10 Common Mastering Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mastering isn’t just about loudness — it’s about finesse, clarity, and translating your mix to every playback system. In this enlightening (and slightly irreverent) episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody walk you through 10 of the most common mistakes made by beginner and intermediate mastering engineers — and how to steer clear of them.
🎛️ From over-compressing to EQing blindly, this episode covers the critical pitfalls that sabotage sonic balance and coherence in the mastering stage. Chris and Jody don’t just list the issues — they give you real-world solutions and share stories from sessions gone sideways.
💡 Whether you’re new to mastering or just looking to tighten your workflow, you’ll get practical strategies you can use right away. Expect to hear tips on:
- When to use multiband compression (and when to run away)
- Why reference tracks are your best friend
- How to stop chasing loudness and start chasing results
- Plus a healthy dose of humor to remind you that we’re all learning
If you're serious about elevating your mastering chops — or just want to laugh at a few horror stories from the studio — this episode is for you. Come on inside and take another step toward mastering bliss.
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