Once the artist and mix engineer agree that a mix is complete, the song is ready for mastering. Mastering is the final stage of audio processing before a song is released into the world via streaming platforms, CD, or vinyl. The goal of mastering is make a final mix sound louder, clearer, and to showcase more of the details that were decided upon in the production and mixing stages.

I adapt my mastering style to fit each song and artistic aesthetic. If a song is beautifully mixed, my mastering style is very transparent, to allow the song and the mix to make their statement. If a mix needs enhancement or correction, my approach will shift to allow the song to be heard in its optimal state. Ultimately I follow my ears, experience, and any guidance from the artist.

The majority of my mastering work is done remotely. After laboring over details in the production and mix phases, many artists prefer to not be present for mastering sessions - this allows me to work freely and allows the artist to hear their song from a fresh perspective upon hearing the finished work.

There is a range of acceptable loudness for mastered songs in today’s music industry. The final loudness of a song depends on the production style, the mix, and the genre of music. The current scale for measuring loudness in the music industry is Integrated LUFS, which measures a song’s average perceived loudness. The average loudness for many mastered songs is -14 LUFS, although louder masters are common when it is musically appropriate.