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Mix readiness

Prepare your mix for mastering.

A good pre-master is intentional, technically clean, and still sounds like your record. Leave mastering room to refine it; do not make it rescue preventable problems.

The final-listen checklist

HeadroomKeep the peaks below 0 dBFS with nothing clipped. Published guides suggest different peak levels; a clean, unclipped file matters more than hitting any one of them.
ClippingCheck the master output and the exported file. Repair accidental clipping before export.
Bus processingKeep processing that defines the sound. Bypass anything used only to make the mix louder and compare honestly.
Fades and tailsListen through the first transient and the complete ending. Preserve reverb and delay tails.
Noise and editsListen on headphones for clicks, count-ins, open mics, cut breaths, and noisy gaps.
Reference tracksCompare tone and impact at similar playback loudness. Do not chase another record's meter reading.
Mono and low levelCheck the mix in mono and quietly. Lead elements should remain clear without relying on volume.
Version and labelExport the approved mix and give it a clear version name before uploading.

When the mix passes the list, hear it mastered against the original. The preview is free.

Master a track, free

Keep the decisions that belong to the mix

Vocal level, kick-to-bass balance, automation, arrangement, and effects timing are mix decisions. Mastering works on the whole stereo file. Some tools can nudge the vocal, bass or drums inside a finished mix, one at a time, but a change to one instrument is still better made in the mix.

Useful test

If the request names one instrument, return to the mix first. If it describes the record as a whole, mastering may be the right stage.

Listen once without touching anything

Play the full song from start to finish and write down every distraction. Make one deliberate correction pass, then export and stop. Repeated last-minute changes can trade a known issue for a new one.