Mastering is the final stage of audio production that prepares a mix for distribution by enhancing the overall sound and creating consistency across the album). The primary goal of mastering is to balance the sonic elements of a stereo mix and optimize playback across all systems and media formats. The process involves using tools like equalization, compression, limiting, and stereo enhancement to elevate certain sonic characteristics and create a polished, clean sound that is optimized for consistent playback across different formats and systems.

Mastering is necessary to create a finished sound that is consistent and cohesive between tracks. It also ensures that all copies or duplications of the audio can be optimally played back whether they end up on streaming services, CDs, or a vinyl record. During the mastering process, a mastering engineer listens to the whole piece as a stereo mixdown and makes creative decisions to improve the sound. They use tools like equalization, compression, and limiting to make each song fit with every other song in the project and compete with similar material by established artists in the genre.

The difference between mixing and mastering is that mixing is the stage after recording where individual tracks are blended together, while mastering is the final stage of audio production where the entire mix is polished to prepare for distribution. During mixing, an engineer carves and balances the separate tracks in a session to sound good when played together, while mastering uses subtle broad strokes that affect the entire song.

In summary, mastering is the final stage of audio production that prepares a mix for distribution by enhancing the overall sound and creating consistency across the album. It involves using tools like equalization, compression, limiting, and stereo enhancement to create a polished, clean sound that is optimized for consistent playback across different formats and systems.