How to Master a Track for a Remix or Beat Competition
Published · by Loopin
Competition masters are judged fast, back to back, often on whatever the judge has to hand. Follow the file rules exactly, make the first 10 seconds count, and master to a competitive but clean loudness.
Read the rules before you touch the master
Open the competition brief and write down four things: file format (WAV or MP3, bit rate), length limits, whether it must be mastered or left unmastered, and naming. Remix contests often ask for a specific stem set to be used, and some platforms play submissions through their own player, so a wrong format can mean an automatic skip.
If the rules say "unmastered" or "leave headroom", do exactly that and stop here. If they don't mention mastering, master it. Judges compare your entry directly with others, and an unmastered track sounds small next to mastered ones.
Front-load the first 10 seconds
Judges on a big contest may hear hundreds of entries and skip quickly. Your intro isn't a slow build; get to the hook, the flipped vocal or the drop within 10–20 seconds. If your remix has a long DJ intro, make a competition edit that starts closer to the action, if the rules allow it.
Check the intro is as clean and loud as the rest of the master. A quiet, thin intro that grows into a great drop can lose the judge before the drop arrives.
Master to competitive, not crushed
Judges often listen back to back, sometimes without loudness normalisation, so a quiet entry can sound weaker. Aim for the loud end of normal for the genre, not maximum. Master the track free online with Punchy (about −11 LUFS) for hip-hop, pop and most remixes, or Club (about −10) for house, techno and EDM.
Use the loudness-matched Original-vs-Mastered switch to make sure the master sounds better, not just louder. If the drop starts to pump or crackle with Club, step back to Punchy — a clean entry beats a distorted loud one.
Protect the parts the judges care about
In a remix contest, the original vocal or hook is often the thing judges know best. Make sure it's clear and not buried under your new bass line. On a phone, can you still hear every word of the hook? If not, pull the competing elements down in the mix, then master again.
In a beat competition, the drums and 808 are on trial. Check the kick and 808 don't fight around 50–60 Hz; keep lows mono below about 150 Hz. How to master a remix and how to master a beat go deeper.
Test on the judge's likely speakers
You don't know where the judge listens. Play the master on headphones, a laptop and a phone. The hook should be clear on the phone, the low end controlled on headphones, and the loudest section clean on the laptop.
Play your entry straight after a released track in the same genre at the same volume. If yours sounds thinner or quieter, adjust the feel or fix the mix, and run it through the free masterer again — unlimited re-runs cost nothing.
Submit the right file, named right
Export in exactly the format the rules ask for. If they want WAV, use the 16-bit WAV. If they want MP3, convert the master to a high-bitrate MP3 at the end, never earlier. Name it the way the brief says, or "ArtistName_TrackTitle_Remix.wav" if it doesn't.
Leave a day before the deadline. Upload portals slow down in the final hours, and a missed deadline costs more than a slightly imperfect master. How long mastering takes before a deadline helps plan backwards.
Frequently asked questions
Should I master my remix competition entry?
Yes, unless the rules say unmastered or ask for headroom. Judges compare entries back to back, and unmastered tracks sound smaller.
How loud should a competition entry be?
At the loud end of normal for the genre, around -11 LUFS for hip-hop and pop remixes and about -10 LUFS for house and EDM. Stay clean, not crushed.
What file format should I submit?
Whatever the rules say. If there's no rule, a 16-bit WAV is safest; convert to MP3 only if requested, and only at the end.
How long should my intro be for a remix contest?
Get to the hook or drop within 10 to 20 seconds. Make a competition edit if the rules allow it.
What do beat competition judges listen for?
Usually the drums and 808 first. Keep the kick and 808 from clashing around 50 to 60 Hz and keep lows mono.
Can I use a free online masterer for a competition?
Yes. Loopin Mastering is free, unlimited and needs no sign-up, and exports a 16-bit WAV.