Mastering is the crucial final stage of audio production that takes a finished stereo mix and prepares it for distribution across various platforms, ensuring it sounds its best on any playback system. This process involves a combination of technical adjustments and artistic choices, aiming to optimize loudness, clarity, and overall sonic quality while creating consistency across an album or EP. Mastering engineers use tools like equalization, compression, limiting, and stereo enhancement, often informed by industry standards and the specific requirements of different playback mediums, to deliver a polished and professional sound that resonates with listeners.