Why Automated “Mastering” Services Fail and What They Can’t Do

In recent years, the music industry, for better or worse, has witnessed a surge in the use of automated “mastering” services. These AI-driven so-called machine-learning platforms promise convenience, affordability, and speed in the finalization of music tracks. While they have their merits, it's important to understand their limitations and what they can't do for you. Here, I’ll delve into the aspects of audio mastering that automated services may struggle with or are often unable to accomplish.

But before we continue, let’s call a spade, a spade. These so called automated “mastering” services aren’t really mastering your track. They are merely processing the stereo buss with a set of genre dependent presets. So while we are calling it "Automated Mastering”, I am presenting the word mastering in quotes as it’s not really the definition of what mastering is. It’s a word the industry has unfortunately usurped and watered down.

Artistic Interpretation and Vision

Music is an art form, and the mastering process is not merely a technical endeavor, it’s more than just processing in the stereo buss; it's a creative one too. Automated “mastering” services lack the ability to interpret the artistic intent and vision behind your music. Mastering engineers, with their years of experience, can listen to a song and understand the emotions, nuances, and intentions of the artist and music. This human insight is beyond the capabilities of AI. For more on the role of human judgment in mastering, see What Is Mastering?

Lack of Contextual Understanding

Automated mastering tools operate in isolation and cannot consider the context of your project. They cannot discern subtle mix nuances or artistic intentions, often resulting in generic, formulaic output. Human mastering engineers, in contrast, understand the context of your music and make decisions that preserve its character and impact.

Cohesiveness in Album Production

For musicians releasing full-length albums or EPs, ensuring cohesiveness across tracks is vital. Automated “mastering” services only treat each song as an isolated entity, applying the same processing settings to all tracks. This one-size-fits-all approach can lead to inconsistencies in the overall sound, making it challenging to create a seamless listening experience. A human mastering engineer can carefully tailor each song's treatment to fit the album's narrative and achieve sonic continuity.

Quality Control and Critical Listening

Mastering is not just about applying effects and adjusting levels; it's about quality control and critical listening. Professional mastering engineers have finely tuned ears, critically controlled listening environments, and a deep understanding of audio quality. They can identify and rectify subtle imperfections, artifacts, or issues in the mix that automated systems don’t hear or know how to correct. Their discerning ears contribute significantly to the polished, high-quality output of a mastered track.

Genre-Specific Expertise

Different music genres have their own unique characteristics, conventions, and sonic preferences. Automated “mastering” services may struggle to adapt to the specific requirements of each genre. A human mastering engineer, on the other hand, possesses genre-specific expertise and can make nuanced decisions that enhance the sonic qualities particular to that style of music, whether it's jazz, hop hop, electronic, or classical.

Personalized Attention

Musicians often have specific preferences and requests when it comes to mastering. They may want certain instruments to stand out, dynamics to be preserved, or a particular atmosphere to be created. Automated “mastering” services do not provide the level of personalized attention and communication that artists require. A human mastering engineer can engage in direct dialogue with the artist, understand their preferences, and make adjustments accordingly.

Creative Decision-Making

Mastering involves making creative decisions about the sonic character of a song. This includes choices about equalization, compression, stereo width, and more. While automated systems can apply processing based on algorithms and data, they lack the ability to make creative, artistic decisions that elevate the music. A human mastering engineer can use their intuition, historic knowledge (as well as industry trends) and creativity to shape the final sound in a way that aligns with the song's mood and purpose.

Handling Complex or Unusual Requests

Some music projects may come with complex or unconventional requests, such as unique sonic effects, experimental audio treatments, or specific vintage analog processing. Automated “mastering” services may struggle to accommodate such specialized requirements, whereas human engineers can draw from their extensive knowledge and resources to fulfill these requests effectively.

Why Human Mastering Always Matters

Mastering is ultimately a collaborative process requiring human expertise, communication, and artistic judgment. A seasoned mastering engineer applies critical listening, years of experience, and technical insight to realize your creative vision while ensuring sonic excellence.

While AI and automated tools offer speed and convenience, they cannot replace the depth, nuance, and intuition of a professional mastering engineer. Artists aiming for exceptional, emotionally resonant music should consider automated mastering as a helpful tool, but not a substitute for human expertise. Collaborating with a skilled mastering engineer ensures your music sounds great, translates across all platforms, and fully communicates your artistic intent.