Eddie you have said many times and in many different threads, you're a perfectionist and you really like knowing exactly what's going on and how it all works. Very laudable. With that in mind, here's the correct, classic definition from Wikipedia. This is what you would get from graduates of those Audio Engineering schools we talked about. Big difference between working pros in the field and us hacks at home using our little setups. You want to be a pro, then here it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_mastering

You also mentioned in the other thread in response to someone suggesting you get Ozone that you don't want simple software presets, you want to know the why's and wherefore's of all that. That's great but the presets in these top mastering programs are pretty darn good and are specifically designed for folks like us who don't have that formal education. I would be using those presets for now while you're busy signing up and working those classes. Otherwise, you're getting nothing done for the next few years.

Bob

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