Should you master your own tracks?

Most music professionals will tell you that you should never mix and master your own music. I believe that under certain circumstances, it’s perfectly fine to mix and master your own songs. Yes, even if I make a living as a mixing and mastering engineer.

What to expect from mastering?

Mastering is a process that prepares a song for distribution. A mastering engineer takes into account the destination format (CD, vinyl, streaming, etc.) and then proceeds to optimize playback of the song accordingly. Mastering commonly includes the use of EQs, imagers, compressors, saturators, limiters, and meters.

What level should my track be before mastering?

The loudest part of your song (peak level) should be around -3db to -5db (below 0 level). This is considered +3db to +5db of headroom. This is the ideal amount of headroom for mastering that you want to leave.

Do most producers master their own tracks?

It really depends on the producer if they master their own tracks. Basic mixing and mastering is a skill most producers have in the bag. However for bigger official releases it’s a great idea to let a mixing/mastering engineer have their go at it.

How do you make a loud master?

1. Make the mix loud.
2. Balance EQ.
3. Take it easy with bass.
4. Work to retain dynamics – by hand.
5. Use multi-band compression.
6. Use low ratios and avoid short attack times.
7. Use multiple stages of compression, with low gain reductions.
8. Don’t overdo the limiting.

How much does professional mastering cost?

The average cost for professional mixing and mastering services varies from $150 to $700 per song to receive a good quality product. When working with top-producers, the pricing can get into the $1,000’s. But, with any other studio, you can still obtain a radio-worthy product with a budget of $200 per song.

How loud should my master be dB?

How loud should your master be? Shoot for about -23 LUFS for a mix, or -6db on an analog meter. For mastering, -14 LUFS is the best level for streaming, as it will fit the loudness targets for the majority of streaming sources. With these targets, you’re good to go!

Does a producer mix and master?

Absolutely not except for may be couple. It is a lot of time and effort so they outsource to mastering agencies. Some EDM producers mix their own tracks.