it somewhere else and realize I can't hear some of the instruments or something.