Mix, master and check the actual result

Fix the arrangement before the master

A mastering preset cannot bring back a missing backing track or correct a vocal that starts late. Begin with the intended sources, arrangement and balance. Check which tracks are muted, whether alternate takes are doubled, and whether a reference track has accidentally become part of the mix.

Once the arrangement is right, make tonal and dynamic changes for a reason. A dense rock chorus, a sparse acoustic song and an electronic drop do not need the same balance or amount of compression. Give the producer a genre and describe the qualities you want to preserve.

Use references as direction

A useful reference has a similar musical role, arrangement or energy to your track. Listen for the relationship between the vocal and rhythm section, the low end, the width and the movement between sections. A reference is not a request to copy another artist’s recording or performance.

Perceived loudness affects comparison. Turn a louder reference down when comparing it with your mix, and check more than one listening level. Matching one spectral curve or LUFS value does not establish that two songs have the same emotional impact.

Measure the exported file

Source-track measurements do not include later edits and effects. Dhun’s export checks inspect the saved audio itself and identify its duration, integrated loudness, true peak and silence. Those measurements belong to that particular file, not to a later version of the timeline.

A master is also an artistic decision. Audition the opening, loudest section, quietest passage and ending. Keep the editable project and download the finished version. Do not add the master on top of all its own source tracks: that would play the song twice.

Common questions