master
techniquesMAS-ter
The final stage of audio production, preparing a mix for distribution.
Mastering is the last creative step in music production — the process of taking a final mix and preparing it for distribution across all playback formats. A mastering engineer applies subtle EQ adjustments, compression, limiting, and stereo enhancement to optimise the overall sound. When mastering an album, the engineer ensures consistent volume, tonal balance, and sonic character across all tracks, and sets the spacing between songs. Mastering also involves creating the final file formats for streaming, vinyl, and CD. The difference between a mastered and unmastered recording is often dramatic — mastering adds polish, loudness, and cohesion. The "loudness war" of the 1990s and 2000s saw mastering pushed to extreme compression levels, sacrificing dynamic range for perceived volume. Modern streaming platforms have begun reversing this trend by normalising playback levels.