Mastering works best when the mix is truly finished — not rushed, not over-processed, and not limited to death.

Preparing a mix properly before mastering doesn’t just improve the final result. It saves time, reduces revisions, and allows the mastering engineer to focus on translation and polish instead of repair work.

Here’s how to prepare your mix so mastering can actually do its job.

 
Deliving a Mix to a Mastering Engineer
 

1. Finish the Mix — Completely

Before thinking about mastering, ask yourself:

  • Are all arrangement decisions final?
  • Is vocal comping locked?
  • Are automation moves intentional?
  • Have you checked transitions between sections?
  • Are fades and edits clean?

Mastering is not a substitute for unresolved mix decisions. If something feels off in the mix, fix it there. Mastering enhances balance — it doesn’t redesign it.

 

2. Remove Master Bus Limiting

One of the most common mistakes is exporting a mix that’s already heavily limited.

Before sending your track:

  • Remove brickwall limiters
  • Disable maximisers
  • Turn off loudness plugins
  • Keep mix bus compression subtle

Mastering engineers need headroom and dynamics to work with. If your mix is already pushed to 0 dBFS and flattened, there’s very little room left to improve it.

A good target is peaks around -6 dBFS, with no clipping.

 

3. Check for Clipping (Even Hidden Clipping)

Digital clipping can occur:

  • On individual channels
  • On the mix bus
  • During export
  • After plugin chains

Zoom in on transients and watch for overs. If you’re unsure, lower the overall level slightly and re-export cleanly.

Clipping baked into the mix cannot be fully removed during mastering.

 

4. Leave Space in the Low End

Low frequencies are where many mixes fall apart during mastering.

Before export, double-check:

  • Is the kick overpowering the bass?
  • Are sub frequencies controlled?
  • Is there unnecessary rumble?
  • Does the low end feel tight, not bloated?

Mastering can enhance low end — but it cannot untangle a muddy one.

 

5. Listen on Multiple Systems

Before sending your mix off, test it:

  • Studio monitors
  • Headphones
  • Car speakers
  • Laptop speakers
  • Phone

If something jumps out in multiple environments, it’s probably a mix issue — not a mastering one.

Translation problems are easier to fix in the mix.

 

6. Compare at Matched Volume

When referencing commercial tracks, lower them to match your mix’s volume.

Louder almost always sounds better — even if it isn’t.

Volume-matched referencing reveals whether your mix truly holds up in:

  • Balance
  • Clarity
  • Depth
  • Energy

 

7. Export Properly

When your mix is ready:

  • Export at the session’s native sample rate
  • Use 24-bit or 32-bit float
  • Do not dither
  • Leave natural dynamic range intact

Dithering and final output formats are part of the mastering stage — not mixing.

For a technical breakdown of proper mix export settings, Sound On Sound explains this clearly:

Sound On Sound: Preparing Mixes for Mastering

 

8. Don’t Chase Loudness Yet

This is important.

Streaming platforms normalise loudness anyway. Over-compressing your mix before mastering usually leads to:

  • Reduced punch
  • Distorted transients
  • Listener fatigue
  • Less emotional movement

Mastering balances loudness with musicality. Let it.

For insight into streaming normalisation standards:

Spotify: Loudness Normalization

 

9. Know When It’s Ready

A mix is ready for mastering when:

  • Nothing bothers you
  • No element feels unresolved
  • Dynamics feel intentional
  • You’re no longer making “maybe this” adjustments
  • You can listen from start to finish without reaching for a fader

If you’re still debating mix changes, it probably isn’t finished yet.

 

Final Thought

Preparing your mix properly gives mastering room to breathe.

A well-prepared mix allows the mastering engineer to:

  • Enhance clarity
  • Improve translation
  • Add cohesion
  • Ensure consistency across platforms

Instead of fixing preventable issues.

At Moreish Studios, we treat mastering as the final refinement stage — not a corrective one. If you’re unsure whether your mix is ready, that conversation alone can save time and frustration.

When the mix is solid, mastering becomes powerful.

 

Learn more about our Mixing and Mastering services, or get in touch to talk through your project.