Mastering is, without a doubt, one of the most critical stages of the music production process. It's the final step that transforms your creative work into a polished, professional sound that’s ready to shine on any platform, from streaming services to high-end sound systems. Often misunderstood as a quick fix for a bad mix, the true purpose of mastering is to enhance an already solid mix, adding the final touches that elevate it to its fullest potential - bringing out excitement, clarity, detail, openness, and balance, all ready for distribution.

As the last step before your music reaches the listener’s ears, mastering ensures your track sounds incredible on every system, whether it’s played through a phone speaker, a high-end stereo, or a major event sound system. We take this responsibility seriously, treating every track with the respect it deserves. We work closely with our clients, always considering their creative vision, while delivering exceptional results with precision and care.

Our degree-level mastering service is bespoke, tailored to your specific needs. Each project is approached individually, ensuring that we meet the highest standards for both digital and vinyl formats. We pride ourselves on making sure you are 100% satisfied with the final product.

From ensuring consistency across albums or EPs to spectral balancing, stereo field enhancement, and industry-standard loudness, we use multi-stage processing to maximize the impact of your music. The goal is always to ensure that all our work meets the highest industry standards for clarity, balance, and consistency. While we work quickly, we never compromise on quality. Every track is treated with the attention and expertise it deserves, resulting in a master that truly reflects your artistic vision.

Please provide clean unmastered copies of your mixdowns, ie. no plugins on the master bus.

A text file with the following:
Song Title(s)
Artist
Genre

Also if you could provide any of the following:
BPM
ISRC codes
Artwork
Remixer, publisher, any other relevant info

Output levels should not exceed -0.3dB throughout the mix (Audible peaks will not be magically hidden by the mastering process). This will allow enough headroom to deliver outstanding results.

In preparation for submitting your mixdown, please ensure that all channels not requiring sub frequencies (such as lead riffs, hi-hats, snares, etc.) have either a low cut filter applied or the low shelf reduced. This will help eliminate any unnecessary bass frequencies, preventing muddiness in the low end and providing additional headroom for optimal loudness and punch in the final mix.

We are capable of working with any bitrate and sample depth. While sample rate conversion is possible, to avoid potential aliasing during the process and to ensure optimal quality, we typically deliver the file in its original format unless otherwise requested.

Please watch the following video for more tips on preparing your mix ready for mastering:

At LEK Productions, we prefer to focus on the positive. However, it’s important to highlight a concerning trend: a growing number of unqualified individuals, often referred to as “cowboys,” have entered the field. These individuals typically download free plugins or rely on AI-powered “fix everything” tools, selecting appropriately named preset, lacking a deep understanding of the mastering process. Despite this lack of expertise, they market themselves as mastering engineers and offer services at rock-bottom prices in an attempt to profit quickly. Unfortunately, this often results in irreversible damage to your music. They may apply oversimplified, overly aggressive, or inattentive mastering techniques. Cutting corners to produce fast results or offer cheaper prices often leads to subpar outcomes.

While the track may sound “louder” on your device, louder does not necessarily mean better. These individuals often lack the knowledge to properly analyze a mix and expand its soundstage while maintaining punch and clarity. They may also fail to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that your track sounds great across all platforms, including vinyl. A poorly executed master is like purchasing an expensive Hasselblad medium-format camera and then attaching a cheap $2 plastic lens filter, effectively negating the quality of your investment.

Another common misconception is the use of “one-size-fits-all” mastering plugins or automated online services, such as those available on platforms like SoundCloud. While many of these services are powered by AI, it’s important to remember that machines cannot make informed decisions about mid-side EQ or adjust attack and release times for parallel compression in a way that complements the specific genre of your music. These tools can never replicate the nuanced, thoughtful approach of a seasoned human engineer. A professional with a trained ear brings invaluable expertise that machines simply cannot replace.