Mastering
Mastering is the final stage of audio post-production, in which a finished mix is optimized for a specific distribution medium - streaming platforms, broadcast, phone systems, or apps - by balancing frequency content, setting loudness to platform standards, and ensuring mono compatibility.
Why It Matters
An unmastered audio file may sound good in the studio and terrible on a laptop speaker or phone system. Platform loudness standards (Spotify at -14 LUFS, broadcast at -23 LUFS, Tidal at -16 LUFS) require precise targeting. Incorrectly mastered brand audio will be auto-attenuated by streaming platforms, diminishing its impact.
Example
Every Audio Hooks Studio deliverable is mastered to the specification of its intended use: on-hold music to phone system standards, ad cuts to broadcast LUFS, streaming tracks to platform specs - all documented in the delivery notes included with each asset.