Audio Mastering
Professional audio mastering services that give your music the final polish it deserves. Combining comprehensive analog outboard gear with modern digital precision, our mastering ensures your music sounds exceptional on every playback system. Available for remote clients worldwide or in-person attended sessions.
What Is Mastering?
Mastering is the final step in music production - the bridge between your mix and the finished product. It involves optimizing and enhancing the overall sound, ensuring consistency across an album, and preparing files for distribution across different formats and platforms.
Our mastering process combines the warmth and character of vintage analog gear with the precision and flexibility of modern digital tools, giving you the best of both worlds.
Our Mastering Services
- ✓ Stereo Mastering: Full mastering for albums, EPs, and singles
- ✓ Stem Mastering: Enhanced control using separate instrument stems
- ✓ Streaming Optimization: Masters optimized for Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
- ✓ CD/Digital Mastering: High-quality masters for physical and digital release
- ✓ Album Sequencing: Proper spacing, fades, and flow between tracks
- ✓ Multiple Format Delivery: WAV, MP3, FLAC, and other formats for streaming and distribution
The Mastering Process
1. Critical Listening & Analysis
Evaluate your mix, identify areas for enhancement, and create a mastering plan
2. EQ & Tonal Balance
Refine frequency balance using vintage analog EQ and modern digital precision
3. Compression & Dynamics
Add punch, glue, and controlled dynamics with legendary compressors
4. Stereo Enhancement
Optimize stereo width and imaging for an immersive listening experience
5. Loudness Optimization
Maximize perceived loudness while maintaining dynamics and clarity
6. Format Preparation & Delivery
Create masters for all intended formats with proper metadata and specifications
Mastering Equipment
Our mastering suite features comprehensive analog outboard gear that adds dimension, warmth, and character to your final masters:
Analog Processing
- • UREI 1176 Silverface
- • Analog limiting and saturation
- • High-end analog summing
Digital Tools
- • Universal Audio Apollo converters
- • High-resolution mastering monitors
- • Professional loudness metering
- • Industry-standard mastering plug-ins
- • Sample rate conversion up to 192kHz
- • Precision dithering and noise shaping
Why Master at Kensington Sound?
Experienced Ears
Decades of experience mastering albums across all genres
Hybrid Approach
Combining vintage analog warmth with modern digital precision
Optimized Monitoring
Accurate monitoring environment for critical decisions
Multiple Formats
Masters optimized for streaming, CD, and digital download
Streaming Platform Optimization
Each streaming platform has different loudness normalization standards. We master your music to sound great on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Tidal, and other platforms, ensuring your tracks maintain impact and clarity regardless of where they're played.
Platform-Specific Considerations
- • Spotify: -14 LUFS target with true peak limiting
- • Apple Music: -16 LUFS with Sound Check compatibility
- • YouTube: -13 to -15 LUFS recommended
- • Tidal: -14 LUFS for MQA compatibility
- • CD/Download: Optimized for home listening systems
Revisions & Feedback
We provide mastered preview files for your review and include revisions to ensure you're completely satisfied with the final product. Your feedback is essential to achieving the sound you envision.
Ready to Master Your Music?
Send us your mixes and let's give your music the professional finish it deserves
Get a Quote