57-948 Sound Editing and Mastering

6 units, Carnegie Mellon University

The raw recording is just the first step in the process of creating a professional finished audio product. "Editing" is the art of piecing together different takes to make one final 'good take.' "Mastering" is the art of polishing the 'good take' to perfection--balancing all the instruments and tracks, adding special effects, setting final levels. If 'recording' seems like an high-energy activity--involving engineers, musicians, producers--'editing and mastering' are the necessary counterparts--long tedious hours of solitary confinement honing the skills of the mastering engineer. Those taking this course are expected to have significant music skills: actively playing a musical instrument (or composition), and/or the ability to read a piano score at the least, and a full orchestra score from any recent century, including our own, at the most.

Prerequisites: 57-651 or 57-947 (min C)

Offered: Spring 2027, Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Fall 2025

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