Benn Jordan’s video “AI Mastering Is Stupid” presented a large‑scale blind test comparing AI‑driven mastering services to professional human mastering engineers. In 2024, Jordan – an electronic music producer and YouTuber also known as The Flashbulb – set out to determine whether algorithmic mastering tools could compete with the nuanced touch of human experts. He … Read more
Why Mastering Needed an AI Revolution Mastering used to be the dark art reserved for golden‑eared engineers in multi‑million‑dollar rooms. Then came automated services like LANDR, eMastered, and modern advanced AI solutions such as our own Valkyrie AI Mastering by Beats To Rap On. Curious how these neural tricks will evolve? AI Audio Mastering: What’s Next? … Read more
Contributors Author Prof. Josh Reiss, PhD – Professor of Audio Engineering at Queen Mary University of London, AES Fellow, and co‑author of the textbook Intelligent Music Production. Peer Reviewer Emily Lazar – Grammy‑winning mastering engineer & founder of The Lodge; first woman to win the Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non‑Classical for Beck’s Colors (2019). Want to hear the difference for yourself? Upload a … Read more
LUFS – Loudness Units relative to Full Scale – is the modern audio loudness standard that measures perceived loudness in a way that reflects human hearing. Unlike traditional decibel measures that focus on peaks or raw signal levels, LUFS tells us how loud audio feels to the listener. This comprehensive guide will explain what LUFS … Read more
Need a master that lands bang‑on Spotify’s loudness target? Upload your mix to our free Valkyrie AI Mastering engine and it will deliver a –14 LUFS, –1 dBTP file in seconds—exactly what Spotify expects in 2025. Spotify uses loudness normalization to play tracks at a consistent -14 dB LUFS (integrated) reference level support.spotify.com. In 2025, this target remains unchanged, aligning … Read more
Alright, let’s kick in the door. Because if you’re looking for a measured, Wikipedia-safe treatise on “what defines hip-hop,” just close this tab now and go Google “Grandmaster Flash facts” with the rest of the tourists. But if you want to know why hip-hop feels less like a genre and more like a contagion—infectious, unruly, … Read more
Introduction The human experience is saturated with music, yet within this vast auditory landscape, certain moments possess an uncanny power. A short melodic phrase, a unique rhythmic pattern, or a single lyrical line can detach from its parent song, embed itself in the collective consciousness, and propagate through cultures with the speed and tenacity of … Read more
Drop the metronome into any amateur rap session and you’ll witness the same ritual play out: a head nod, a half-formed bar, then that inevitable “Yo, what BPM is this?” shouts somebody from the back couch. They know the number matters—but they rarely know why. Beats per minute aren’t just math; they’re mood, muscle memory, … Read more
This guide breaks freestyle down into trainable building blocks—breath, rhythm, word-play, flow state, storytelling, punchlines, and relentless self-feedback—so anyone can level up from bathroom-mirror rookie to cypher assassin. TL;DR—What You’ll Learn in 3 Minutes Stage What You Master Quick Drill Highlight Part I – Biological Engine Diaphragmatic power & beat-locked timing Diaphragmatic Resonance + Cerebellar … Read more
The air is electric. Two MCs stand face-to-face, barely a breath apart, each word dripping with venom and virtuosity. A circle of spectators tightens around them, smartphones aloft, ready to capture victory or defeat. This isn’t just music – it’s verbal combat, a gladiator sport with rhymes for swords. How do you win a rap … Read more