Techno and house mastering.
Club records live or die on the low end and the energy of the drop. I master techno, house and melodic techno for streaming, club systems and vinyl, from Berlin.
The details
Built for the club and the stream
A techno master has two jobs. It has to hit hard on a big club system, where the kick and bass carry everything, and it has to sound right on Spotify and headphones, where loudness gets normalized and harshness gets exposed. I master for both, so you don't have to choose.
What I listen for
- The kick and bass relationship, and mono compatibility in the low end
- Energy in breaks and drops without crushing the transients
- A clean, controlled top end for long club listening
- Consistency across an EP, so the tracks sit together in a DJ set
Credits in electronic music
My work is connected to releases with Afterlife, Anyma, Adriatique, Ben Böhmer, Kölsch, Mind Against, Monolink, Richie Hawtin, Royksopp, Rüfüs Du Sol, Solomun, Stephan Bodzin and Tale Of Us. See the full list.
Melodic techno
Melodic techno sits between club weight and emotional detail: long breakdowns, wide pads, lead lines that need room. Mastering it means keeping that width and depth while the low end stays solid underneath. More on the writing side in arranging melodic techno.
Questions
How loud should a techno master be?
There is no single number. A peak time track with a steady kick can carry more loudness than a melodic track with long breakdowns. I set the level so the track holds up in a DJ set and still punches after streaming platforms normalize it. More in this guide to LUFS.
Do I need a separate club master?
Sometimes. If the streaming master and the club version need very different loudness, two versions can be worth it. I'll tell you when it is.
Can you master a full EP so it flows in a DJ set?
Yes. EPs and albums are mastered as a set, with consistent loudness and tone from track to track.
Do you also mix techno and house?
Yes. Mixing in Berlin covers it.