Client Ref

Short for Client Reference. In the mastering process, and before mass production occurs, a reference is made for the client to approve. Back in the days of vinyl, the Client Ref would have been delivered in the form of an acetate record, but today is more likely to come in the form of a CDR. The idea is for the client to take this reference CD and listen to it in an environment that they’re accustom to, note desired changes and relay that information back to the mastering engineer.