Releasing your first single: the pre-mastering checklist
From the engineer's desk Releasing your first single: the pre-mastering checklist Your first single is the easy part. The hard part is everything in the six weeks before you hit…
Journal / Workflow
Workflow
Export, tooling, and getting tracks ready.
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Workflow -
Workflow Reference tracks by genre — what to pick for hip-hop, indie, electronic, pop
From the engineer's desk Reference tracks by genre — what to pick for hip-hop, indie, electronic, pop The right reference track depends on the genre. A reference that works for…
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Workflow Mastering an EP vs an album — what’s different (and what’s the same)
From the engineer's desk Mastering an EP vs an album — what's different (and what's the same) An EP is 4 singles that need to feel like one record. An…
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Workflow How to prep stems for mastering (without making it worse)
From the engineer's desk How to prep stems for mastering (without making it worse) Stem mastering only works if the stems are prepped cleanly. Stems with timing mismatches, level inconsistencies,…
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Workflow The mix-bus moves I wish more artists left for mastering
From the engineer's desk The mix-bus moves I wish more artists left for mastering Your mix bus is a feature, not a bug. It's where the whole mix glues together…
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Workflow How to pick a reference track that actually helps your master
From the engineer's desk How to pick a reference track that actually helps your master A good reference track is one of the most useful tools in the mixing-and-mastering toolbox.…
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Workflow How to Export Stems for Mixing and Mastering
From the engineer's desk How to Export Stems for Mixing and Mastering What a stem is, the exact settings to use, and the step-by-step for every major DAW — from…
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Workflow Pre-mastering checks every indie artist skips (and what they cost you)
From the engineer's desk Pre-mastering checks every indie artist skips (and what they cost you) Skipping these doesn't make mastering impossible. It makes the master less honest — less able…
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Workflow Mastering your first EP — what to plan before you book
From the engineer's desk Mastering your first EP — what to plan before you book An EP is four singles that need to feel like one record. That sentence is…
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Workflow Best Loudness Meter Plugins
Tools & Gear The Best Loudness Meters for Mixing & Mastering in 2026 A loudness meter is one of the most important tools in your chain. Here's an honest breakdown…