Daniel Dehaan

Lecture - Week 12

Lecture - Week 12: Mastering — Match a Reference

Overview

Mastering is the final polish that prepares music for release. This week, we approach mastering through imitation: using reference tracks to guide our decisions, matching the tonal balance and loudness of professional releases, and learning to hear the subtle differences that matter.

Topics

The Imitation Approach to Mastering

  • Why reference matching is the key to mastering
  • Training your ears through comparison
  • What you can (and can’t) fix in mastering
  • The goal: competitive but not crushed

What Is Mastering?

  • The role of mastering in the production chain
  • DIY vs. professional mastering
  • When to master yourself vs. hire out
  • Managing expectations

Reference Track Methodology

  • Choosing appropriate references
  • Level-matching for honest comparison
  • What to listen for: tonal balance, dynamics, width, loudness
  • A/B switching techniques

The Mastering Chain

  • Metering and analysis first
  • EQ for tonal balance (match the reference)
  • Compression for glue and dynamics
  • Stereo imaging adjustments
  • Limiting for loudness (match the reference)

Loudness Standards

  • Understanding LUFS, RMS, and peak levels
  • Platform normalization (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube)
  • The loudness war: lessons learned
  • Preserving dynamics while achieving competitiveness

Practical Workflow

  • Analyzing your reference
  • Applying changes incrementally
  • Constant A/B comparison
  • Knowing when to stop

In-Class Activities

  1. Reference Analysis (20 min)

    • Analyze a professional master together
    • Measure LUFS, note tonal balance, stereo width
    • This becomes our target

  2. Mastering Match (30 min)

    • Apply a mastering chain to a provided mixdown
    • Goal: match the reference as closely as possible
    • Focus on tonal balance and loudness

  3. Compare and Discuss (10 min)

    • A/B your master against the reference
    • What’s close? What’s different?
    • Share techniques that worked

Resources

Connection to Wednesday

Feedback Session: Share live set studies and performance setups from Week 11. Demo your performance-ready tracks.

Assignment Preview

Assignment - Reference Mastering

  • Choose a reference track in your genre
  • Master one of your mixes to match the reference
  • Document your process: settings, decisions, before/after measurements
  • Include habit check-in

Reminder

Course Evaluations are now open and close Sunday, May 10. Please take time to provide feedback!