From grimoire
Applies professional mastering chain to mixed tracks: broadband EQ, dynamic control, loudness targeting to streaming LUFS standards, stereo enhancement, and quality control for commercial release.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/grimoire:apply-audio-mastering-principlesThe summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
Prepare a mixed track for commercial release by applying broadband EQ, dynamic control, loudness targeting to streaming platform standards, stereo enhancement, and quality control — ensuring the master translates across diverse playback systems.
Prepare a mixed track for commercial release by applying broadband EQ, dynamic control, loudness targeting to streaming platform standards, stereo enhancement, and quality control — ensuring the master translates across diverse playback systems.
Adopted by: The Audio Engineering Society (AES) publishes loudness normalization guidelines adopted by all major streaming platforms. Bob Katz's "Mastering Audio" is the industry standard professional reference used in recording programs worldwide. Mastering engineers (Bob Ludwig, Emily Lazar, Dave Collins) work from professional chains of processing that follow the same fundamental sequence described here. The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and streaming platforms all have specific technical specifications for delivered masters. Impact: A poorly mastered track sounds inconsistent across playback systems — too quiet on a streaming playlist, harsh on earbuds, muddy on a car stereo. Streaming platform loudness normalization (Spotify normalizes to -14 LUFS; Apple Music to -16 LUFS) means that over-compressed, hyper-loud masters are turned down to match — retaining only the distortion artifacts of over-limiting without the competitive loudness benefit that motivated the compression. Understanding the current streaming standards changes mastering strategy fundamentally.
Before adding any processing:
Standard mastering chain order (each element is addressed in steps 2–5):
Mastering EQ is corrective and broadband — not detailed surgical editing (that's the mix stage):
Mastering EQ moves should be small (0.5–2 dB in most cases). If large moves are needed, the mix needs to be corrected before mastering.
The goal is the loudest, most dynamic master that meets the platform's normalization target — not the loudest possible:
Strategy for streaming:
Limiter settings:
Measure loudness with an integrated LUFS meter (iZotope RX, Youlean Loudness Meter, or built-in DAW meter) — peak meters do not measure perceived loudness.
Stereo width check:
Mid-side processing (optional):
Before delivery:
File format for delivery:
npx claudepluginhub jeffreytse/grimoire --plugin grimoireProfessional mastering methodology for audio engineering. Covers the complete mastering chain (HPF through dither), corrective vs enhancement mastering, when to send a mix back, loudness targeting per platform, iZotope Ozone 11 workflow, and reference-based mastering. Use this skill whenever the user wants to master a mix, prepare audio for distribution, target a specific loudness standard, compare against a reference track, decide whether a mix needs more work or is ready for mastering, deliver for streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube), CD, or vinyl, or make any mastering decision. Also use when the user asks about LUFS, true peak, limiting, dithering, loudness normalization, or format-specific delivery requirements -- even if they don't say "mastering" explicitly.
Guides audio mastering for streaming platforms with loudness optimization, tonal balance, and platform-specific targets. Analyzes WAV files and applies mastering settings.
Applies EQ to audio tracks using subtractive-first approach to reduce frequency masking and shape tone. Based on professional mixing techniques.