Before Start Mastering

• Basically Always Pinpoint the Problem First and then Pick a Tool (Never the Other Way Around)

1) Critical Listening and Notice the Feelings

• What is Off? Too Sharp? Too Flat? Too Narrow?

• i.e. Weak Feelings Lead to Weak Fixes

2) Reference Comparison

• Check an Great Commercial Master and Ask What is Different to Yours

3) Bypass and A/B Testing the Process

• i.e. Turn Off the Plugins and then Turn Them On One by One

• if You can Not Clearly Hear What a Plugin Improves it Likely Does Not Need to be there 

4) One Tool Rule

• Try to Solve the Problem with 1 EQ or 1 Compressor, i.e. Try to Get as Far as Possible with 1 Tool