Many engineers prefer to have their mastering studios away from the recording gear so that they can take a fresh approach to the CD put into their care. This is good for the recording artist, because it allows them to work with multiple people and receive a variety of ideas for the final sound. Another good reason for keeping the mastering gear separate from the recording studio is because many times the equipment used in mastering will interfere with the acoustics required for recording.

A higher end CD mastering studio will have either digital or analog equipment depending on the skills and tastes of the engineer. Some studios will have both. This equipment may include large consoles and monitors. A quality studio will be arranged so that the engineer can hear every single detail of a recording.

Each type of gear has its ups and downs, but both can be used by skilled professionals to create a great final master. Analog equipment has been around for many years and creates the natural, soft sounds that we remember from the time that records began to be obsolete. In the 90's, though, the digital format began its fast foray of the mastering world due to the ease of adjustment and background noise elimination that this newer format provides.

Regardless of what kind of gear is present, one rule stands firm: a qualified professional will be able to come up with a quality final master. A good digital mastering studio is just an added bonus.