Mastering

Mastering is the final step in audio production, taking a finished mix and optimizing it for consistent, high-quality playback across all systems and formats. It involves balancing levels, tonal shaping, and meeting loudness standards. Mastering differs from mixing, which balances individual elements, and from remastering, which revisits an already-completed recording. Access to stems gives mastering engineers more flexibility when the multitrack is unavailable.