“Because I’d analyzed bus compression in Serban’s mixes, I could hear what the problem was and knew how to fix it. I applied the techniques I’d learned, and the compression improved the track, enhancing its movement. The result was a punchier track with a harder-hitting groove. Additionally, I could reduce the overall level reaching my limiter while still maintaining loudness.”

“Recently I worked on 'In Your Eyes' by The Weeknd, analyzing Dave Kutch's master. Kutch is more aggressive than most A-list mastering engineers. Where others might add 1dB here and there, Kutch really goes for it with 3-4dB boosts. That might not sound like much, but in the mastering world, it's substantial.”

“Going through these various options also dialled in the perfect colour and tone for the record using only limiters. This meant I needed minimal EQ to get the tonal balance right. The less EQ you can get away with, the better—less phase shift and less transient distortion.”