As recording technology developed, new ways were found to capture sound. Magnetic recording was developed during the 1940s and with it came new possibilities for mastering audio. Although many people are unaware of it, equalizers and compressors were originally designed to maintain the integrity of the cutter head during the vinyl records process. These signal processors lit the first sparks for mastering audio when they began to be additionally utilized for enhancement of recorded sound. Ever since then, the mastering audio process has continually evolved.

During the early 1950s, tape recorders began to be widely used for a variety of sound recording applications. As a recording medium, tape offered amazing flexibility when editing recorded audio. Tape could be cut and spliced and this allowed editors to remove unwanted sections and rearrange the recording to sound more lively and entertaining. Recorded sound was further manipulated by using devices such as equalizers and filters. Tape also allowed longer recordings, so the mastering audio process began gaining more popularity because it could provide a consistent sound throughout the entire audio recording. Multi-track tape recorders were widely used for commercial recordings from the 1960s through the 1980s. Early recorders were limited to 4 tracks, and the tracks had to be “bounced” (compiled) to free up space for new tracks. The mixed tracks had to complement each other so that the overall sound remained clear. Once the tracks had been mixed down to stereo, they went on to the mastering audio stage where all the songs on the album were processed to have an overall consistency in volume and tonal quality. When the album had been mixed and mastered the master tape was sent to the manufacturing plant for mass-producing vinyl disks.

Cut to the 21st century: vinyl records are a rarity, CDs are often recorded using computer-based software environments, and the only track “bouncing” is done at the final mixing stage, oftentimes combining 24, 48 or even 128 tracks down to just two tracks for a stereo CD. However, the basic goals still apply; you’re mixing the sound to provide “space” for each individual instrument, and mastering audio to provide overall consistency to the album. The mastering audio process opens up the music by manipulating the sound and capturing aspects of the audio that may have been glossed over inadvertently during the mixing stage. Warmth is spread over a cold mix, clarity is inserted, and rhythm is enhanced by injecting more "punch" into the tracks, like the kick drum levels.