Blog Layout

Preparing Your Mix for Mastering

How to Prepare Your Mix for Mastering

Preparing your mix for mastering is an essential step in the audio production process that can greatly affect the quality of the final product. Here are some tips on how to prepare your mix for mastering:


  1. Make sure your mix is complete: Before sending your mix for mastering, make sure it's complete and all the tracks are properly edited and arranged.
  2. Leave enough headroom: Make sure your mix has enough headroom, ideally between -6 dB and -3 dB, to allow the mastering engineer to apply processing without introducing clipping or distortion.
  3. Check for any unwanted noise: Listen carefully to your mix and check for any unwanted noise, such as clicks, pops, or hiss. Remove or reduce these noises before sending your mix for mastering.
  4. Check the phase: Make sure the phase of your mix is correct and that all tracks are in phase. You can use a phase meter or a plugin to check the phase.
  5. Check the frequency balance: Use an equalizer to check the frequency balance of your mix and make sure there are no excessive frequencies in the low or high end. Make sure the mix sounds balanced across different playback systems.
  6. Check the stereo width: Make sure the stereo width of your mix is appropriate and that there are no phasing issues. You can use a stereo imager plugin to adjust the stereo width if necessary.
  7. Check the dynamics: Make sure the dynamics of your mix are consistent and that there are no sudden changes in volume or excessive compression. Use a metering plugin to check the dynamics and make any necessary adjustments.
  8. Create a stereo mixdown: Once your mix is ready, create a high-quality stereo mixdown in a lossless format, such as WAV or AIFF. Make sure the mixdown has the same sample rate and bit depth as your project.
  9. Create a reference track: Create a reference track of a commercially released song that has a similar style and sound to your mix. Use this track to compare the overall sound and quality of your mix with a professionally mixed and mastered track.


By following these tips, you can ensure that your mix is ready for mastering and that the final product will sound as good as possible. Remember to communicate with your mastering engineer and provide them with any specific requirements or preferences you may have for the final product.


18 Jun, 2023
Introduction: Mixing and mastering are essential stages in the music production process that help transform raw recordings into polished, professional-sounding tracks. Whether you're an aspiring musician, producer, or audio engineer, understanding the fundamentals of mixing and mastering is crucial for achieving the best possible sound quality. In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into the basics of mixing and mastering, covering key concepts, techniques, and tools that every beginner should know.
audio mixing
20 Mar, 2023
Check out our post to learn what to expect when hiring an audio mixing service. Contact us today to see what we can do for you!
By 7080376489 11 Mar, 2023
What Are The Differences Between Mixing and Mastering?
DIY Mixing & Mastering vs Hiring a Professional
By 7080376489 11 Mar, 2023
The Pros and Cons of DIY Mixing and Mastering vs Hiring a Professional
Share by: