Mastering is mostly used to refer to the practice of taking the audio blend and preparing the mix for distribution.  While performing this process, there are several things to consider like uniting the sound of the record, preserving consistency across the album and also organizing for distribution. 

Why mastering is essential for the record’s sound

The main aim of mastering the sound is to exactly mix balance problems and improve specific sonic characteristics, picking the good mix in the stereo file form and adding the final touches to it. The process can involve balancing levels and overall enhancing the mix. You need to think and find the difference between the professional-sounding completed matter and good sounding mix. 

The process can involve including broad equalization, including compression, limiting, etc.  It is mostly termed as premastering in the CD and LP replication world. However, it has been referred to as mastering for the sake of simplicity. 

How mastering imparts consistency across the album?

It is necessary to consider how the separate tracks function together when they are played consequently in the album sequence. Do you find the sound uniform? Are the levels of the sound match? Is there any common character in the collection and playback? Is the listener has to change the volume in the middle? 

What is the mastering process

The process is mainly included in the prior step along with an extra assessment of how each track sound in relation and in sequence to each other.    It does not mean that you can easily create one preset and utilize on all the tracks to get a consistent sound. The main goal will be to reunite the changes between tracks and at the same time maintain or enhance the appeal of each track. It is almost like developing different sets for different tracks.