1) No Effects on Master Bus when Export a Mix
2) Be Sure that Nothing Clips Above Digital Zero on the DAW Master Fader , i.e. Preserve a Headroom of -6dB below “0dBFS” (or at Least -3dB)
3) If you are Unsure about the Final Version, Try 2 Versions or Even Render Stems
4) To Correct Headroom or Overall Level, Always Raise or Lower ALL Tracks Level Fader together Instead of the Master Bus (More Accurate Mathematics to Preserve Floating Point Processing)
5) Eliminate Noise in the Mix, i.e. as the Master will Make Details to be Heard Louder it will Definitely Increase Unwanted Noise Level as well
6) Reduce Frequency Build Ups in a Mix, i.e. Leave the Mix Dynamic
7) Leave Silence at the Beginning and End of the Track to Preserve Fade Outs, Transients, Reverb Tails etc. (2-8 Bars)
8) Bounce the Track in the Format that you Worked In
9) Not Normalize or Dither the Mixdown
10) Make Notes of Important Aspects that Become Clear During Mix Down, Regarding the Problems that the Master Engineer may Face
11) Prepare a Playlist of 10 Reference Tracks you Want to Aim for the Master (or Mix)
12) When you Master your Own Song One Becomes Unsure How to Master it the Best, to Combat this Send it to Friends / Hobbyist or Even a Cheap Master Service and Make Quasi a “Master Contest”
13) Check Mix / Masters at Conversation Level at Any Spot you can (Home Theatre, Car etc.)
- a Very Good Sounding Song at a “Quiet” Volume (Conversation Level) will also Mostly Sound Very Good at Louder Level
- but Viceversa a Very Good Track Sounding at High Volume Does Not Necessarily Sound Good at Low Volume
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