
In fact, many of these plug-ins are the exact same tools that professional mastering houses use on tracks, so learning to use them is an affordable window into the world of mastering. Many producers will opt to outsource the mastering process to a separate mastering engineer, but there are excellent plug-ins available that make the mastering process accessible to those who would prefer to do it themselves. It isn’t a magic wand that will fix a bad mix, but it can be just what the doctor ordered to take your mixes to the next level!

Rather than manipulating the individual elements of a song like vocal tracks or instruments, the mastering process uses equalization (EQ), compression, and limiting to gently polish a completed mix. Mastering is the final step in getting professional-grade tracks ready for sequencing and distribution, and it’s easily one of the most misunderstood processes in the industry.
