How to Master a Song in Ableton Live

Your mix is done and you want to master it yourself in Ableton Live. The effects that come with Live get you a long way. In this guide you build a simple mastering chain, export your track and then check for free whether your master is ready for Spotify.

What mastering does and doesn't do

Mastering is the last step before your release. You polish your track: a few small EQ moves, the loudness at the right level and making sure nothing distorts. It doesn't save a bad mix. If your vocal is too quiet or your 808 is booming over everything, fix that in your mix.

Before you start

• No clipping on your Main. If your mix already hits the red, turn down your tracks instead of just the Main.
• Check what's already on your Main. A limiter left over from mixing should be there on purpose, not by accident.
• Fresh ears. After hours on the same track you hear less. Better to master the next day.

Step 1: export your mix and put it in a new Set

You can work in your mix project, but it's cleaner to export your mix as a WAV first and drop it into an empty Set. That way you won't sneak back into your mix. Export without a limiter on your Main and without dither. How exporting works is in how to export a beat in Ableton Live.

Put your mastering chain on the track with your mix. Keep your Main volume at 0 dB or lower.

Step 2: pick a reference track

Put a song that sounds the way you want to sound on a second track, in the same genre. Play one of the two at a time and compare at the same volume. A louder track almost always sounds better, even when it isn't.

Step 3: small EQ moves with EQ Eight

Put EQ Eight on your mix track. According to Ableton, EQ Eight has up to eight filters, and with Analyze you see the spectrum of your sound behind the curves. On a master, keep your moves small:

• Does the whole thing sound muddy? Take out a little in the low mids.
• Sounds dull next to your reference? A small boost up top can help.
• Need a big boost or cut? Then the problem is probably in your mix.

Step 4: light compression with the Glue Compressor

This step is optional. According to Ableton, the Glue Compressor is mainly designed for the Main or a group, to make different sounds gel together. You set Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release. Not sure about the release? Set it to A. According to Ableton, the release then adjusts to your audio by itself.

Keep it subtle. If you hear the compressor pumping when that's not the idea, you're doing too much.

Step 5: mono low end with Utility

Also optional. According to Ableton, the Bass Mono switch in Utility makes the low frequencies mono. That helps avoid coloration in the low end when your track is played back in mono. You pick the cutoff yourself, between 50 and 500 Hz. With Bass Mono Audition you hear only the low end, which helps you set that cutoff.

Step 6: the Limiter goes last

The Limiter lets your track sound louder without the peaks going over the edge. Put it as the last effect. According to Ableton, anything after it can push your level back up.

1. Ceiling: according to Ableton, the absolute maximum the Limiter lets through. Set it just below 0 dB, for example at -1 dB.
2. True Peak: according to Ableton, this Ceiling Mode prevents peaks between samples. Handy, because Spotify recommends a true peak below -1 dBTP.
3. Input Gain: this pushes your signal into the Limiter. Turn it up slowly and listen to your kick and vocal. If your kick loses its punch or everything goes flat, back off a bit.
4. Lookahead: you choose 1.5, 3 or 6 milliseconds. According to Ableton, a short lookahead can add more distortion, especially on bass. Working with a heavy 808? Try a longer one.

Bypass the Limiter now and then and compare at the same volume. Does it just sound louder, or actually better?

Note: Ceiling Mode and True Peak come from the Live 12 manual. On an older version, your Limiter may look different.

Step 7: export your master

Open Export Audio/Video with Ctrl+Shift+R (Cmd+Shift+R on a Mac). Choose Main under Rendered Track and WAV under File Type. 24-bit is a safe choice for a master, but check what your distributor asks for. Exporting to 16-bit? Use dither now. This is your final export.

Step 8: check your master

Drag your WAV into the free Master Checker. Your audio isn't uploaded, the analysis runs in your browser. Among other things you see how loud your track is in LUFS and what your true peak is. Too high? Lower your Limiter's Ceiling and export again. How loud your master should be is in how many LUFS you need for Spotify.

Common mistakes

• Making everything as loud as possible. Spotify turns loud tracks down anyway. What's left is a flat master.
• Effects after the Limiter. They can push your peaks back over the edge.
• Your Main above 0 dB. Keep it at 0 dB or lower.
• Dithering twice. Only on your final export.
• Checking your MP3 instead of your WAV. Always measure the file you send to your distributor.

Working in FL Studio? Read how to master a song in FL Studio. In Logic Pro? Read how to master in Logic Pro. Want someone else to finish your track? Check out mixing and mastering.

FAQ

Can I master with only Ableton's effects?

Yes. EQ Eight, the Glue Compressor and the Limiter give you a complete basic chain. Which effects come with your version depends on your edition of Live. Check that with Ableton.

Where do I put the Limiter?

As the last effect, after your EQ and compression. Anything after it can push your level back up.

Does my master need to be exactly -14 LUFS?

No. Spotify gives -14 LUFS as a guideline and turns louder tracks down. Mastering louder is fine, as long as it doesn't distort.

Source: the Ableton Live 12 manual (Limiter, Glue Compressor, EQ Eight and Utility).