Are You Listening? Season 2 is a free video tutorial series from professional mastering engineer and iZotope Education Director Jonathan Wyner. Though this series Jonathan will guide us through audio mastering principles like critical listening, how to set up your room, and using techniques like EQ, compression, and limiting in mastering.

You might want to consider catching up with Are You Listening Season 1.

The second episode of Are You Listening Season 2 covers track referencing as an invaluable mastering tool that provides an objective opportunity to check whether your track is closing in on the ideal dynamics and vibe you’re going for.

Follow along as iZotope Education Director and professional mastering engineer Jonathan Wyner guides you through best practices for using reference tracks in your next mastering session.

• 00:38 Referencing definition and overview

• 10:57 How to find good reference tracks for mastering

• 11:49 How to use mastering references

• 16:41 How to think about level and tone with mastering references

• 20:11 What to do first with mastering references

• 22:19 Signs of a great reference

Watch out for future episodes from Jonathan Wyner in season 2 of Are You Listening?