what to do before hiring a mastering engineer
From chief mastering engineer thaddeus moore
Mixing is an incredibly complex subject
here are 5 things to check for to maximize the potential of your track:
1. Over-Compressed Mix-Downs
Remove limiters and compressors doing too much compression.
2. Imbalanced Low-End
Inconsistencies in low end like masking can make your mix sound different across systems.
3. Overly Bright Mixes
Mixing to mastered reference tracks can lead to mixes that are too bright.
4. Inordinate Sibilance
Use tools such as a de-esser on bright vocals or instruments before the mastering stage.
5. File Type Confusion and Resolution
Keep your file formats, bit depth and sample rate consistent and use .Zip data compression when sending online.