Prepare a Beat for Online Mastering: The Export Settings That Matter
Published · by Loopin
Export a stereo WAV with peaks near −6 dBFS, take the limiter off the master bus and leave a clean tail. Ten minutes of prep decides whether an automatic master sounds like your beat or like a louder, flatter version.
Export a stereo WAV, not an MP3
Bounce the full mix as a stereo WAV at your project’s sample rate, 24-bit if your DAW offers it. Loopin takes a stereo mixdown, MP3 or WAV, but an MP3 is already lossy, so a WAV gives the master more to work with. No stems; one stereo file.
If your DAW has a dither option, turn it off for a 24-bit export. Dither belongs at the last bit-depth reduction, once, at the end.
Aim for peaks around −6 dBFS
Pull the master fader down until the loudest peak reads about −6 dBFS. That is headroom, not quiet; a master brings the level back up. Read how it works in what is headroom in audio.
A beat that already hits 0 dBFS has nowhere to go, and one that clips even briefly will stay clipped. Check the meter at the loudest drop, not the intro. Read the true-peak meter if you have one, since the sample peaks can read lower than the peaks your ears and converters actually hit.
Take the limiter off the master bus
Remove a loudness maximiser from the master bus before you bounce, whatever your DAW calls it. If you want to keep one, set it to peak no higher than −3 dBFS and turn the gain-reduction down to the lightest touch. A beat limited to −8 LUFS before mastering loses punch twice.
Leave on a gentle glue compressor or an EQ if the mix needs them. The test: A/B the bounce with and without the master bus chain. If it only gets louder and not better, delete it.
Fix the three things a master makes louder
Muddy lows: solo 150–300 Hz and cut 1–2 dB where kick and 808 stack. Harsh tops: check 3–5 kHz on leads and vocal chops. Wobbly sub: check the 808 doesn’t clip; see fix 808 clipping in your master.
Do these on the stems or buses, not the master. A master lifts everything together, so a 1–2 dB problem at 4 kHz becomes a headache.
Trim the start and the tail
Start the file at the first beat, with no more than half a second of silence, and let the reverb or loop tail ring out for 1–2 seconds. A hard cut on a decay sounds like a click at the end of the master.
Remove tags and voice drops that you do not want in the master, or bounce a separate tagged copy later. Mastering a tag in means its loudness steers the whole file.
Master it, then compare level-matched
Upload the WAV to free online mastering, try Punchy for drums-forward trap and the default for a balanced result, then switch Original vs Mastered. The A/B is loudness-matched, so the master only wins if it sounds better.
Mastering is free and unlimited for previews; downloads are capped at 1 per rolling 24 hours with no account and 2 with a free account. Prep first so you spend the download on the version you keep, and master the beat free once it is ready. A master cannot fix a weak mix; use it as a fast first pass. If the A/B reveals a problem, fix it in the beat, re-bounce and compare again; each preview is free. Keep your first bounce in the project folder so you can always return to it.
Frequently asked questions
What export settings should I use before online mastering?
A stereo WAV at your project sample rate, 24-bit if possible, with peaks around -6 dBFS and no limiter on the master bus.
How much headroom should my beat have?
Peaks around -6 dBFS is a good starting point. Anything that already touches 0 dBFS leaves the master no room.
Should I leave my limiter on?
No. Take the loudness maximiser off the master bus. A light glue compressor or EQ is fine if the mix needs it.
Does Loopin take stems?
No. It takes a stereo mixdown, MP3 or WAV, and exports a 16-bit WAV at about -14 LUFS with a -1 dBTP ceiling.
Do I need to dither my export?
Not for a 24-bit bounce. Dither once, at the final bit-depth reduction.
How long should the tail be?
Leave 1-2 seconds of natural decay so the end does not click.