When recording an album, the last step in the process is called audio mastering.  You send your tracks to someone who has an expert ear and who applies things like "compression", "normalization", and "equalization" to make your music sound crisp.  It's the final bit of polish that makes what you hear on a CD sound different  (better) than what you record on your iPhone. I was thinking about that process as I get ready to launch my new podcast: Beer, Beats, and Business.  I'm recording and producing it on my own, and while I have gotten some great help from friends who are podcasters, the finished result isn't going to sound like it's on … [Read more...]