SAMPLEDWhat Is Mastering in Music, and Do You Need It?
Mastering is the last step before release. Here's what it does, how it differs from mixing, and when to pay an engineer versus doing it yourself.
Mastering is the final step in making a song before it's released. It takes a finished mix and prepares it to sound good everywhere — on earbuds, car speakers, club systems and streaming services — and to sit at a similar level to other professional releases.
What does mastering actually do?
A mastering engineer typically:
- Balances the overall tone with subtle EQ so the song isn't too bright, dull or bass-heavy.
- Controls dynamics with gentle compression.
- Sets the final loudness with a limiter, so the song is competitive without distorting.
- Makes an album consistent, so songs feel like they belong together in level and tone.
- Prepares delivery files — correct format, sample rate, track spacing, and codes like ISRCs.
What's the difference between mixing and mastering?
| Mixing | Mastering |
|---|---|
| Works on every individual track | Works on the finished stereo song |
| Balances vocals, drums, bass, etc. | Polishes the song as a whole |
| Big creative decisions | Small, careful adjustments |
| Can fix a single bad element | Can't fix one instrument without affecting everything |
The key point: mastering can't save a bad mix. If the vocal is buried, fix it in the mix. Our guide on how to prepare your mix for mastering covers what to send.
Photo: Dayron Villaverde via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) (CC0)
Do you need to master your music?
If you're releasing it to the public, yes — some form of mastering helps. Your options:
- Hire a mastering engineer. Best results and a fresh set of ears. Prices vary widely by engineer.
- Use automated online mastering. Fast and cheap; fine for demos and some releases.
- Master it yourself. Possible with a limiter and good monitoring, but it's hard to judge your own mix objectively.
How loud should a master be?
Not as loud as possible. Streaming services turn loud songs down to a standard level, so crushing a track only removes punch. Learn the target levels in our guide to what LUFS means.
Can mastering fix bad recordings?
No. It can improve tone and loudness, but it can't remove a bad vocal take, fix timing or rebalance one instrument. Get the recording and the mix right first — see how to mix vocals.