Mastering Articles
This is where I write about mastering. The gear, the technique, the decisions behind the work. Some of it is practical. Some of it is what I needed to get down.
How to Give Feedback on a Master
Most revision requests fall into two categories: specific and actionable, or the kind that sends both of us in circles for a round or two. Giving feedback on a master is a skill, and nobody teaches it.
Mix Preparation and File Delivery for Mastering
What you send and how you send it sets the ceiling for what mastering can do. Format, headroom, plugins, communication: cover these before you deliver and the session starts from the strongest possible place.
From Single to Album: What to Expect at Mastering
Building an album from previously released singles comes with real decisions: remaster or match, pre-masters or finished files, cohesive record or accidental playlist. I walk through how I handle each one.
Mastering Loudness Targets for Streaming: Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Bandcamp all normalize loudness, and the LUFS numbers are worth knowing. They aren’t mastering targets. Here’s what happens to your master after it leaves the room, platform by platform.
dBTP vs dBFS Explained: True Peak and Inter-Sample Peaks
Your mix looks clean, every sample sits below 0 dBFS, and the meters are happy. Then it hits Spotify and something sounds distorted. The trouble is between your samples, and it has a name: dBTP.
What Is a Vinyl Pre-Master?
Someone is going to ask you for a vinyl pre-master. What it is, what goes into it, and how it affects the way your record gets cut.
Mastering Deliverables: DDP, ISRCs, Vinyl, and QC
The master is only part of what leaves the studio. DDP, PQ codes, ISRCs, vinyl pre-masters, and the quality control that makes sure the release arrives exactly as it was approved.