Without correcting spectral and dynamic problems first, you risk amplifying them when applying a limiter, which raises the level of the quietest parts of your signal.Īs you read along, keep in mind that the following steps in this guide are processing solutions you can apply if the mix calls for it. Regardless of your approach, however, the general philosophy is: make corrections before making enhancements. How does the track sound on laptop speakers, headphones, studio monitors, the car, etc.? Taking notes will give your mastering workflow a sense of direction. So, prior to applying any kind of processing, take the time to listen to your track on different playback systems and take notes on anything that stands out. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all signal chain solution for every track each mix has its own needs. What order should your effects be? Should you add an EQ or compressor first? Do you need special processing to upload your track to a streaming service? If you’re new to mastering music, you may be wondering how to approach a mastering signal chain. Once you have a stereo file (or stems if you prefer stem mastering), you won’t be able to change levels of any tracks without going back to the mixing stage of the audio production workflow.

You also want to ensure you’re happy with the level relationships between different elements of your mix before bouncing down to a stereo file.

This range will leave room for mastering a track. Aim to keep your overall mix's Peak Level around -3 to -6 dBFS and keep your average level around -16 dBFS RMS (or momentary LUFS). You don’t need to use all of the available headroom. If you have channels clipping, they’ll introduce distortion into your mix that will get amplified in mastering. Does the mix need to sound more cohesive? Make sure you’re using proper mix bus processing techniques.Īdditionally, make sure nothing is clipping. Minor changes can make or break an entire mix so try to have a mix that already sounds mastered rather than expecting a master engineer to fix everything later on.ĭoes your mix need widening? Make sure you are panning your instruments. The mix should sound balanced, dynamically consistent, and have enough headroom for the mastering stage.

The first thing you want to do is finish the mix and prepare it for audio mastering.

Master my track