Mastering

When mastering helps

Mastering will not fix mix issues buried in stems, but it helps a solid mix translate on headphones, car systems and club PA. It is worth it if you:

• Send a single or EP to a distributor
• Want several songs to feel like one release
• Need explicit loudness targets for playlists
• Want instrumental or clean edits beside the album master

Only a demo for friends? Mastering is optional. Unsure between mix touch-up and master, email [email protected] with a short note.

What we do technically

We work on calibrated monitors in a treated room within the building’s 3 studio spaces. The chain blends digital precision and analogue colour where it serves the song — no single preset per genre, but measurable control.

Typical steps:

1. Spectral balance and mid/side-aware corrections
2. Multiband dynamics only where the mix asks for it
3. Limiting and true-peak control for streaming
4. Dither on 16-bit exports
5. Album sequencing: gaps and level between tracks

We do not master from lossy MP3 unless that is the only source; then we discuss limits upfront.

Delivering your mix

Supply one stereo file per song without a master-bus limiter squashing dynamics. Export at the project sample rate (48 kHz is common). Send exact title, version (radio edit / album) and ISRC later to your distributor — we encode metadata in filenames, not embedded rights.

For albums: send track order and crossfade notes. More on rights and formats at release is in release formats and rights.

Revisions and feedback

2 revision rounds are included per track or album package. One round means one bundled list of tweaks (e.g. slightly less sibilance at 2:10, half an LU quieter). Scatter emails in between do not count as separate rounds.

If the mix still has fundamental issues after mastering, we suggest returning to mixing — outside the master fee. Extra rounds beyond the rules are quoted per hour or per track before we continue.

Turnaround

Single tracks: usually 2 to five business days after complete delivery. Albums up to twelve songs: plan a week, longer around holidays. Rush is sometimes available for a surcharge when the calendar allows — ask via contact.

We work during Wednesday–Friday 10:00–20:00, Saturday 11:00–16:00. Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.; uploads and notes can arrive outside those hours, but review happens on business days. You get a message when masters are ready; consumers pay before download, business clients 14 days from invoice date.

Pricing and VAT

Mastering is billed per track or as an album:

• Single track: €72
• Album up to 12 tracks: €545

The album rate applies when you deliver up to twelve songs from one project in one order; songs beyond twelve bill at the single-track rate. All amounts include 21% VAT. Album packages require a 30% deposit; single tracks are prepaid or paid on delivery as agreed.

Not included

The master fee excludes remixing, stem repair, vocal tuning and DDP for CD pressing unless booked separately. Vinyl mastering needs extra talk about length and HF limits. Streaming video or podcast loudness falls under voice-over or separate project deals.

Distributor signup, artwork and marketing stay with you. Legal notice and disclaimer cover liability; upload privacy is in privacy policy.

After mastering: release

Your distributor usually wants 16-bit WAV, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, sometimes FLAC. We deliver what your platform spec asks if you share it. Remember normalize-by-platform: we master deliberately, but Spotify and others still apply gain — see our guide for detail.

Recording live material for the next single? Pair with live ensemble recording or vocal recording. General questions: FAQ or guides.

Included

• Critical listening and master on nearfield monitors
• Streaming-suitable loudness and true-peak check
• 16-bit and 24-bit WAV export per track
• Up to 2 revision rounds in scope
• Album sequencing and gaps between songs
• File storage 24 months
• Short QC note when the mix shows anomalies