Here’s a transparent, practical mastering chain you can run entirely in GarageBand, with exact plugin-order and suggested settings so your masters sound loud, punchy, and radio-ready.
Goal: target ≈ -10 LUFS integrated (radio-friendly), True Peak ≤ -0.3 dBFS, preserve dynamics and avoid distortion.
Quick preparation
- Mix headroom: Bounce or export your final mix with at least -6 dB FS peak headroom (don’t master a mix that’s already peaking at 0 dB). Export as WAV/AIFF 24-bit, 44.1 kHz (or 48 kHz if requested by broadcaster).
- New project for mastering: Open a fresh GarageBand project, import the stereo mix on a single track, enable the Master Track (Track → Show Master Track). You’ll put the chain on the master.
Mastering chain (top → bottom = first processed → last processed)
Apply plugins in this order on the Master Track:
- LUFS & Metering (insert) — use a LUFS meter AU
- GarageBand lacks native LUFS metering. Install a free AU like Youlean Loudness Meter and place it at the top of the chain so you can watch Integrated LUFS and True Peak while you work.
- Target: Integrated ≈ -10 LUFS, Momentary/Short as needed to check dynamics. True Peak ≤ -0.3 dBFS.
- High-pass filter / Sub rumble clean (Channel EQ)
- Low-cut around 20–40 Hz (slope 12dB/oct). For most mixes set ~30 Hz.
- Rationale: removes inaudible rumble that eats headroom.
- Corrective/Subtractive EQ (Channel EQ)
- Sweep for mud (often 200–400 Hz) and reduce narrow bands by -1 to -4 dB as needed.
- Tame harshness around 2.5–5 kHz with narrow Q cuts if something bites.
- Add a gentle high-shelf +1 to +2 dB at 8–12 kHz if it needs air.
- Bus-style compression (Compressor)
- Use GarageBand’s Compressor set for Studio or Smooth then tweak:
- Ratio: 1.5:1 – 2.5:1
- Attack: 10–30 ms (lets transients breathe)
- Release: 0.2–0.6 s (or auto)
- Makeup: apply so gain reduction averages ~1–3 dB on peaks.
- Purpose: glue the mix without squashing it.
- Saturation / Harmonic Exciter (optional — subtle)
- Use a light Overdrive / Amp or Tape-style plugin. Set very low drive so it adds warmth (think +1–2 dB of perceived loudness, not distortion).
- Tip: Less is more — use this for character, not grit.
- Stereo width / low-end stereo control
- Keep sub frequencies mono. If you can’t split bands, use Channel EQ to narrow stereo content below ~120–150 Hz (attenuate stereo energy or apply mono EQ to lows).
- If GarageBand has a Stereo Spread/Imager, use it lightly on upper mids/highs only (avoid widening bass).
- Final limiter (Limiter / Peak Limiter)
- Output ceiling: -0.3 dBFS (safe for broadcast).
- Gain/Threshold: raise until you approach target LUFS but keep release smooth.
- Lookahead: on if available. Keep gain reduction typically under 6 dB for transparent loudness; if you must push harder, listen for pumping.
- Final LUFS check (Youlean)
- With limiter set, check Integrated LUFS. Adjust the limiter gain so Integrated ≈ -10 LUFS for radio. If you overshoot and the limiter is squashing too hard, back off 0.5–1 dB of input and recheck.
Final checks before export
- True Peak: confirm ≤ -0.3 dBFS.
- Mono check: fold to mono and listen for phase cancellation or major level loss.
- Reference listening: A/B with a commercial track in the same genre (same LUFS target) on several systems — phone, car, laptop, headphones.
- Dynamics: if the result feels lifeless, reduce limiter gain or back off compressor by 0.5–1 dB.
Bounce / Export
- Export: Share → Export Song to Disk → WAV (PCM), 24-bit, 44.1 kHz (or 48 kHz if requested).
- Include track metadata and UPC if delivering to radio/label.
Quick checklist (values)
- Mix export headroom: -6 dB FS peak
- Master target: Integrated ≈ -10 LUFS (radio)
- True Peak ceiling: -0.3 dBFS
- Bus comp: 1.5–2.5:1, attack 10–30ms, GR ≈ 1–3 dB
- Limiter ceiling: -0.3 dBFS, GR ideally ≤ 6 dB
- Low-cut: ~30 Hz
Do you want to
- write exact knob values you can paste into GarageBand’s Compressor and Limiter, or
- make a short checklist you can save on your phone for mastering sessions, or
- show how to install and use Youlean Loudness Meter step-by-step so you can read LUFS right inside GarageBand.