How to Master a Client's EP Start to Finish: A 12-Track Workflow
Published · by Loopin
A 12-track project goes wrong in the sequence, not in any one master: inconsistent prep, a different setting per track, no listening pass in order. This is the order that keeps the EP sounding like one record.
Collect and fix the mixes before you touch loudness
Ask for stereo mixdowns, WAV, peaks between −6 and −3 dBFS, no limiter on the master bus. Reject any file that is already slammed to 0 dBFS and ask for a re-bounce; a limited mix leaves a master nothing to work with. Name files in running order (01, 02, 03) so nothing gets mastered out of sequence.
Listen to all twelve quickly, in order, at one volume. Write one line per track: low end heavy, vocal harsh, quiet intro. Those notes are your list of what a master can and can’t fix. A master won’t rescue a mix problem, so flag those to the client now rather than after delivery.
Pick one starting feel and change it only with a reason
Consistency across an EP comes from a single starting point. Pick the feel that suits the project, for example Warm for a soul EP or Punchy for rap, and run every track through it first. Loopin has eight (Warm, Punchy, Crisp, Wide, Vintage, Club, Lo-fi, Cinematic), and the default export lands at about −14 LUFS with a −1 dBTP ceiling.
Then deviate only where your note says so: a thin acoustic ballad might want Warm while the rest is Punchy. Write the change down. If you can’t say why track 7 has a different feel, put it back. Master the track free and compare all eight before committing.
A/B every track loudness-matched, then re-order the listening
On each track use the Original-vs-Mastered switch, which is loudness-matched, so you hear tone rather than volume. Check kick and bass, vocal, then the loudest section. Previews and A/B are free and unlimited, so audition as many versions as you need before you download anything.
Then listen to the twelve masters back to back in running order. You’re looking for jumps: a track that feels 2 dB louder, a vocal that suddenly gets brighter, a ballad that is as dense as the single. Fix the outlier, not the whole set. Our post on mastering an album consistently goes deeper on the checks.
Plan the downloads around the cap
Downloads are capped on the free tier: one per rolling 24 hours with no account and two with a free account. Twelve free downloads is a six-day job. For a client deadline, free online mastering covers the audition, and Loopin Mastering Unlimited ($10 a month or $59 a year; check the pricing page for your region) covers a one-day turnaround.
Be clear about the input: Loopin takes one stereo mixdown per track. There are no stems and no album-upload mode, so you queue the tracks one at a time and keep your own running-order sheet. The export is a 16-bit WAV, so if a client needs a different delivery format, say so up front.
Deliver with a check sheet and a human fallback
Before sending, confirm on every file: true peak at or below −1 dBTP, no clipping, same sample rate, no stray silence at the start, filenames in order. Send a short note listing the feel used and anything you couldn’t fix in the mix.
Be honest with the client about what this is. Automatic mastering is a fast, consistent first pass and a good reference. If the project is a vinyl pressing, a label release or the mixes had real problems, hand the final to a human mastering engineer and use your automatic masters as the brief.
Frequently asked questions
How do I master an EP so every track sounds consistent?
Start every track from the same feel, use the same prep (peaks around -6 dBFS, no master-bus limiter), change settings only with a written reason, then listen to all tracks in running order and fix the outlier.
How loud should an EP be?
For streaming, about -14 LUFS with a -1 dBTP ceiling is the default Loopin export. Punchy sits near -11 and Cinematic near -16 if the project calls for it. Keep the whole EP within about 1 LUFS.
Can I master 12 tracks at once?
Not in one go on Loopin. It takes one stereo mixdown per track, with no album mode, so you run each track separately. Mastering and previews are free and unlimited; downloads are capped on the free tier.
How many tracks can I download free per day?
1 per rolling 24 hours with no account, 2 with a free account. Loopin Mastering Unlimited is $10 a month or $59 a year.
Should I master an EP in running order?
Prepare and audition in running order, then check the final set in running order. The gaps between tracks and the loudness jumps are what clients notice.
When should I send a client EP to a human engineer?
When the mixes have problems a master can't fix, for vinyl or label releases, or when the client wants creative direction an automatic master can't take.