Audio remastering system

Abstract

A system to remaster an audio recording by processing selected frequency bands and reducing the volume of each frequency band at selected points during processing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for mastering a final mix audio file comprising the steps of:
 (a) reducing the volume of the audio recording;   (b) producing a plurality of equivalent secondary signals by reducing the overall volume of the audio recording and reducing the amplitude of a limited number of selected frequencies in the audio recording;   (c) synchronously processing a selected frequency band in each one of the equivalent secondary signals by:
 (i) sequentially processing the secondary signal with at least two pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of a limiter, an expander, a compressor, and an equalizer; and 
 (ii) reducing the volume of the secondary signal when the secondary signal is transmitted from one of the pieces of equipment to another of the pieces of equipment 
   
     
     
         2 . A method for mastering a final mix audio file comprising the steps of:
 (a) initially reducing the volume of the final mix audio file prior to processing;   (b) producing at least two equivalent secondary signals of the final mix audio file by reducing the overall volume of the final mix audio file a second time;   (c) reducing the amplitude of selected frequencies in the final mix audio file;   (d) dividing the secondary signals into at least two layers for sound processing;   (e) synchronously processing the at least two layers of the selected frequency band in:
 (i) sequentially processing the secondary signal with at least two pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of a limiter, an expander, a compressor, and an equalizer; 
 (ii) reducing the volume of the secondary signal when the secondary signal is transmitted from one of the pieces of equipment to another of the pieces of equipment; and 
   (f) merging the processed layers at a limiter; and   wherein the time for processing each layer is the same.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the loudness of each of the layers differs. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein one of the layers illuminates base frequencies while processing higher frequencies. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each layer processes a band of frequencies that is different from the other. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the final mix audio file is a combined vocal and instrumental recording and further wherein the instrumental track is processed in one layer and the vocal track is processed in a second layer. 
     
     
         7 . In a system for mastering a final mix audio file, wherein the improvement comprises:
 (a) means for inputting the final mix audio file into a signal divider and for outputting the final mix audio file and at least one exact duplicate of the final mix audio file;   (b) a first equalizer in communication with the means for inputting and outputting, the first equalizer simultaneously and at the same time lowering the volume of the final mix audio file and the at least one exact duplicate;   (c) means for identically processing each audio file outputted from the first equalizer simultaneously and at exactly the same time, without any time delay between the signals, and in the same sequence, each means for processing being identical and each comprising:
 (i) a first limiter in communication with the first equalizer, the first limiter having an output; 
 (ii) means for lowering the volume of the output from the first limiter, the means for lowering the volume of the output from the first limiter having an output; 
 (iii) a compressor receiving the output from the first means for lowering the volume of the output from the first limiter, the compressor having an output; 
 (iv) means for lowering the volume of the output from the compressor, the means for lowering the volume of the output from the compressor having an output; 
 (v) an expander which receives the output from the means for lowering the volume of the output from the compressor having an output; 
 (vi) means for lowering the volume of the output from the expander; 
 (vii) a second equalizer for processing the output from the expander, the second equalizer having an output; and 
   (d) a second limiter, the output from each of the second equalizers being merged at the second limiter to provide a single mastered audio output therefrom; and   wherein either the final mix audio file or the at least one exact duplicate of the final mix audio file has its bass frequencies eliminated while being processed at higher frequencies.   
     
     
         8 . A method for mastering a final mix audio file comprising the steps of:
 (a) initially reducing the volume of the final mix audio file;   (b) duplicating the final mix audio file to provide at least one exact copy of the final mix audio file, the final mix audio file defining a primary signal layer, the at least one exact copy defining an at least one exact equivalent secondary signal layer;   (c) processing through an equalizer the primary and secondary signal layers to reduce its amplitude, the equalizer having an output;   (d) at the output of the equalizer, separating the primary and secondary signal layers, each as a whole, into separate identical signal layers;   (e) sequentially processing in identical sequence the primary and secondary signal layers with at least two pieces of identical equipment selected from the group consisting of a limiter, an expander, a compressor, and an equalizer, either the primary or secondary signal layers being processed within a first range of frequencies and the other of the primary or secondary signal layers within a different range of frequencies;   (f) reducing the volume of the primary and secondary signal layers as a whole when each signal layer is transmitted from one of the above pieces of equipment to another of the above pieces of equipment;   (g) simultaneously merging the processed primary and secondary signal layers at a limiter;   (h) simultaneously processing the merged primary and secondary signal layers through at least the limiter and then outputting the merged primary and secondary signal layers as a single mastered audio file; and   wherein the time for processing each of the primary and secondary signal layers is the same.   
     
     
         9 . In a method for mastering an inputted final mix audio file, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of:
 (a) reducing the volume of the final mix audio file;   (b) processing the final mix audio file having a reduced volume through an equalizer;   (c) duplicating the inputted final mix audio file to provide at least one exact duplicate of the final mix audio file, the final mix audio file defining a primary signal layer, the at least one exact duplicate defining an at least one exact equivalent secondary signal layer;   (d) separating the primary and secondary signal layers, each as a whole, into separate identical signal layers;   (e) reducing the amplitude in each of the primary and secondary signal layers;   (f) synchronously processing, at the same time and without any time delay between the primary and secondary signals, the identical separate signal layers by;
 (i) sequentially processing identically the primary and secondary signal layers with at least two identical pieces of identical equipment selected from the group consisting of a limiter, an expander, a compressor, and an equalizer, either the primary or secondary signal layers being processed within a first range of frequencies and the other of the primary or secondary signal layer within a different range of frequencies; and 
 (ii) reducing the volume of each of the primary and secondary signal layers as a whole when each signal layer is transmitted from one of the above pieces of equipment to another of the above pieces of equipment; 
   (g) simultaneously merging the processed primary and secondary signal layers at a limiter,   (h) simultaneously processing the merged primary and secondary signal layers through the limiter and then outputted;   wherein the time for processing each of the primary and secondary signal layers is the same; and   wherein one of the primary and secondary signal layers eliminates bass frequencies while processing higher frequencies.   
     
     
         10 . The improvement of  claim 9 , wherein the loudness of each of the primary and secondary signal layers differs. 
     
     
         11 . The improvement of  claim 9 , wherein each of the primary and secondary signal layers each have their bass frequencies processed.