The final polish before release

Mastering

Mastering that finishes your record: loudness, tone, and consistency optimised for streaming, vinyl, CD, and broadcast, delivered to spec for every platform.

Mastering is the final creative and technical step before your music reaches listeners. It takes your finished mix and optimises the overall tone, loudness, dynamics, and stereo image so the record sounds its best everywhere and holds up next to commercial releases. On an album or EP it also makes every track feel like part of one cohesive body of work.

We master for each delivery format on its own terms. Streaming masters are optimised for loudness normalisation on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube so your record sounds punchy and clean without being crushed. Vinyl masters account for the physical limits of the format. CD, broadcast, and sync masters are delivered to the required specifications. Stem mastering is available when a mix needs finer control at the final stage.

You receive release-ready masters in the formats you need, with correct metadata and, for albums, consistent spacing and levels across the tracklist. If we also mixed the record, mastering is a natural continuation. If you are bringing a mix from elsewhere, we treat it with fresh ears and reference it carefully before we commit.

What This Service Includes

  • ●Streaming masters (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube)
  • ●Vinyl pre-masters
  • ●CD and broadcast masters
  • ●Stem mastering
  • ●Loudness and true-peak optimisation
  • ●Tonal balancing and stereo enhancement
  • ●Album sequencing, spacing, and consistency
  • ●Correct metadata and delivery files

How It Works

  1. 01

    Assess

    We listen to your mix, check it against references, and identify what the master needs in tone, dynamics, and loudness.

  2. 02

    Master

    We shape tone, control dynamics, and set loudness and true-peak for the target formats while protecting the punch and clarity of the mix.

  3. 03

    Format and sequence

    We prepare masters for each platform, and for albums we sequence, space, and level-match the full tracklist.

  4. 04

    Deliver

    We deliver release-ready files with correct metadata, plus a revision if the master needs a tweak.

Where It Fits

Single and EP release mastersAlbum mastering and sequencingVinyl and physical release mastersSync, film, and broadcast mastersRe-masters of older materialLoudness-matched playlist masters

FAQ

Mastering FAQs

What loudness should my master be for streaming?+

Streaming platforms normalise loudness, so chasing extreme loudness only costs you dynamics and punch. We master to sit competitively once normalised, targeting sensible integrated loudness and safe true-peak levels so your record sounds full and clean on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Do I need a separate master for vinyl?+

Yes. Vinyl has physical constraints that differ from digital, so a dedicated vinyl pre-master gives the best cut. We prepare vinyl masters that respect those limits while keeping the record sounding like your release.

Can you master a mix I made myself?+

Yes. We master mixes from any source. If a mix has issues that mastering cannot fully fix, we will tell you honestly and suggest small mix changes that will get a much better result.

What is stem mastering?+

Stem mastering works from a small number of grouped stems rather than a single stereo mix, giving finer control over the balance at the final stage. It is useful when a mix needs a little more adjustment than stereo mastering allows.

Explore

Related Services

MixingWhere a recording becomes a song→Dolby Atmos Music Mixing & Sonos Playback CheckingSpatial mixes that survive real rooms→Remote Mixing & MasteringStudio-grade results from anywhere→Music & Band RecordingCapture every nuance→Music Production & BeatmakingFrom idea to finished record→

Genres

For Your Genre

Pop Production recordingPolished, catchy, radio-ready→Rock Recording recordingBig rooms, real amps, honest performances→Hip Hop Recording recordingVocals in front, beats that knock→Electronic & Dance recordingSound design, low end, and finish→Metal Recording recordingTight, heavy, and brutally clear→Acoustic & Folk recordingNatural, intimate, and honest→

Gear

Equipment We Use

MonitoringHearing the truth→Outboard ProcessingDynamics, EQ, and colour→DAWs & PluginsThe digital toolkit→

Interested in Mastering?

Book a session at Animus Studios, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane, or enquire about remote work Australia-wide.

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