MASTER
Master finishes a recording: it helps the parts sit together, sets the overall loudness and catches peaks before they clip. Put it last in the chain so it works on the finished sound.
Controls
GLUE
- Range
- 0% to 100%
- Default
- 35%
Gently compresses the whole recording so voice and instrument feel more connected. Raise it for a denser sound, or lower it if the strums and phrases stop breathing.
TARGET
- Steps
- OFF · -18 · -16 · -14
- Default
- -16
Sets the overall loudness in LUFS, a measure of how loud the whole performance feels rather than its biggest peak. Choose a less negative setting for a louder finish, or OFF to leave loudness alone while GLUE and the limiter still work.
CEILING
- Range
- -3.0dB to -0.1dB
- Default
- -1.0dB
- Without Pro
- -1.0dB
Sets the maximum true peak, including peaks between the recorded samples that can clip when the sound is played back. Lower it to leave more room below clipping, especially for a file that will be encoded for streaming.
Start here
For a voice and instrument recording, start with GLUE at 35%, TARGET at -16 and CEILING at -1.0dB. Listen for the parts sitting together while the performance still breathes; lower GLUE if it feels flattened, or try TARGET at -18 for a quieter finish with less pressure on the limiter.
Questions
Will a louder master sound louder on streaming services?
With loudness normalization on, Spotify turns loud songs down and lifts quieter ones when their peaks leave room. Apple Music's Sound Check also evens out listening levels, so extra compression is not a reliable way to stand out. Choose the finish that keeps your performance alive.
Why does TARGET seem to do nothing?
Match Volume in Settings evens out playback loudness, so it can hide the level change from TARGET. Turn Match Volume off to hear that change; an export with the effects applied still uses Master's TARGET either way.
How do I compare my effects with the original recording?
Turn on Match Volume in Settings, then tap the on/off switch in the FX Chain header to hear the recording BYPASSED. The app brings the chain and its bypassed recording to a shared listening loudness, lowering that level if either needs more room for its peaks. Listen for tone, punch and movement rather than choosing whichever is louder; Match Volume only changes playback, not the recording or export.
Why does a higher TARGET flatten my recording?
Raising loudness pushes more peaks into the limiter, which holds them below CEILING. Try TARGET at -18 and GLUE at 20% if the strong notes lose their impact; a recording with very sharp peaks can still finish below the chosen LUFS target.