The 8 Best Tools To Master Your Beats Easily
The process of mastering keeps evolving, and in 2025 it's more accessible — and more misunderstood — than ever. With streaming-first loudness targets, AI-powered mastering assistants, and tools that can now tweak stems inside a stereo file, the craft is shifting from just “making things louder” to helping your music translate everywhere. The goal isn't to chase volume anymore — it’s to sound right on earbuds, in cars, on club systems, and on streaming platforms that normalize your levels anyway. You still get the best results when you start with a great mix, but the tools available today give bedroom producers a level of control that used to be reserved for high-end studios. Whether you want a quick AI-assisted master, or you prefer to shape every compression curve and EQ move yourself, modern software can help you finish tracks with confidence. Below is a curated list of tools that will genuinely make your masters better — from all-in-one suites to subtle sweeteners that help your mix shine without overthinking it.
1. Ozone 12 | iZotope
If you want to get a single plugin to make your masters better, this is still the one. Ozone 12 is a powerful, all-in-one mastering suite that harnesses advanced AI to analyze your mix and suggest a complete chain tailored to your track’s balance, genre, and loudness goals. The new version takes everything that made Ozone 11 great and pushes it further — with smarter processing, a refined workflow, and new modules designed for modern production.
The biggest additions are Stem EQ, Bass Control, and Unlimiter. Stem EQ lets you surgically shape vocals, drums, or bass even in a stereo file — ideal if your mix isn’t fully separated. Bass Control focuses on low-end clarity, helping you get a tight, consistent bottom without the guesswork. And Unlimiter uses machine learning to restore dynamics and detail in over-compressed tracks, giving you a more open, natural master. Add to that a refreshed Master Assistant that now lets you set LUFS targets and genre-based goals, and the new IRC 5 Maximizer algorithm for cleaner loudness — and you’ve got a serious upgrade for anyone mastering at home.
Ozone 12 remains the ultimate mastering solution if you want pro results without leaving your DAW. Start with the Master Assistant for a solid baseline, then tweak modules to your taste — or let the AI do its thing. Either way, it’ll make your mixes sound cohesive, competitive, and ready for streaming. I strongly recommend it.
Download Ozone 12 here
2. Pro-MB | FabFilter
If you don’t want to let your masters in the hands of AI, it would be a good idea to learn how to use multiband compression. This essential tool can help you address the issues in a mix and apply some compression right where it hurts, without affecting the whole spectrum of frequencies.
There are many multiband compressors out there, but none deliver the quality and the versatility of Pro-MB by FabFilter. A lot of pro plugins can quickly become confusing, but FabFilter knows how to make a VST that’s a joy to use. No wonder their tools are all over your favorite producers tracks!
Pro-MB might be the most essential for great “handmade” masters, and learning how to harness the dark arts of compression can change the way you think about sound, and maybe even the way you create music.
From there, you can also take a look at Pro-Q 3, the industry-leading EQ, or Pro-L 2, their take on the almighty limiter.
If you can’t choose and you like to save money while the getting’s good, just pick the FabFilter Mastering Bundle. You won’t regret it.
Get Pro-MB here
Check out the FabFilter Mastering Bundle here
3. Loudness Penalty | MeterPlugs
Have you ever wondered how loud is too loud? I certainly ask myself that question constantly when I’m fiddling with the controls of a limiter or when I’m trying to master a track.
Limiting a track too much will create all sorts of problems, but at the same time, there’s nothing worse than listening to one of your tracks and having it sound much quieter and less dynamic than the other beats out there. That’s where Loudness Penalty comes in.
Loudness Penalty by MeterPlugs lets you know how much streaming platforms will drop the volume of your track when you upload them. So if you squash a master aimed at Spotify, just to have it dropped -10 db, you might want to reconsider some of your mastering decisions. Instead, make it a little more dynamic and fix elements in your mix that might get it penalized by the algorithms of the streaming companies.
Loudness Penalty is a simple little tool that will help you avoid a whole lot of overthinking.
Download Loudness Penalty here
4. Studer A800 Tape Recorder | Universal Audio
If you’ve ever been stuck at a party having to listen to an audio engineer yammer on about the superiority of analog vs digital, you probably know one thing: the complex analog textures of tape are no match to our soulless world of computerized music and processed sounds.
And while there is some truth to that, it’s also to be noted that a lot of what makes analog special has in fact been modeled and is now accessible to us music-making androids. And if you want a good emulation of a tape machine, look no further than the Studer A800 by Universal Audio.
Inspired by a legendary machine, this authorized recreation brings all the harmonic saturation you’d get from the cumbersome piece of gear, at a fraction of the price.
I would never recommend making music with mastering on the master bus before the final stages of finishing a track, but a tape plugin is the exception. If used subtly, I find that a bit of tape can bring a lot of joy in all the stages of music making, so slap one on your default session template, why don’t ya!
Download Studer A800 here
5. Drawmer S73 | Softube
If you’ve used Softube plugins, you know the company is up there when it comes to the recreation of analog tools, from vintage synths to hardware compressors and EQs.
The Volume 6 Collection is as good a starting point as any if you want to branch out of the native VSTs that come with your DAW.
Of course, Softube offers a few options for mastering tools as well. The Weiss Collection, inspired by legendary processors, literally takes the port code of the digital hardware line by line and recreates it virtually.
But the Softube tool that I use on every single one of my masters (as well as some mix buses, if we’re being honest…) is the Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor. Based on a three band FET stereo compressor from the 70s, this thing lets you switch easily between mastering techniques to find the one that suits your needs.
It really makes it super fun and easy to find the sweet spot with its user-friendly interface. You just put it on something, and it instantly sounds much better. Works like magic.
Download Drawmer S73 here
6. Oxford Limiter V4 | Sonnox
If you’re a newbie, you might be confused by all the compressors and limiters out there. There are many options, and it’s hard to hear the difference between one tool to the next sometimes.
Basically, a mastering limiter should help you get a satisfying feeling of loudness without squashing your whole track, or make your mix sound too different.
Oxford makes great tools with the industry standards in mind. Their Oxford Limiter V4 is no different. This peak limiter promises to deliver the density and presence of your mix, while retaining the transient detail and the clarity that brick-wall limiting just can’t give you. Take that brick-wall limiting. We won’t warn you a second time!
If you’re reading that and your eyes are glazing over because that’s nerdy stuff you don’t really care about, you’ll be happy to learn that Oxford Limiter comes loaded with useful presets you’ll be able to cycle through until your beat rips the skin of your face clean off.
Download Oxford Limiter V4 here
7. REFERENCE 2 | Mastering The Mix
You might think you need a whole bunch of fancy gear and plugins to get better at mastering, but if I’m being honest, the thing that helped me improve the most lately has probably been referencing my masters.
What’s referencing? We’ll, that’s just a fancy word that means comparing your tracks to the tracks of the rich and famous. They say “Compare and despair,” well, when you make music, despair and overall jealousy might be just the incentive you need to kick yourself in the butt and take the leap towards excellency.
I used to play a track on YouTube and pause it, and then play my beat and try to compare it. It gets approximative results, but if you want to reference your music properly, a tool like Reference 2 can make a big difference. When I started doing this, I started mixing and mastering in completely different ways, and I stopped overthinking everything because I could hear the difference between a professional master and my own music. It jumps at you, and you can’t unhear it afterwards.
Reference 2 lets you load up to 12 reference tracks right in your DAW, you can loop relevant parts, match the loudness, and even use visual tools to get the low-down on the what’s what.
If you're the type of person who makes 1 dB adjustments on elements of a track for months before you release it, you need to start referencing. Compare yourself to the music of your idols, it’s like learning from the best.
If you like this one, check out Mastering The Mix’s Complete Collection for a good deal on their innovative tools, including BASSROOM that helps you tighten up your low end.
Download REFERENCE 2 here
8. LANDR Mastering Plugin
If you’ve ever used LANDR’s online mastering service, you’ll know it’s all about speed and accessibility — drag, drop, and done. The LANDR Mastering Plugin brings that same instant polish directly into your DAW, letting you apply the company’s AI mastering algorithms without ever leaving your session. It’s designed for producers who want to keep momentum, offering quick turnaround results that still sound balanced, dynamic, and release-ready.
Unlike most mastering plugins, LANDR doesn’t overload you with knobs or menus. You simply choose a target profile (like Warm, Balanced, or Open), and the AI adapts its processing to your track’s genre and tonal characteristics. Under the hood, it automatically applies EQ, compression, limiting, and stereo enhancement — all fine-tuned through machine learning trained on thousands of professionally mastered songs. You can A/B your mix in seconds and tweak intensity to taste.
The result is a plugin that feels effortless yet powerful — ideal for beatmakers, indie producers, or anyone who wants consistent masters without diving deep into technicalities. It’s not meant to replace the precision of tools like Ozone 12, but it’s a great option for quick, great-sounding results when inspiration strikes and you just want to finish a track.
Download LANDR Mastering Plugin here
The Changing Landscape of Mastering in 2025
In 2025, mastering is shifting from being purely about loudness and polish to becoming a smarter, more intentional process—especially for bedroom producers working in home studios. AI-assisted mastering tools like Ozone 12 and LANDR now let you choose target loudness levels, define genre templates, and even adjust stems directly from a stereo mix. At the same time, streaming platforms have standardized loudness normalization, meaning it’s no longer about making the loudest track—it’s about making one that translates well everywhere. For bedroom producers, that’s huge: you can now create professional-level masters entirely in the box, with tools that analyze your mix and adapt their processing to fit the sound you’re going for.
Another major trend is the rise of stem-based mastering and mobile playback optimization. The goal isn’t just to make your music sound good on studio monitors—it’s to make it sound consistent across earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, and car stereos. Modern mastering plugins are introducing modules focused on bass control, stem EQ, dynamic restoration, and spatial clarity rather than just limiting and brick-wall compression. For home producers, that means mastering has become less about chasing volume and more about ensuring your music feels balanced, dynamic, and alive no matter where it’s played.
Thanks for reading this post. If you’re tired of reading about mastering software, get yourself a synth VST. You deserve it!
All products featured in this post are independently selected by myself. However, when you buy something through my retail links, I may earn an affiliate commission.
Updated in October 2025