Overview
Mastering fails when it tries to fix mix problems instead of finalizing a well-made mix. Mastering can enhance clarity and control overall loudness, but it cannot replace a bad mix — it simply makes the problems louder and more audible on every playback system. The mastering engineer who adds significant EQ to compensate for a mix's tonal imbalance is doing remedial mixing, not mastering. The mastering framework must start by establishing whether the mix is ready for mastering or needs to go back to the mix stage.
The Audio Mastering Framework builds a mastering chain that finalizes a mix-ready track — correcting residual tonal issues with precision EQ, controlling dynamics for consistent playback, achieving the correct integrated loudness for the delivery platform, and creating the limiting ceiling that prevents intersample peaks.