← Mixing Fundamentals
📈 Headroom & Pre-Master
Leave room above your loudest peak so the mastering stage has space to work.
Pre-Master Headroom
-6.0 dBFS
Target: peaks around -6 dBFS · Healthy headroom for mastering
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What is Headroom?
Headroom is the gap between the loudest peak in your mix and the digital ceiling (0 dBFS). Mastering needs that gap to do its job.
- Aim for peaks around -6 dBFS on the master before you bounce a mix for mastering.
- RMS / loudness should sit comfortably below — usually -14 to -10 LUFS pre-master.
- If your mix already touches 0 dBFS, mastering can't make it louder without distortion.
- Watch the headroom meter — it tells you how much space the master has left.
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