"Mastering" is the final step in the music production process, where a track is polished and prepared for distribution. This involves adjusting the overall sound, ensuring that it is balanced and cohesive. The goal is to make the music sound its best on various playback systems, from headphones to large speakers. During mastering, audio engineers use specialized tools to enhance the track's clarity and loudness. They may also apply equalization and compression to improve the overall quality. Ultimately, mastering ensures that the music, whether by artist or band, is ready for listeners to enjoy in the best possible way.