This page is an update for the old mastering info page, which was focused on Final Cut Pro/ Compressor workflows.
Mastering is the process of taking your color-corrected, high-quality picture locked sequence, combining it with your finished, mixed audio tracks, and outputting 'master' files from which you can generate broadcast, archival, web, or other formats.
Master File DP Specs:
Video: Uncompressed YUV 10 Bit, 1920 x 1080, 23.98/24/29.97 FPS
Audio: PCM/Uncompressed 16 or 24 bit stereo, 48 kHz
From this master file we can then produce Prores, h264, etc.
Bring your color-corrected final picture file into a new sequence timeline. Make sure the new sequence settings match the SPECIFICATIONS above.
Bring your mixed final audio files (AIFFs, probably) into the same sequence and make sure they are in sync from head to tail. (Check both ends of the movie to make sure that audio isn't running a little fast or a little slow.)
If all checks out, EXPORT MEDIA and set the output to match the SPECIFICATIONS above. Clicking 'Queue' (in Premiere) will launch Media Encoder and generate the master file.