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Mastering means proper spectral balance and musical dynamics. In an era of loudness, air and punch have become a rare commodity.

01. Spectral balance

The key to the best sound is a balanced spectrum. Good sound design, or mastering, finds the spectral and dynamic balance that sounds as good as possible on any system.

02. Loudness ≠ Quality

Streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify normalize louder tracks to around -14 LUFS. While a -6 LUFS track might seem powerful next to a -14, it actually sacrifices its micro-dynamics, resulting in a much flatter overall sound. Furthermore, there is no proven link between loudness and commercial success.

hint: Right-click on any YouTube video and check "Stats for nerds" to see the attenuation amount.

03. Dynamic range

Tools like MAAT DROffline measure the Crest Factor or "Dynamic Range" – the "life" in the transients. Limiters are tempting, but aim for punch and breath, not a brick-shaped waveform that lacks air and exhausts the listener. A dynamic mix can always be pushed louder later, but the reverse is complicated.

04. Format Specifics

Vinyl has physical limits. Cutting a high-loudness digital master onto vinyl results in a quiet, dull-sounding record. A breathable master can "fit" onto vinyl even at relatively high levels, whereas an initially louder, compressed track will ultimately end up sounding much quieter. Music should be optimized specifically for the medium, be it digital or analog.

05. Before & After

The key to good sound is spectral balance – if it's right, a track sounds good on every setup. As mastering typically raises the level, the key to an objective comparison is identical loudness. Often before-and-after comparisons are not volume-matched, making "louder" seem automatically more bright and powerful. Here you can compare some original mixes and masters at equal loudness:

A/B comparison →
Turntable comparison →
A comparative sound collection of different vinyl equipment and eras vs CD.
Cassette player comparison →
Walkman-style cassette player comparison + CD, vinyl & tapedeck.
A/B comparison →
Compare original mixes and masters at the same loudness.
glen pilvre / info@mastering.ee