When it comes to mastering there are two options you should avoid:
1. Allowing your mixing engineer to master your tracks. This is not a good option. Yes, they can slap their mixes through a quick mastering plugin to increase volume but how do they perform through Spotify's 'loudness management' and radio compression? Not great is the answer. Average at best.
For example, almost every week a band sends me their 'mixing engineers' master to review. They tell me it was played on the radio and it sounded flat and quiet compared to other songs on the playlist. They tell me how massive and loud it was in the studio. Everyone was happy but then it failed to cut through on the radio. And it wasn't great on Spotify either! They ask me why? The answer is simple.
Mixing engineers are not mastering engineers.
A professional mastering engineer delivers precision masters that perform perfectly on all platforms including radio. Loud, proud and fully dynamic. So don't chance it. Use a professional mastering engineer.
BTW. Pro mixing engineers know this, so they do not offer mastering services.
2. AI mastering is another option to avoid. Results are incredibly poor. They tell you that their generic algorithm is centred around several leading mastering engineers, but who are they? Is there anybody there? Some AI companies even include parameters for you to tweak after you hear how bad the master is. That's insulting if not a joke! So why do they exist? Well, the answer is not good. Most exist to farm and sell data. Your data. So be careful. Very careful. Avoid.
Pete Maher is highly experienced in EP and album finalizing. Finalizing is the final stage of the mastering process. This is when your tracks are level matched and blended into a cohesive, organic, warm sounding EP or album.
Yes, you can take a DIY approach to mastering and slap your mixes through a quick mastering plugin or worse (generic AI) but this will result in them sounding like a random bunch of songs. Loosely grouped together. Out of whack. Not good!
Did you really work this hard just to end up with that?
A well mastered EP or album travels seamlessly from song to song, capturing the true vibe and character of the music. Not only sounding fantastic but also 'performing' well on all platforms including radio (through loudness management and radio compression). And this is where Pete Maher's masters excel.