COMPLETE GUIDE

User Manual

Everything you need to know about Humanize Mastering — from your first upload to a polished, release-ready master. Read it once and you'll know exactly what every knob does and why.

▸ HUMANIZE MASTERING // CURRENT VERSION

INTRODUCTION

What Is Humanize Mastering?

AI is cool — but it's been given a silver platter without putting real work, time, effort, talent, or gifts into the music it's trying to portray. It seems that every company involved with making software for processing music has given the keys and the wheel over to artificial intelligence. From music to mastering — AI has arrived and is taking over with its squeaky clean, perfect algorithms trying to make slider and knob turns that have always been the talents and gifts of humans.

Humanize Mastering is putting control back into your hands. Tweak the sound based on your human ingenuity. Our app does not use AI for anything other than the chat option that will explain to you what things are if you're new to tweaking your own sound. Many of the veterans in the industry will understand exactly what we've built here and will appreciate the high-quality outputs they're getting off top — 48kHz 24-bit WAV, MP3, FLAC, and AIFF files. No one else in this space is offering this.

Our software is not built to be scientifically and mathematically perfect like these other AI mastering apps. We built Humanize Mastering purposely to be imperfect in ways that you will hear in the master output. This is what no other mastering app has in the industry.

OUR STORY: We based many of our Pro presets on studios that we've had the privilege of sitting in during recordings and mastering sessions. Our team has had the absolute pleasure of sitting in on sessions at world-famous studios including Sterling Sound, Gateway Mastering, Bernie Grundman Mastering, Capitol Studios, Sunset Sound, Electric Lady Studios, PatchWerk Recording Studios, Blackbird Studio, and many more. Each one of these studios has its own unique sound, and that experience is baked into every preset we've built.

If you're an artist or musician with a budget preparing to release a song or album, please reach out to one of these studios to have your music mastered by the absolute BEST. Tell them the Humanize Mastering Team sent you! Our software is crazy good — but these guys are amazing with their craft, and you cannot replace that with anything.

For the rest of us that cannot afford to hire these big-time studios at the moment — your next best choice is Humanize Mastering. Learn the app until you have locked down your perfect preset. We give you factory-made presets to test and play with, but you MUST learn how to tweak the settings to fit your vibe and style. Once you find it, you will not want to master your music with any other mastering software.

RESTORATION
Old Recordings / Audio Repair

MASTERING
Professional Mastering Chain

INCLUDED FREE
Human ID™

→

FINAL OUTPUT

Release-Ready Master

Audio Restoration is a stand-alone restoration chain for old recordings and audio that needs sonic repair — cassettes, vinyl records, noisy files, hiss, distortion, and other problem sources. If your audio is already clean, you can skip restoration and go straight to mastering.

Professional Mastering is the main mastering chain with 14 modules — EQ, compression, stereo imaging, limiting, and more. This is where you shape the sound, loudness, width, tone, and release-ready finish.

Human ID™ is included FREE with all plans. It helps support accurate classification of your music and is part of the overall Humanize Mastering workflow. Due to the evolving nature of AI music generators and detection systems, effectiveness may vary — we continuously update to keep pace.

Module Preview Buttons: The PREVIEW button on each restoration or mastering module plays a short preview of the audio processed through that point in the chain. It does not preview only that single module by itself. For example, previewing module M6 lets you hear the audio after the chain has processed everything up to M6. This helps you understand how each stage is shaping the sound before you render the full master.

TIP: If you're new to mastering, don't worry. This manual walks you through every single processor in the chain — what it does, why it's there, and how to adjust it for your sound.

MINDSET

The Philosophy of Mastering

✦ ONE BUTTON CAN'T KNOW YOUR EARS

Every mastering app on the market promises a magic one-button fix. And look — it's genuinely cool to have. A smart starting point is useful. But here's the truth that most apps won't tell you:

One button cannot know how you mix. It can't know your room, your speakers, your headphones, or the sound you're chasing. Every producer has a different environment. Your room might add low-end that makes you mix thin. Your headphones might flatter the highs so you back them off. Your genre might demand distortion that looks "wrong" to an algorithm. Your creative vision might be intentionally unconventional.

The AI presets in this app are a well-calibrated starting point based on genre standards. They'll get you in the ballpark fast. But the artists who get the best results are the ones who actually dig into the chain and move things around until it sounds right to them.

Don't be afraid to tweak. There is no wrong answer. Your ears are the only judge that matters. Use the A/B compare constantly. Trust what you hear. The sweet spot for your sound is yours to find — and when you find it, it'll be unmistakably you.

WORKFLOW

Quick Start: Beginning to End

Here's the complete workflow from the moment you open the app to a finished master.

Create an account or sign in with Google. Your subscription tier determines your export options and how many Human ID™ uses you have per month. Free accounts get 3 masters and 1 Human ID™ use per month.

UPLOAD YOUR TRACK

Drag and drop your audio file onto the upload area, or click to browse. Accepts WAV, MP3, FLAC, and AIFF. Always upload the highest-quality version of your mix — if you have a 24-bit WAV, use that, not an MP3. The mastering chain works with what you give it.

DECIDE IF YOU NEED RESTORATION

If your track was made with AI tools like Suno or Udio, consider running the Restoration Chain first (see Section 04). If it's your own original mix or a clean recording, skip straight to the Mastering Chain. Restoration is not a required step for everyone.

SELECT A GENRE PRESET

Choose one of the 48 genre presets to load a starting configuration for your style. The preset adjusts all the mastering chain parameters at once. Think of it as a smart starting point — not a final answer.

TWEAK THE CHAIN

Work through the mastering chain from top to bottom. Each module is explained in detail in Section 05. Use the A/B compare button constantly — flip between your original and the master as you adjust. Your ears are your meter.

SET YOUR LUFS TARGET

Choose your loudness target for the platform you're releasing on. Spotify targets -14 LUFS, Apple Music -16 LUFS, YouTube -14 LUFS, clubs and SoundCloud -9 LUFS. The Maximizer handles this automatically.

APPLY HUMAN ID™ (OPTIONAL)

Human ID™ is included FREE with all mastering plans. It processes your audio locally to help ensure fair AI classification. Due to the evolving nature of AI music generators, effectiveness may vary by track and platform.

EXPORT YOUR MASTER

Choose your format — WAV 24-bit for archiving and DAW import, FLAC for lossless streaming delivery, AIFF for Apple ecosystem, or MP3 320kbps for distribution platforms. Export and you're done.

OPTIONAL FIRST STEP

The Restoration Chain

⚠️ IMPORTANT — READ THIS FIRST: The Restoration Chain is not something you need to run on every track. It is specifically designed for tracks that were generated by AI music tools like Suno or Udio, or for older recordings that have codec artifacts, digital noise, or degradation that needs to be cleaned up before mastering. If you're working from a clean original mix from your DAW, skip this section entirely and jump straight to the Mastering Chain.

AI generation tools like Suno introduce specific, predictable artifacts into their audio — codec noise, frequency anomalies, and processing fingerprints. Running raw AI-generated audio through a mastering chain amplifies these problems. The Restoration Chain removes them first, giving the mastering processors a clean signal to work with.

Think of it this way: if the mastering chain is a car wash, restoration is fixing the dents before you wash it.

Subsonic Cleaner

AI ARTIFACT

Removes codec sub-bass buildup below 30Hz — energy that's completely inaudible but silently wastes headroom and causes the compressor downstream to behave unpredictably. Suno consistently generates this artifact across v3–v5. You won't hear the artifact removed — you'll hear everything else get tighter.

CUTOFF

Frequency below which everything is removed. Default 30Hz is right for most Suno tracks.

SLOPE

Steepness of the filter rolloff. Higher = more aggressive. Default is gentle enough to avoid touching audible bass.

↓

Shimmer Eliminator

AI ARTIFACT

Targets the metallic "shimmer" artifact Suno introduces in the 6–10kHz range — a side effect of its neural vocoder deconvolution process. You'll hear it as an artificial brightness or metallic sheen on cymbals and vocal sibilance. Uses a dual notch filter to cut the primary peak and its harmonic.

PEAK FREQ

Where the shimmer artifact sits. Watch the spectrum analyzer and target the unnatural brightness peak. Suno: typically 7–9kHz.

DEPTH

How much to cut. 4–7dB is typical. Too deep makes cymbals dull.

Narrower Q = surgical. Wider Q = smoother but affects more of the surrounding range. 2.5 is a good starting point.

↓

Codec Noise Gate

AI ARTIFACT

Suno's neural audio encoding runs at approximately 43.5kbps, which introduces a constant background hiss — similar to tape hiss but digital and more uniform. This dynamic expander attenuates signal below the threshold, cleaning the noise floor in quiet passages. The gentle attack setting prevents musical pumping.

THRESHOLD

Set just above the noise floor (~-50dB). If you hear instruments being cut off, raise the threshold slightly.

ATTACK

How fast the gate opens when sound appears. Slower = more transparent. Default 20ms prevents pumping.

↓

HF Codec Shelf

AI ARTIFACT

Suno generates audio internally at 32kHz then upsamples to 44.1kHz. The upsampling process leaves a gritty, sandy texture above 12kHz. This high-shelf gently reduces that range without dulling the actual musical content. The cut is typically only 2–4dB — subtle but effective.

↓

Low-Mid De-Mud

AI ARTIFACT

Suno's vocoder process accumulates boxy, honky energy in the 200–400Hz range — the classic "mud" zone. This gentle bell cut removes that buildup while preserving the body and warmth of bass instruments and male vocals. You'll hear the mix become more open and clear without getting thin.

↓

Stereo Restore

AI ARTIFACT

Suno outputs audio with a near-mono stereo field — the left and right channels are nearly identical. This M/S matrix processor recovers the stereo width while remaining fully mono-compatible. Collapsing to mono returns the Mid channel with zero phase cancellation — no energy loss.

RESTORATION SUMMARY: If your track came from Suno or Udio, enable all six restoration modules and run them at defaults before touching anything else. The AI analysis will suggest settings based on your specific track. Then proceed to the Mastering Chain.

CORE PROCESSING

The Mastering Chain — Beginning to End

This is the heart of the app. The mastering chain processes your audio through eight studio-grade modules in a carefully ordered sequence. Each module builds on the work of the one before it. Order matters in audio engineering — and the chain is ordered exactly as professional mastering engineers approach it.

HPF

→

British EQ ①

→

SSL Comp

→

British EQ ②

→

Tape

→

Lin. Phase EQ

→

M/S EQ

→

M8
Limiter

High-Pass Filter

CORE

The first thing Abbey Road engineers do on any master is engage the high-pass filter. This clears DC offset (electrical hum at 0Hz) and subsonic rumble (low-frequency energy below what you can hear) before any dynamics processing happens.

Why it's first: Any low-frequency garbage entering the compressor causes it to react to energy that isn't musical — making the compression pump and behave unpredictably. The HPF ensures the compressor only responds to your music.

CUTOFF

Typically 20–30Hz for clean mixes. Go higher (40–80Hz) for tracks with obvious low-end rumble.

SLOPE

12dB/octave is standard. 24dB/octave for more aggressive cleanup.

↓

British Console Corrective EQ

CORE

This is corrective EQ — subtractive surgery that happens before compression. The golden rule: cut before you compress. Removing problem frequencies before the compressor means the compressor squeezes a cleaner, more balanced signal.

This module emulates the Vintage British Console console EQ — legendary for its transformer-based inductor shelves that add even-harmonic warmth even when you're cutting. The character of the British is why records made through it sound the way they do.

What to cut here: Mud in the 200–400Hz range, harshness around 2–5kHz, boominess in the 60–100Hz range.

↓

SSL G-Bus Compressor

CORE

The SSL G-Bus compressor defined the sound of the 1990s and is still the most referenced bus compressor in professional mastering. It uses feed-forward RMS detection — meaning it responds to the average energy of the program, not individual peaks — which gives it that classic "glue" that makes the mix feel like one instrument instead of many separate tracks.

Professional mix-bus method: Always have 2dB of compression engaged. Not to reduce loudness, but to give the mix cohesion and punch. The key is the program-dependent release — the compressor automatically adjusts how fast it lets go based on the tempo and density of the music.

The NY Parallel Blend mixes the compressed signal with the dry signal, giving you punch and glue while preserving transient attack.

ATTACK

Slower attack (30–100ms) lets transients through for punch. Faster attack for a smoother, denser sound.

RELEASE

Auto mode is almost always right. Manual release for specific tempo-synced pumping effects.

RATIO

2:1 for subtle glue. 4:1 for noticeable compression. 10:1 for aggressive limiting behavior.

NY BLEND

Parallel blend amount. 100% = full parallel. 0% = serial only. 40–60% is the sweet spot for most music.

↓

British Console Tonal EQ

CORE

Where M2 cuts problems, M4 adds character. This second British EQ stage is additive sweetening after compression — boosting the frequencies that the compressor slightly softened, and adding the legendary British 12kHz "air" shelf that gives recordings that floating, open quality at the top end.

Classic post-compression moves: +1–2dB at 12kHz for air, +1dB at 3.2kHz for vocal presence, +2–3dB at 60Hz for low-end weight. These are starting points — listen and adjust.

↓

Studer A800 Tape Saturation

OPTIONAL

The Studer A800 was one of the finest professional tape machines ever built. Running audio through magnetic tape does something no digital processor can fully replicate in a simple EQ or compressor: it adds harmonic richness, slightly softens harsh transients, introduces a subtle "head bump" at 60Hz that adds low-end warmth, and adds a micro-pitch modulation (wow and flutter) that gives digital recordings that organic, breathing quality.

Tape speed matters: 15 IPS gives a warmer, slightly darker sound with more pronounced head bump — classic for hip-hop, soul, and vintage sounds. 30 IPS is brighter and more transparent — better for modern pop, EDM, and anything that needs clarity.

Disable this module if your music is already extremely warm, or if you're going for a clean digital aesthetic.

↓

Linear Phase EQ

CORE

Standard EQs introduce phase shift — certain frequencies arrive slightly later than others, which blurs transients and creates a slight smearing of the stereo image. Linear phase EQ eliminates this entirely: every frequency arrives at exactly the same time.

This is the same technology used by FabFilter Pro-Q3 and the Weiss EQ1-LP — the gold standard of mastering EQ. Use this for any final frequency shaping that needs to be completely transparent. Subtle high-shelf additions, broad tonal balance corrections, gentle low-end shaping.

The trade-off: linear phase processing introduces pre-ringing on very sharp cuts. Keep Q values moderate for mastering — save surgical cuts for M2.

↓

M/S EQ + Stereo Width

CORE

M/S (Mid/Side) processing is the professional standard for final stereo shaping. Instead of processing left and right channels, it splits the signal into Mid (the mono center — your kick, snare, bass, lead vocal) and Side (the stereo difference — reverbs, wide pads, room sound).

The universal mastering rule: Keep bass mono. High-frequency information can be wide. This is why the preset is set to cut side channel bass below 200Hz — stereo bass causes mono compatibility issues, meaning the track sounds thin or loses energy on systems that sum to mono (club systems, phone speakers, bluetooth).

The stereo width control adjusts the Side channel level — wider means more stereo spread, narrower means tighter and more focused.

↓

Brickwall Limiter

CORE

The final stage. The limiter is a two-stage system: first a 0.3ms inter-sample peak (ISP) catcher that prevents digital clipping that standard peak meters miss, then the main loudness limiter that pushes the track to your target LUFS level.

TPDF dither is applied on 24-bit export — a gentle noise-shaping technique that prevents quantization distortion when reducing from the internal 32-bit float processing to 24-bit output.

The limiter automatically calculates the input gain needed to hit your integrated LUFS target, following the ITU-R BS.1770-4 loudness standard used by all major streaming platforms.

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

Optional Processing Modules

In addition to the core chain, several specialist modules are available for specific needs.

Immersive Spatialiser

SPATIAL

A Dolby Atmos-inspired binaural HRTF renderer that places your audio in three-dimensional space — above, behind, in front. Uses inter-aural time and level differences plus pinna elevation cues (the way your outer ear shapes sound arriving from different directions) and Schroeder envelopment reverb for room feel.

Best for: Music intended for headphone listening, Atmos-style releases, immersive content, or any track where you want a "you are in the room" listening experience. Use sparingly — spatial processing on club tracks can reduce perceived loudness and impact on speaker systems.

M11

Noise Reduction

CLEANUP

Spectral subtraction noise reducer. Analyzes the quietest portions of your track to build a profile of the noise floor, then attenuates those specific frequency bands across the whole track. Removes hiss, hum, air conditioning rumble, room noise, and codec artifacts.

When to use: Recordings with audible background noise, live recordings, older songs being remastered, or any track with a noticeable noise floor between musical elements.

M12

De-esser

VOCAL

A frequency-selective dynamic compressor targeting sibilance — the harsh, piercing "sss" and "shh" sounds from vocals and cymbals in the 5–12kHz range. Uses a split-band detection chain: a peak detector monitors the sibilance band while a VCA compressor reduces only that region when the threshold is crossed. Completely transparent on non-sibilant material.

When to use: Vocal-forward tracks, rap/R&B with close-mic'd vocals, acoustic recordings with bright cymbals. Adjust the frequency to sit exactly on the harshest sibilance peak — use the spectrum analyzer to find it.

M13

Sub Harmonic Booster

BASS

Synthesizes and blends sub-harmonic content an octave below your bass fundamental. Tracks the bass signal in the 40–120Hz range, pitch-shifts it down one octave, and blends it back with the original. Adds physical low-end weight and sub-bass presence — this is spectrally new content, not just a bass boost.

When to use: Trap, EDM, drill, any bass-heavy genre. Keep the drive moderate (20–50%) to stay translatable on smaller speakers. Always check mono compatibility after enabling.

FINAL STAGE

The Maximizer (M10)

The Maximizer is the last processor in the entire chain — it runs after everything else. Its job is to bring the track to your chosen loudness target. It peak-normalizes the output of the full chain, then pushes it to the integrated LUFS level you select.

Two tonal shaping options sit inside the Maximizer:

✦

Sheen

Adds a high-frequency air shelf before the final limiter hits. Choices from Off → Subtle → Present → Bright. Adds sparkle and openness at the top end — great for pop, R&B, and anything that needs to cut through on small speakers.

✦

Mid Boost

Adds presence in the 1–4kHz vocal presence range before limiting. Off → Slight → Moderate → Forward. Brings vocals, guitars, and snares forward in the mix. Use carefully — too much makes a master tiring to listen to.

A/B COMPARE: The Maximizer stage activates the A/B compare buttons — Original vs Mastered. Use this constantly. Loud always sounds better to our ears, which is why the A/B forces level-matched comparison. If the master sounds better at the same level, the chain is doing its job.

STARTING POINTS

48 Genre Presets

Genre presets load a complete configuration of the entire mastering chain — EQ curves, compression settings, tape speed, stereo width, and LUFS target — all calibrated for that genre's conventions and streaming loudness standards.

✦ PRESETS ARE A STARTING POINT, NOT A DESTINATION

A preset knows the genre. It doesn't know your mix. Two Hip-Hop tracks can be completely different — one might be dense and compressed already, another might be sparse and dynamic. The preset gets you in the right ballpark. You take it the rest of the way.

Load a preset, listen to what it does to your track, then start adjusting. You'll often find that the preset gets you 80% of the way there in seconds — and the remaining 20% is where your personal sound lives.

STANDARD & CORE

Standard

Pop / R&B

Hip-Hop

Rock

EDM

Jazz

Classical

808 & TRAP

808 Trap

808 Drill

808 Boom-Bap

808 Modern

808 Club

Phonk

Trap Metal / Rage

HIP-HOP & URBAN

Lo-Fi Hip-Hop

Gospel Rap

Vocal Clarity

R&B Silk

POP & INDIE

Indie Bright

Acoustic Natural

Shimmer Pop

Hyperpop

Bedroom Pop

K-Pop

GLOBAL & LATIN

Afrobeats

Reggaeton

Latin Pop

Dancehall

Reggae / Dub

Bossa Nova / MPB

ELECTRONIC

House / Deep House

Techno / Industrial

Drum & Bass

Future Bass

Synthwave

Vaporwave / Chillwave

Ambient / Electronic

ROCK & ALTERNATIVE

Metal / Hard Rock

Alternative / Grunge

Punk / Garage

Blues

Country

Country Pop

SOUL, GOSPEL & JAZZ

Soul / Funk

Neo-Soul

Gospel

Smooth Jazz

CINEMATIC

Cinematic / Score

PATENT PENDING

Human ID™ — AI Classification Protection

Human ID™ is our patent-pending technology designed to help ensure your music is accurately classified as human-created when submitted to platforms that use AI detection systems.

AI detection systems — like those used by SubmitHub and increasingly by streaming platforms — analyze spectral, temporal, and harmonic features of audio to attempt to classify whether it was created by AI or a human. These systems are imperfect. They can misclassify independently released music, particularly if it's been generated with AI tools that the artist then built upon with genuine creative work.

LEGAL NOTE: Human ID™ is designed for artists who have made genuine human creative contributions to their music and want that contribution accurately recognized. Use only in accordance with our Terms of Service. You confirmed at signup that your music contains genuine human creative contribution.

How it works technically: Human ID™ applies three layers of sub-perceptual processing that introduce micro-variations in the spectral, harmonic, and temporal domains — the specific feature spaces analyzed by common AI classifiers. These modifications are below the threshold of human auditory perception. Your music sounds identical. The feature vectors that classifiers analyze do not.

Human ID™: Included FREE and unlimited with PRO plans. CREATOR plans include 20 Human ID™ exports per month. FREE plans include 1 per month. No server-side processing — all audio stays on your device.

INDIVIDUAL PROCESSING

Stem Processor

The Stem Processor lets you process each stem of your track separately — vocals, drums, bass, keys, guitars, whatever you've got — each one running through its own processing chain with its own settings.

This is powerful because different stems need different treatment. Your bass needs different EQ than your vocals. Your drums can handle more compression than your acoustic guitar. Processing them together (as a full mix) means compromising on every element. Processing them separately means each stem sounds exactly right.

UPLOAD YOUR STEMS

Drag your stem files into the Stem Processor panel. Upload as many as you need — there's no limit per session. Label them clearly in your DAW before exporting so you know which is which.

ASSIGN FX PER STEM

Each stem gets its own FX chain. Choose which processors to apply to each one. Your drums might get heavy compression. Your vocals might get de-essing and gentle EQ. Your bass might get the sub harmonic booster. It's all individual.

PROCESS ALL STEMS

Click PROCESS ALL STEMS. Each stem runs through the chain at 48kHz 24-bit. A progress bar tracks the processing. Larger files take longer — this is normal.

CHOOSE FORMAT & SAVE TO FOLDER

Select WAV, FLAC, or AIFF from the format dropdown. Click SAVE STEMS TO FOLDER — your browser will ask you to choose a destination folder. Every stem saves directly into that folder, individually named, at 48kHz 24-bit. No ZIP, no compression, no extra steps.

CHROME / EDGE USERS: The folder picker works best in Chrome and Edge. Firefox will download stems as individual files. Safari 15.2+ supports folder picking. See the compatibility page for full details.

VOLUME WORKFLOW

Batch Mastering

Batch Mastering lets you upload up to 10 tracks and master them all with the same settings in one run — ideal for albums, EPs, or any project that needs a consistent sonic signature across multiple songs.

Every track in the batch runs through the identical chain configuration. Set your chain once — genre preset, EQ, compression, tape settings, LUFS target — and apply it across the whole project. Each track gets individual playback controls and its own download button so you can check any of them before downloading.

TIP: Before running a batch, master one track from the project individually first. Dial in your settings until that track sounds right. Then use those same settings for the batch. This gives you quality control without processing everything multiple times.

DELIVERY

Export Formats

Choose the right format for how and where you're releasing.

FORMAT	QUALITY	BEST FOR	PLAN
WAV 24-bit 48kHz	Lossless	DAW import, archiving, sync licensing, broadcast, video production	Pro / Label / Human ID™ Only
FLAC 24-bit 48kHz	Lossless	Streaming delivery, digital distribution, archiving (smaller file size than WAV)	Pro / Label / Human ID™ Only
AIFF 24-bit 48kHz	Lossless	Apple ecosystem, Logic Pro import, iTunes delivery	Pro / Label / Human ID™ Only
MP3 320kbps	High Quality (Lossy)	SubmitHub, SoundCloud, social media, anywhere lossless isn't accepted	All Plans (Free: 3/mo)

WHICH FORMAT SHOULD I USE? If you're submitting to distribution (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby), use WAV or FLAC — they accept lossless and prefer it. If you're uploading directly to SoundCloud or SubmitHub, MP3 320kbps is fine and has a smaller file size. Never master from an MP3 if you have a WAV available — always start from the highest quality source.

REFERENCE GUIDE

LUFS & Loudness Targets

LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) is the international standard for measuring perceived loudness. Every major streaming platform has a loudness normalization target — they'll turn your track down if it's too loud, or up if it's too quiet, to match their target level.

PLATFORM	TARGET LUFS	TRUE PEAK	NOTES
Spotify	-14 LUFS	-1 dBTP	Normalizes down if louder
Apple Music	-16 LUFS	-1 dBTP	Sound Check feature
YouTube	-14 LUFS	-1 dBTP	Content ID normalizes
Tidal	-14 LUFS	-1 dBTP	MQA compatible
SoundCloud	-14 LUFS	-1 dBTP	No normalization on Pro
Club / DJ	-6 to -9 LUFS	-0.3 dBTP	Loud for PA systems
SubmitHub	-14 LUFS	-1 dBTP	Match streaming standard

NOTE: Mastering louder than the platform target doesn't make your track louder on that platform — it just makes it more compressed and less dynamic. The platform will turn it down to -14 LUFS regardless. Master to the target level and let the dynamics of your music shine.

FULL APP REFERENCE

Every Section, Module & Setting Explained

This section is the front-to-back reference for the whole app. The goal is simple: a user should know what each section does, when to use it, and what each module or setting is changing before they touch the controls.

Important: The restoration chain and mastering chain are separate tools. Restoration is for old recordings, noisy files, damaged audio, hiss, distortion, vinyl/cassette transfers, and audio that needs sonic repair. Mastering is the release-finish chain used to shape tone, loudness, width, impact, and final polish.

Page Sections

Section	What it does	How the user should think about it
Choose Audio File	Loads the source track into the app.	Start here. The rest of the app depends on a successfully decoded audio file.
Restoration	Stand-alone cleanup chain for old recordings and problem audio.	Use only when the source needs repair. Skip it if the track is already clean.
Professional Mastering Chain	Main mastering processor chain.	Use this to shape tone, width, dynamics, loudness, and final release quality.
Preset Manager	Saves, loads, imports, exports, and organizes user presets.	Use this after you find a repeatable sound that fits your style.
Before/After Player	Compares original audio with mastered audio.	Use this to avoid fooling yourself with volume differences. Always compare before final export.
Source Audio Fatigue Check	Warns if the original audio has harshness, resonance, sharp transients, or brittle stereo high-end before mastering.	Higher scores mean the source may need cleanup or gentler mastering settings.
Restoration Tools	Quick controls for click removal and de-harsh processing.	Use this when the source has obvious defects or sharpness.
Loudness Level	Chooses how loud or aggressive the final master should be.	Lower levels are safer and more dynamic. Higher levels are louder but can reduce punch and increase fatigue.
Export Formats	Chooses the final download format.	Use WAV/AIFF/FLAC for professional delivery. Use MP3 for quick sharing or compressed delivery.
Batch Mastering	Processes multiple files using the selected preset or current chain settings.	Use this after you trust the settings. It is for speed, not for detailed one-song tweaking.
Stem Processor	Processes individual stems separately.	Use when you have drums, vocals, bass, music, or instrument stems and want more control than a single stereo file.
Human ID™	Applies the Humanize Mastering identity/classification workflow.	Use as part of the final workflow when classification support matters. Results may vary as platforms and detection systems evolve.

Module Preview Buttons

The PREVIEW button on a module plays a short preview of the audio processed through that point in the chain. It does not preview only that single module by itself. For example, previewing M6 lets the user hear the audio after the chain has processed everything up to M6. This is the fastest way to understand how the sound is changing before rendering the full master.

Restoration and Mastering Modules

R1 Subsonic Cleaner / High-Pass Filter

Removes DC offset, rumble, and low-frequency junk that does not help the music but can steal headroom or make limiters react incorrectly.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`rHpfF`	CUTOFF	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`rHpfQ`	SLOPE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

R2 Shimmer / Ringing Control

Targets sharp ringing peaks and metallic shimmer often found in old transfers, damaged audio, or generated/processed files.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`rShF`	PEAK FREQ	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`rShD`	DEPTH	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`rShQ`	Q	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

R3 Codec Noise Gate

Reduces low-level hiss, static, room noise, and codec residue during quiet moments without cutting off the musical body.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`rGtT`	THRESHOLD	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`rGtA`	ATTACK	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

R4 High-Frequency Codec Shelf

Softens sandy, brittle, or fizzy high-end that can appear after compression, old media transfer, or digital processing.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`rHfF`	SHELF FREQ	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`rHfG`	CUT	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

R5 Low-Mid De-Mud

Cleans boxiness and cloudy buildup in the 200–400 Hz range so the source sounds less muffled before mastering.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`rMdF`	FREQ	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`rMdG`	CUT	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`rMdQ`	Q	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

R6 Stereo Restore

Uses mid/side processing to recover or control stereo width while keeping the result safer for mono playback.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`rStW`	RESTORE %	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M1 High-Pass Filter

The first mastering cleanup step. Removes subsonic energy before EQ, compression, saturation, and limiting.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mHpfF`	CUTOFF	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M2 British Console Corrective EQ

Subtractive EQ stage for reducing mud, harshness, or digital edge before tone-shaping begins.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`m73LM`	LOW-MID CUT	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`m73HM`	HMF CUT	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`m73Dr`	DRIVE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M4 British Console Tonal EQ

Additive tone-shaping stage for weight, presence, and air. This is where the master gets more musical color.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`m73Ls`	LOW SHELF	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`m73Lf`	LOW FREQ	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`m73Hb`	HMF BELL	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`m73Hs`	HIGH SHELF	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M5 British-Style Analog Color

Adds controlled harmonic color, density, tape-style warmth, and subtle width without replacing the mix.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mTpD`	DRIVE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mTpB`	LOW BLOOM	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mTpW`	AIR TRIM	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M6 Linear Phase EQ

Precise mastering EQ for broad tone changes without phase smearing. Useful for bass, mids, and top-end adjustments.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mLpLs`	LOW SHELF	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mLpMb`	MID BELL	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mLpMf`	MID FREQ	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mLpHs`	HIGH SHELF	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M7 M/S EQ + Stereo Width

Lets the center and sides be shaped separately so vocals, bass, width, and high-end space can be controlled with more precision.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mMsM`	MID GAIN	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mMsW`	SIDE WIDTH	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mMsSl`	SIDE LOW CUT	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mMsSh`	SIDE HI BOOST	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M8 Brickwall Limiter

Controls peaks and prevents clipping while pushing loudness. Use carefully because too much limiting causes distortion and fatigue.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mLimC`	TP CEILING	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mLimR`	RELEASE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—

M9 Immersive Spatializer

Adds controlled width, depth, height, space, and distance cues for a more dimensional stereo image.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mAtRm`	ROOM SIZE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtWd`	WIDTH	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtEl`	ELEVATION	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtDs`	DISTANCE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtAa`	AIR ABSORB	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtAz`	AZIMUTH	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtEv`	ENVELOP	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtHt`	HEIGHT	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	—
`mAtMx`	Setting	Controls this module parameter.	—

M10 Maximizer / Loudness Stage

Final loudness control. Balances volume, density, true peak safety, and streaming readiness.

Settings: This stage uses preset buttons, EQ bands, or final render/export controls rather than one simple slider group. The user should treat this stage as a final decision point and compare before/after before exporting.

M11 Noise Reduction

Optional cleanup for low-level noise, grit, or background artifacts that remain after the main restoration and mastering stages.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mNrSt`	STRENGTH	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	0.0 to 1.0 · default 0.30 · step 0.05
`mNrSm`	SMOOTHING	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	0.5 to 0.97 · default 0.85 · step 0.01
`mNrFl`	FLOOR BIAS	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	1.0 to 3.0 · default 1.5 · step 0.1

M12 De-Esser

Controls sharp S, T, cymbal, hi-hat, and vocal edge energy so the master feels smoother.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mDsF`	FREQ	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	3000 to 12000 · default 7000 · step 500
`mDsT`	THRESHOLD	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	-40 to 0 · default -16 · step 1
`mDsQ`	BANDWIDTH	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	0.5 to 4 · default 1.5 · step 0.1
`mDsR`	RATIO	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	1.5 to 10 · default 4 · step 0.5

M13 Sub Enhancer

Enhances low-end impact while protecting the mix from uncontrolled sub buildup.

Control ID	Visible Setting	What it changes	Range / Default
`mSubT`	TUNE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	40 to 120 · default 80 · step 5
`mSubD`	DRIVE	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	0 to 100 · default 40 · step 1
`mSubHp`	HIGH-PASS	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	20 to 60 · default 30 · step 2
`mSubTg`	TIGHTNESS	Controls how strongly this setting affects the sound. Use small changes first and compare with preview.	0 to 100 · default 60 · step 5

M14 Prism EQ / Final Fine-Tune

Final graphic EQ stage for precise left/right tonal adjustments before export.

How Users Should Adjust Settings

User goal	Where to go	Best practice
Clean up hiss, noise, old vinyl/cassette problems	Restoration chain R1–R6	Use restoration first, then master. Do not over-clean or the audio may lose life.
Remove mud or harshness	M2 Corrective EQ, R5 De-Mud, M12 De-Esser	Cut gently first. Small cuts are usually better than large cuts.
Add warmth or analog body	M4 Tonal EQ, M5 Analog Color	Add gradually. Too much color can make the track cloudy.
Make the track wider	R6 Stereo Restore, M7 M/S Width, M9 Spatializer	Check mono compatibility and avoid over-widening bass.
Make the master louder	Loudness Level, M8 Limiter, M10 Maximizer	Watch true peak, dynamic range, and ear fatigue. Louder is not always better.
Save a repeatable sound	Preset Manager	Name the preset clearly and test it on more than one song before relying on it.
Process many songs quickly	Batch Mastering	Use batch only after the preset has already been tested on similar material.

Rule of thumb: The app gives the user powerful tools, but the best results still come from listening. Preview often, compare before/after, and avoid stacking too many aggressive settings at once.

WISDOM

Pro Tips

USE YOUR EARS, NOT YOUR EYES. The meters and visualizers are tools, not judges. If the compressor is showing 6dB of gain reduction but it sounds great, it's great. If everything looks perfect on paper but it sounds wrong, something is wrong. Your ears are always right.

REST YOUR EARS BEFORE MASTERING. Audio fatigue is real. After hours of mixing, your ears are lying to you. A 15-minute break before mastering means you'll hear things you missed. Professional mastering engineers often master the next morning, not the same night.

DON'T MASTER A BAD MIX. Mastering improves a good mix. It cannot fix a bad one. If your mix has serious balance problems — a kick that's too loud, a muddy low end, a harsh vocal — fix those in your DAW first. Come back to mastering when the mix is solid.

CHECK MONO COMPATIBILITY. A significant amount of music is still heard in mono — phone speakers, Bluetooth speakers, TV speakers, club systems that sum to mono. After mastering, check how your track sounds collapsed to mono using the M7 mono-safe setting. If something disappears or sounds hollow, there's a phase issue to address.

REFERENCE TRACKS. Before and during mastering, compare your track to a professionally mastered song in the same genre that you want to sound like. Load it as a reference. Listen to it. Then listen to yours. Let the gap between them guide your decisions.

RESTORATION IS NOT ALWAYS NEEDED. Only run the Restoration Chain if your track was generated with AI tools or has genuine artifacts that need cleaning. Running all six restoration modules on a clean original mix will change the character of your music unnecessarily. If your mix sounds clean and balanced, go straight to mastering.

SAVE BEFORE REFRESHING. The app is session-based — refreshing the page clears your current session. Always export your master before closing the tab. Your account and subscription are safe; only the unsaved audio session is lost.

✦ FINAL WORD

Mastering is part science, part craft, part art. The science is in the chain — the physics of how compressors behave, why EQ order matters, what tape saturation actually does. The craft is in learning how to use each tool. The art is knowing when to stop.

Every great record was made by someone who cared enough to keep pushing until it was right. That's you. Take your time, trust your ears, and have fun with it — that energy ends up in the music.