Mastering is the final phase, where individual songs are processed, edited, cleaned-up, and placed in a replication-ready format (usually a CD-R which is burned disc-at-once). Think of it as quality control too because mastering is the last chance before the music is sent out for replication. The differences in the sound from an unmastered song to the same song mastered can be huge too, so mastering should not be skipped.

If you're comparing on of your tunes to one that you purchased on CD, and yours isn't as loud, or it sounds muddy, or less intense, or whatever, chances are that you haven't mastered it yet. But if you have and it still doesn't sound right, you may need to try a different approach or hire a professional to do the mastering for you.

What's involved in mastering, just making the music louder? Louder is part of it, but certainly not the only thing that is considered. In mastering there are several different processes combined that are used to put the finishing touches and balance on the music. Overall volume should be part of the picture, but it is NOT the ultimate goal (although many record companies and artists do want their music louder than everyone else's).

What Tools Are Used In Mastering?

Tools that mastering engineers use vary by personal preference, but the fall under the categories of: compressors (multi-band and single-band), limiters, EQ's, Digital Audio Workstations, Converters (analog to digital and digital to analog), Monitoring System.

Looks like the same stuff that's used in every recording studio, right? Kind of. It's not so much the gear itself as how that gear is used. But, there is equipment that is made with the specific purpose of being used for mastering. That mastering specific gear usually costs far more than its recording studio counterparts. Most mastering equipment is made with better components that produce a premium sound quality. Also, tighter tolerences are required in mastering gear, where changes of 1/10 of a dB may be needed to get the best sound.

Mastering Is An Art That Is Learned.

It relies on very developed critical listening abilities. A mastering engineer must be able to focus on the smallest of musical details (things that might go unnoticed by most other people) because in this phase, the smallest factors can take a recording from "good" to "great".