Mastering Terms Clients Ask About, in Plain English
Published · by Loopin
Clients ask the same six questions about mastering. Give each a one-line answer and a number, and you stop writing long emails.
Answer “why is it quieter than my favourite song?” with one number
Streaming services turn loud songs down to a common level. Spotify’s default sits near −14 LUFS, so a track mastered far louder gets turned down and gains nothing. Say: “LUFS is average loudness. Your song is at −14, which is where streaming wants it.” Our LUFS explainer has the detail if the client asks for more.
If they still want it louder, play the A/B at matched loudness. A louder file wins a casual listen every time, so matching removes that trick and shows whether the sound is actually better. Send both files, matched, with your reply.
Translate headroom into a request
Headroom is the gap between the loudest peak and the digital ceiling. Ask clients for mixes peaking around −6 dBFS with nothing on the master bus. Say it as: “Leave me room, the louder step comes last.” See what headroom is if you need a longer answer.
Clients often send a mix that is already pushed to the ceiling because they want it to “sound finished.” Explain that finishing is the next step, and that a pre-squashed file leaves nothing to work with.
Explain a limiter in one sentence
A limiter stops peaks from going past a set ceiling so the whole song can be turned up. The ceiling most streaming guidance suggests is −1 dBTP, which keeps room for the encoder. Loopin exports a WAV at about −14 LUFS with a −1 dBTP ceiling by default.
The risk is too much of it: kick and snare lose their snap and the chorus goes flat. Tell the client “louder is a trade, not free,” and show them with clipping vs limiting if they ask. A 30-second A/B of the same chorus at two loudness levels usually settles it.
Say what a reference track is for
A reference is a finished song you like, used to compare tone and level, not to copy. Ask the client for one and for what they like about it: the low end, the vocal, the width. Then match loudness before you compare, or the louder song wins.
Be clear on limits: an automatic master takes no creative direction beyond a feel, so free online mastering is a quick first pass, not a copy of a record. If the client wants it to “sound like this exact record,” that needs a person.
Be plain about stems, DDP and 24-bit
Stems are the separate groups of a mix, such as drums and vocals. Most online masters work from a stereo mixdown, and Loopin takes a stereo mixdown. DDP is a disc-image format for CD pressing, and 24-bit is a higher-resolution file. Loopin exports a 16-bit WAV, so a job that requires either of the other two needs another route.
Ask the client what the file is for before they ask for these. Most streaming releases do not need them, and a quick question saves a revision round.
Paste this one-page glossary
LUFS: average loudness; streaming sits near −14. True peak: the highest point after conversion; keep it at −1 dBTP. Headroom: space left under the ceiling; send mixes peaking near −6 dBFS. Limiter: stops peaks so the track can be louder. Reference: a finished song used for comparison. Stereo mixdown: your final mix as one stereo file.
Add one line for scope: “I do a fast first pass; if it needs more, we book an engineer.” To run the pass, master the song free online and send the loudness-matched comparison with your reply.
Frequently asked questions
What does LUFS mean?
It is a measure of average loudness over the whole track. Streaming services normalise near -14 LUFS, so a track far louder than that is simply turned down on playback.
What is true peak?
The highest level of the converted audio. A ceiling of -1 dBTP leaves room for streaming encoders.
How much headroom should I leave for mastering?
Peaks around -6 dBFS, with no limiter on the master bus.
What is a stereo mixdown?
Your finished mix as a single two-channel file, which is what Loopin takes.
Do clients need 24-bit or DDP?
Only for specific deliveries such as CD pressing. Loopin exports a 16-bit WAV and does not offer DDP.
Why does my master sound quieter than other songs?
Often it is not. Compare at matched loudness first. If it still feels weaker, the mix has less energy in the low end or the vocal, and a mastering step will not add what the mix lacks.