Mastering is the final phase of a professional project. In the mastering process, the radio mix is split into many different tracks by frequency, which are compressed and tweaked separately, then mixed back together. This makes the recording sound more even and helps each part stand out without covering up the others. Also, mastering can boost the overall level and make the recording sound better on a variety of playback systems.

Simply put, mastering is the difference between a great demo and a “radio ready” recording. Does your project need to be mastered? Unless you plan on getting airplay, probably not. If you have plenty of cash and want to take a great recording up another notch, mastering can do that. Many computer-based recording systems have mastering capability. You might experiment with this, but remember that mastering is an art all its own. Most mastering engineers are specialists who do nothing else. An amateur mastering job can ruin your project.