SO WHAT IS MASTERING HMMM?

Mastering’s most fundamental goal is to create a “master”—the definitive version of a track or album from which all copies are made. This master isn’t tied to any specific format, whether vinyl, CD, or streaming; instead, it’s a perfected source that holds the ideal sound balance and quality, ready to be adapted for any listening platform. Of course, as music has evolved, so has mastering—from records to cassettes to CDs, and now to other digital formats, including creating files for streaming. This final step in production has always served the same core purpose: to refine and enhance the sound, balancing the mix for clarity and cohesion, and ensuring that tracks sound polished, balanced, and vibrant on any sound system, whether it's in a car, on a tiny phone speaker, or in a massive concert hall.

In short, mastering helps your music reach its full potential, making sure every note is heard exactly as you intended!

STREAMING

Mastering for streaming services has become an essential part of today’s music production process, as these platforms dictate how music is heard by millions of listeners. Unlike physical formats like vinyl or CD, streaming services use data compression to reduce the file size of audio tracks, making them easier to stream over the internet at different speeds and on various devices. This process involves compressing the file size without necessarily altering the audio quality significantly. However, this can still impact the final sound, so the mastering engineer must ensure the track retains its clarity and balance despite the data compression. Additionally, engineers must consider each platform’s specific requirements, such as Spotify’s loudness normalization or Apple Music’s high-resolution streaming, to ensure the track sounds great across all listening environments. The goal is to preserve the dynamic range and emotional impact of the original mix while meeting the technical standards of streaming platforms, so listeners hear the music as intended, no matter the device they’re using.

DDP - CD MASTER

DDP, or Disc Description Protocol, is like a digital toolkit that holds your album’s final, mastered files, ready to be duplicated on CD. Think of it as a virtual box of everything a CD manufacturer needs: the tracks in perfect order, gaps between songs, crossfades, and even hidden tracks if you want to surprise listeners. DDP ensures that when your music is copied for distribution, every detail stays intact, so your listeners get the experience you intended, down to the last second. We usually recommend Australian company Replicat for duplication.

VINYL MASTER

Vinyl mastering is a two-step process that involves both audio preparation and the physical creation of the record. The audio aspect focuses on optimizing the sound for vinyl by carefully adjusting tonal balance, dynamics, and loudness to suit the medium's unique characteristics. Engineers apply equalization and compression to enhance clarity and warmth while avoiding distortion that can arise from excessive loudness. Our team can take care of that side, but from here the audio will need to be transferred onto a lacquer disc by a cutting engineer. This is where the mastered audio is transferred onto a lacquer disc using a specialized cutting lathe. The cutting engineer ensures the grooves are properly shaped, spaced, and deep enough to hold all the sonic details without causing playback issues. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between achieving a full, rich sound and maintaining the physical limitations of vinyl, such as groove depth and track spacing. Together, the audio and cutting aspects of vinyl mastering work in harmony to create a final product that captures the warmth and immersive experience that vinyl enthusiasts love.

We recommend Australian company Suitcase Records for pressing. They have loads of really great info on their website too about the idiosyncrasies of vinyl.

ISRC

An ISRC, or International Standard Recording Code, is like a barcode for each track, letting the world know who you are every time your song is played, streamed, or downloaded. It helps your music get recognized and credited properly, so you get paid for your hard work. Each ISRC is unique to each track and stays with it for life, helping organizations keep track of plays, sales, and streaming data. In short, ISRCs are essential for tracking the impact of your music and ensuring you get the credit (and royalties) you deserve. You can obtain ISRCs yourself, or if you would like us to allocate them for you, just ask!

A FEW MASTERING TERMS

  • Loudness
    Loudness in mastering refers to the perceived volume of a track. Mastering engineers usually aim to make songs competitively loud while retaining clarity and dynamic range. Loudness is managed through techniques like compression and limiting to give tracks power without distorting or “squashing” the sound. You might have heard of the “loudness wars” - we like to joke that thankfully the loudness wars are over… and loudness won! Well in some genres, but we can work with you and you style of music to create the most dynamically appropriate master.

  • EQ (Equalization)
    EQ involves adjusting the balance of frequencies in a track to ensure a clean, polished sound. Mastering engineers use EQ to bring out certain tonal qualities or remove unwanted frequencies, making sure the track sounds balanced across different systems, and that songs sound consistent across a whole album.

  • Compression & Dynamic Range
    Compression reduces the dynamic range of a track, controlling volume peaks and making quieter parts louder for a more consistent sound. In mastering, compression helps achieve a cohesive, controlled mix that holds up well on various playback devices. Dynamic range is the difference between the quietest and loudest parts of a track. In mastering, preserving or carefully controlling dynamic range is crucial to ensure that a track remains impactful without sounding overly compressed or flat.

  • Limiting
    Limiting is the process of capping the peak levels of a track to prevent distortion. It’s used in the final stages of mastering to maximize the track’s loudness without exceeding the threshold where audio starts to clip or distort.

  • Stereo Imaging
    Stereo imaging refers to the perception of width, depth, and space in a track. Mastering engineers adjust the stereo image to ensure the music feels full and immersive, enhancing the listener’s experience by placing sounds across the stereo field.