AI Mastering vs Analog: Hornet’s $3.99 Online Service Goes Head-to-Head With My Pro Studio

Why I Tested Hornet’s $3.99 Online Mastering

I’ve always been picky with my mastering chain—my go-to is this beautifully tuned, analog-equipped studio. But I get it: not everyone has access to hardware, and online mastering keeps getting cheaper and more advanced. So when Hornet reached out with credits to try their brand-new AI mastering platform, I had to put it to the test—not just for the price, but to see how far automated mastering has come since my last review.

My Process: Real A/B, Honest Results

For this experiment, I uploaded my latest dance track as a finished mix, minus any limiting, keeping true peak at -5.9 dB for solid headroom. Hornet’s site let me preview four mastering styles—Vintage, Modern Analog, Modern Digital, and Contemporary Extreme—which all promise adaptive processing instead of static presets. Pricing is wild at $3.99/track—that’s both exciting and, honestly, a little scary for working engineers.

I played each version and instantly noticed some real differences. Both the Vintage and Modern Analog styles came through without clipping—important!—while the Digital and Extreme settings immediately felt a bit harsh and overcooked.

What AI Mastering Nails… and Where It Struggles

Here’s where Hornet caught my ear:

• Quick, free previews for each style, all matched for loudness.

• Tons of info: LUFS, true peak, and pro-level stats per upload.

• Modern Analog actually sounded pretty solid (at least on this track).

Where it struggled:

• The high-loudness, digital approaches clipped and got cloudy—especially in the drop.

• I wish I could select where to preview, not just at the breakdown.

• A little “haze” or loss of punch, likely from aggressive digital clippers.

Comparing the Hornet master in Pro Tools next to my own finished track, my hardware chain still had more punch, warmth, and clarity—especially in the bass and top-end transients. For me, those details are what make a master really feel pro, and I didn’t hear them from the AI option.

Would I Use Hornet—or Any AI Mastering?

If you need a quick, ultra-affordable finished master and you’re not super picky about sonic detail, Hornet’s Modern Analog can work in a pinch—way better than many earlier-generation AI tools. But if you care about transients, clarity, and the final polish your track deserves (especially for streaming or club play), I still recommend finding a human engineer who knows your genre and sound.

Nothing beats the control, experience, and hands-on tweaking I can do here with real hardware.

Want to Hear the Masters? Next Steps

Want to hear the A/B for yourself? The full track drops today December 14th—stream/download 'Take Our Time' track now!

Curious about clippers, AI vs. human mastering, or want me to test ANY mastering service you’re considering? Drop a comment or join my community for exclusive walkthroughs and resources!