How do you ensure consistent loudness and quality across different tracks on your CD when mastering online?

1 Prepare your mixes

Before you upload your tracks to an online mastering service, you need to make sure that your mixes are ready and well-balanced. This means that you should check for any clipping, distortion, noise, or unwanted sounds in your recordings, and fix them with editing or mixing tools. You should also leave some headroom in your mixes, which is the difference between the loudest peak and the maximum level of your digital audio. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least -6 dB of headroom, which will give the mastering service enough room to apply compression, limiting, and other effects without causing distortion or loss of quality. You should also avoid applying any mastering effects, such as EQ, compression, or limiting, to your mixes, as this will interfere with the online mastering process and reduce the dynamic range and clarity of your tracks.

2 Choose a reliable service

There are many online mastering services available, but not all of them are equal. Some of them use automated algorithms or presets to master your tracks, while others use human engineers or a combination of both. Some of them offer more options and features, such as genre-specific settings, multiple formats, revisions, feedback, or quality control, while others are more basic and limited. You should do some research and compare different services based on their reputation, reviews, samples, prices, and guarantees. You should also look for a service that offers a free trial or a preview of your mastered tracks, so you can test the quality and loudness before you pay.

3 Upload your tracks

Once you have chosen an online mastering service, you need to upload your tracks to their platform. You should follow their instructions and guidelines on how to format and label your files, and make sure that you use a high-quality and lossless format, such as WAV or AIFF. You should also avoid any conversion or compression that might degrade the quality of your audio. You should upload your tracks in the same order and sequence that you want them to appear on your CD, and indicate any gaps or transitions between them. You should also provide any relevant information or preferences that might help the mastering service to achieve the sound that you want, such as the genre, mood, target audience, or reference tracks.

4 Review and adjust

After you upload your tracks, the online mastering service will process them and send you back the mastered versions. You should listen to them carefully and compare them with your original mixes, as well as with other CDs or songs in your genre or style. You should pay attention to the loudness, balance, tone, clarity, and dynamics of your tracks, and see if they meet your expectations and standards. You should also check for any errors, glitches, or artifacts that might have occurred during the mastering process. If you are not satisfied with the results, you should contact the mastering service and request any changes or revisions that you need. Most online mastering services offer a certain number of revisions or a money-back guarantee, so you can ensure that you get the best possible quality and loudness for your CD.

5 Download and burn

Once you are happy with the mastered tracks, you need to download them from the online mastering service and prepare them for burning to CD. You should download them in a format that is compatible with your CD burner and player, such as WAV or AIFF. You should also check the sample rate and bit depth of your files, and make sure that they match the standard CD specifications, which are 44.1 kHz and 16 bits. You should also verify the metadata and tags of your files, such as the artist name, album title, track number, and genre, and edit them if necessary. You should then use a reliable and professional CD burning software to create your master disc, and follow the instructions and settings that ensure the highest quality and compatibility. You should also test your master disc on different CD players and systems, and make sure that it plays correctly and sounds consistent and clear.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?