Mastering

Mastering is the audio step that comes just before manufacturing a CD. Some would even say it's a crucial step.

In general terms: mastering brings out the 'good' qualities of a finished mix, tries to minimize 'bad' qualities and ensures consistent playback from ALL sources (i.e. in the car, your home stereo, your ear-buds, your computer speakers). Mastering also creates continuity from track to track in regards to both volume and overall sound quality.

Mastering includes but may not be limited to:

• Optimizing volume levels for proper relative loudness
• Signal processing - Compression, EQ, and More
• Arranging tracks in final sequence
• Clean-up start and ending of each track (including fades)