By leaving this headroom you’ll also avoid distortion that can be caused from clipping. Notice the transients are still intact, and as much of the dynamic range is utilized as possible by allowing the loudest part of the song to peak at the maximum of -3dB. Here is an example of a mix that is ideal for mastering.

Before you finalize your mix, keep in mind that it’s best to record and mix at low levels to avoid clipping and to help ensure you have a dynamic mix. This will allow you to take a look at your file to make sure you’ve created the proper file that is ready to submit for mastering. aiff file, you can create a new session in your DAW and import the stereo file. How to View Your WaveformĪfter you’ve exported your final mix as a stereo. Let’s take a look at the ideal waveform as well as some common mistakes that can easily be avoided in the submission process. This will allow your mastering engineer to better sculpt the dynamic content and give you the best sound possible for the final master. To get the best sounding master, it is important to submit a high resolution file as a low-level dynamic mix without any processing on the master bus.

Mix and master my song