A practical guide to cleaner, more professional mixes, covering gain staging, EQ, automation, panning, and reference tracks to help your music translate and master better.

Your master can look clean in the DAW and still clip after export. Inter-sample peaks explain why—and why true peak headroom matters more than you think.

What is dither, and when to use it?

Why would adding noise make audio sound better? Dithering is a subtle mastering technique that reduces distortion and preserves detail where it matters most.

Sibilance can make a vocal feel harsh fast. Learn how de-essers and frequency-selective compression help tame problem consonants while keeping vocals clear, natural, and present.