How to Master in GarageBand
Published · updated · by Loopin
GarageBand doesn't have a dedicated "mastering" button, but its built-in Compressor and Limiter plugins on the master track give you what you need to get a finished mix to a genuinely competitive streaming loudness.
Start with a mix that has real headroom
Before mastering, confirm your mix isn't already clipping or riding right at 0 dBFS — peaks comfortably below that, ideally around −6 to −3 dBFS on the loudest section, give the mastering stage room to actually work rather than fighting an already-maxed-out signal.
If your mix is already too hot, pull back individual track levels before proceeding — mastering can't create headroom that doesn't exist in the source.
Add a Compressor to the master track
Insert GarageBand's Compressor plugin on the master track and apply a moderate setting — enough to even out dynamics and add some density, without squashing the mix flat. This is doing the work a dedicated mastering compressor would, just with a more general-purpose tool.
Listen for the point where the mix feels more consistent and controlled without losing its natural energy and movement between quiet and loud sections.
Add a Limiter after the compressor
Insert GarageBand's Limiter plugin after the compressor in the chain, and use it to bring up the overall loudness while keeping peaks from clipping. This is the stage doing the actual loudness-raising work, similar to a dedicated mastering limiter elsewhere.
Watch the output level meter carefully — you're aiming for confident loudness without visible clipping or distortion warnings.
Check your result against a reference, since GarageBand won't show LUFS
GarageBand's metering doesn't display integrated LUFS directly, so compare your result against a professionally released reference track in a similar style, level-matched, to judge whether you're in a reasonable competitive loudness range.
This is an approximate approach rather than a precise loudness target — for exact −14 LUFS targeting, exporting from GarageBand and running the result through a dedicated mastering tool afterward gets you genuine precision.
Export at the highest available quality
Once you're satisfied with the compression and limiting settings, export at the highest quality audio format GarageBand offers — this is your final master, or your source file for further precise mastering elsewhere if you're taking that additional step.
Double-check the exported file plays back correctly and matches what you heard within the app before considering the process complete.
Frequently asked questions
Does GarageBand have a dedicated mastering feature?
Not a single dedicated feature, but its built-in Compressor and Limiter plugins applied to the master track let you achieve a genuine mastering pass -- evening out dynamics and bringing up loudness, similar to what a dedicated mastering chain does.
Can I see LUFS readings while mastering in GarageBand?
No, GarageBand's metering doesn't display integrated LUFS directly. Compare your result against a level-matched reference track for an approximate loudness check, or use a dedicated mastering tool afterward for precise targeting.
What order should I apply Compressor and Limiter in GarageBand for mastering?
Compressor first to even out dynamics and add density, then Limiter after it to bring up overall loudness while preventing clipping. This order mirrors how a dedicated mastering chain is typically structured.