Remaster re-renders an older generation with the current model — same song, new engine. Think of it as a fresh coat of paint, not a renovation.
1. What it improves: mix clarity, vocal naturalness, fewer artifacts. A v3.5 song remastered to current tech usually sounds cleaner and more professional.
2. What it risks: the performance changes. The new render is NOT your old take — phrasing, feel, and happy accidents get re-rolled. If you LOVE the original's vibe, remastering can 'fix' the charm out of it.
3. When to remaster: old songs you like but that sound dated/muddy; demos you're about to release; anything where audio quality is the bottleneck.
4. When NOT to: songs where the original take has magic you can't describe; songs already on the current model (nothing to gain); songs you're mid-editing (remaster AFTER final edits, not before).
5. Always keep the original. Remaster creates a new version — don't delete the old one until you've lived with the new one for a day. A/B them fresh-eared.
Good luck! Hank founder of SonorixPG