Mastering serves several distinct purposes:
1. Tonal correction: Subtle EQ adjustments to correct any frequency imbalances in the mix that weren't apparent during mixing (often due to room acoustics). 2. Dynamic control: Light compression or limiting to control peak transients and increase perceived loudness. 3. Loudness maximization: Using a brickwall limiter to bring the track to competitive streaming levels without clipping. 4. True Peak limiting: Ensuring inter-sample peaks don't exceed -1 dBTP for streaming delivery. 5. Format preparation: Dithering to 16-bit for CD, metadata embedding, and preparing distribution files.
For self-mastering EDM tracks, a common chain is: mild EQ → subtle compression → stereo widener → loudness maximizer/limiter. The target is a track that sounds balanced, punchy, and competitive in volume without sacrificing dynamics.