Prepare the pre-master

• Remove clipping and unintended distortion.
• Avoid crushing the mix with excessive master-bus processing.
• Check vocal and low-end balance.
• Listen for harsh sections and muddy buildup.
• Keep an unmastered export.
• Rest your ears before comparing versions.

BandLab currently recommends leaving headroom and gives a rough pre-master range of about -8 dB to -4 dB.

Current preset family

BandLab currently offers Universal, Fire, Clarity and Tape as free mastering presets. Additional Membership presets include Natural, Spatial, Cinematic and Punch. Treat these as listening starting points, not genre laws.

Intensity and higher-level controls

Current BandLab documentation says Pro members can adjust mastering Intensity. Max adds Mastering EQ and Reference Mastering. Because plan features can change, verify the live Membership page before buying specifically for one control.

Reference Mastering

Reference Mastering analyzes an uploaded reference and adjusts BandLab's mastering settings toward aspects of its tonal and dynamic character. Use a reference to define production traits—not to justify copying a protected song or artist identity. Confirm you have permission to upload any reference material you use.

A controlled mastering test

1. Export and save the unmastered mix.
2. Choose two or three plausible preset/intensity combinations.
3. Match playback volume as closely as practical before judging.
4. Listen to vocal clarity, low-end control, harshness, punch and dynamics.
5. Check headphones, speakers and a small-device playback.
6. Choose the version that serves the song—not simply the loudest one.
7. Save the chosen master and notes describing why it won.

When to go back to the mix

If mastering makes the vocal disappear, bass distort, cymbals become painful, sections jump in level or dynamics collapse, return to the mix. The problem is probably upstream of mastering.

BandLab is one mastering option

You may master inside BandLab, use another mastering service or work with a human engineer. The creator job is the same: prepare a stable mix, compare objectively and preserve the pre-master.

BandLab mastering FAQ

Is BandLab mastering free?

BandLab currently includes free mastering presets. Additional controls and presets are tied to paid Membership tiers, so confirm the current plan details before upgrading for a specific feature.

Which BandLab mastering preset should I use?

There is no single best preset for every genre. Compare a few plausible options at similar playback volume and choose the version that improves the song without flattening its dynamics, vocal clarity or low end.

Should I mix or master first?

Mix first. Mastering is the final presentation stage; if the vocal, bass, harshness or balance is still wrong, return to the mix before choosing a master.

Can I master a Suno song in BandLab?

Yes, if you have the right to use the source audio. Treat the Suno export as source material: import it, fix any production problems you can actually hear, preserve the unmastered version, then compare masters deliberately. See the BandLab workflow for Suno creators →

What is BandLab Reference Mastering?

Reference Mastering uses a reference track to guide aspects of the mastering result. Use references to define production characteristics such as tonal balance and dynamics, and only upload material you are permitted to use.

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