FIYA AI Mastering

Target Loudness (LUFS)

LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) is the industry standard for measuring perceived loudness:

• -14 LUFS: Streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube) - prevents loudness normalization
• -16 LUFS: Broadcast TV/Radio standard - more conservative, better dynamics
• -12 LUFS: Electronic/Dance music - louder, more aggressive for club systems
• -10 LUFS: Maximum competitive loudness - may sacrifice dynamics

Processing Style

• Transparent: Minimal coloration, preserves original character, gentle 2:1 ratios
• Warm: Adds harmonic content, tape saturation, tube-style enhancement
• Punchy: Aggressive compression, emphasizes transients, modern sound
• Vintage: Classic analog emulation, gentle curves, musical distortion

Peak Limit

• -0.1 dB: Maximum loudness, risk of inter-sample peaks on some systems
• -0.3 dB: Good balance of loudness and safety
• -1.0 dB: Conservative, ensures no clipping on all playback systems

Frequency Band Corrections

• Low Shelf (80Hz): Boosts bass energy when track lacks low-end weight
• High Pass (30Hz): Removes sub-sonic rumble that wastes headroom
• Low Mid (150-250Hz): Controls muddiness, adds punch when needed
• Mid Clarity (1kHz): Enhances vocal and instrument presence
• Presence (2.5kHz): Adds definition and clarity to mix
• High Shelf (8kHz+): Adds air and sparkle to dull recordings
• Air Band (15kHz): Extends high-frequency content for openness

Why These Changes?

The AI analyzes your audio's spectral balance and identifies frequency imbalances. Unlike mixing EQ, mastering EQ makes subtle broad corrections to enhance the overall tonal balance without changing the mix's character.

Frequency Band Processing

• Sub Band (20-80Hz): Controls low-end buildup, prevents bass masking
• Low Band (80-350Hz): Manages bass punch, prevents muddiness
• Mid Band (350-3.5kHz): Controls vocal and instrument dynamics
• High Band (3.5kHz+): Manages brightness, prevents harshness

Compression Parameters

• Ratio: How much compression is applied (2:1 = gentle, 4:1 = aggressive)
• Threshold: Level where compression starts (-18dB = earlier, -12dB = later)
• Attack: How quickly compression engages (fast = punchy, slow = natural)
• Release: How quickly compression stops (fast = pumping, slow = smooth)
• Makeup Gain: Compensates for level reduction from compression

Enhancement Types

• Tape Saturation: Emulates analog tape compression and warmth
• 2nd Harmonic: Adds even-order harmonics for musical warmth
• Tube Warmth: Simulates vacuum tube distortion characteristics
• Transient Punch: Enhances attack portions of sounds
• Harmonic Excitement: Adds high-frequency harmonics for presence

Style-Based Processing

• Warm/Vintage: Emphasis on tube and tape emulation for classic sound
• Punchy: Transient enhancement for modern, aggressive character
• Transparent: Minimal harmonic coloration, preserves original tone

Stereo Parameters

• Stereo Width: Controls how wide or narrow the stereo image appears
• Phase Correlation: Measures how in-phase left and right channels are
• Balance: Left/right channel level balance
• Mono Compatibility: How well the track translates to mono playback

Processing Actions

• Width Adjustment: Narrow width increases focus, wide width creates spaciousness
• Phase Correction: Fixes phase issues that cause mono cancellation
• Mid/Side Processing: Separately processes center and side information
• Center Focus: Enhances mono content while preserving stereo width

Limiting Parameters

• Makeup Gain: Calculated gain to reach target LUFS while maintaining dynamics
• Peak Limiter: Prevents digital clipping at the specified ceiling
• Lookahead: Allows limiter to "see" upcoming peaks for smoother control
• Release Time: How quickly limiting stops after peak passes
• ISP (Intelligent Spectral Processing): Frequency-conscious limiting

Why Intelligent Limiting?

Unlike basic limiting, intelligent limiting analyzes frequency content and applies limiting more musically, preserving transients and avoiding the "squashed" sound of over-limiting.

Final Measurements

• Final LUFS: Integrated loudness measurement of processed audio
• Dynamic Range: Remaining dynamics after processing (higher = more natural)
• True Peak: Actual peak level including inter-sample peaks
• Processing Quality: Overall assessment of mastering success

Quality Indicators

• LUFS Target Met: Within ±0.5 LUFS of target
• Dynamic Range Preserved: At least 6dB DR for musical content
• Peak Safety: No overs, proper headroom maintained
• Frequency Balance: No excessive frequency emphasis

Understanding Audio Measurements

• RMS (Root Mean Square): Average level over time, represents perceived loudness
• Peak Level: Maximum instantaneous level, important for preventing clipping
• Crest Factor: Ratio of peak to RMS, indicates dynamic content
• Spectral Centroid: "Brightness" measurement - frequency center of mass
• Spectral Rolloff: Frequency where 85% of energy is contained below

Professional Standards

• EBU R128: European broadcasting loudness standard
• ITU-R BS.1770: International loudness measurement standard
• AES Recommended Practice: Digital audio peak measurement
• Streaming Normalization: How platforms adjust your audio automatically

Why does my master sound different?

Mastering applies compression, EQ, and limiting that changes the tonal balance and dynamics. This is normal and intended to optimize your track for various playback systems.

Should I always use the loudest setting?

No. Louder isn't always better. Streaming platforms normalize loudness anyway, so targeting their standards (-14 LUFS) often sounds better and preserves more dynamics.

What if I don't like the processing?

Try different processing styles (Transparent for minimal processing, Warm for analog character, Punchy for modern sound). You can always download the original if you prefer it unprocessed.

Is this really professional mastering?

This provides professional-grade processing algorithms, but human mastering engineers offer subjective judgment, custom equipment, and experience that AI cannot fully replicate. Use this as a professional starting point.