Here are a couple of examples to show how mastering can affect your music. Two types are presented here, both required very different treatments (these were both recent projects).

Example 1, dance music. The mix supplied was quiet and needed considerable gain to bring it into the current EDM loudness levels. Care was taken to not over compress the bass drum and still retain clarity for the mids and highs. Some EDM mastering can sound trashy and bass light, we prefer to keep the balance of the music even if it sacrifices a couple of DB’s against some louder tracks. Quite frankly the music will sound better for it! The example starts with the original and then cuts to the mastered version.

Example 2, alt folk rock. This mix mainly had a bit of compression applied with a touch of EQ to separate some of the instruments. The client felt he couldn’t get the vocal to sit in the mix correctly and the compression seemed to do the trick. The loudness level was gained to suit a commercial level but not pushed too hard at all.  The example starts with the original and then cuts to the mastered version.