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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mastering?

In short mastering is the final preparation of a song or group of songs before they are released to the public. Check out our page on cd mastering services for a full description.

What Will My Songs Sound Like After They Are Mastered?

Every artist's songs will sound different, but check out our mastering samples in the right hand sidebar to hear actual before and after samples.

How Should I Prepare My Mix Before Mastering?

When preparing you mix for mastering you'll want to do a few things. First-off you want to make sure the highest peak-level is -3dB or less before exporting (bouncing) your mix; this ensures no transients are clipped and will give us some headroom to sculpt the master. Secondly you'll want to remove any pre-mastering processing from the master-bus, such as a limiter or stereo enhancer. The over-all volume should sound low; we'll raise it during the mastering process. Third you’ll want to make sure that you submit a high resolution .wav or .aif file. We can master mp3's, however you will get a better final product when mastering from a high resolution file. You can read more about preparing your mix for mastering.

How Can I Request A Sample Master?

The process for requesting a free sample master is easy. Simply register and upload your sample song. We'll master it and send you an email when the preview is available for download.

Do You Offer Discounts For Full Albums or EPs?

Yes. We offer discounted rates depending on the number of songs that are submitted. Please see our mastering rates page for more information.

Can You Master An MP3 or Video File?

Yes. We can master from an mp3 or video file, however we recommend using .wav or .aif files as the resolution is usually much better. If you only have access to mp3 or video versions we can still often achieve good results, but you will get a better final master using high quality .wav or .aif files.

How Long Will It Take Before My Song(s) Are Finished?

Our standard turnaround time is based on studio workload, but generally speaking you can expect to have your songs back within 5-7 business days. Express Services are available for projects under a strict deadline.

Can You Master For Vinyl?

Yes, be sure to let us know you plan on putting your record on vinyl as there are changes that need to be made in order to get the best quality.

What Is Album Sequencing?

Album sequencing involves putting a group of songs onto the final master cd, or master ddp file. During this process the engineer will add ISRC Information(if available), CD Text, as well as Album and Song Information. They will also set the spacing between songs and correct any final levels to make sure songs on an album flow together.


Sage Audio Membership

Make Pro Songs

Welcome to Sage Audio — where we’ve been providing top-tier studio mastering services and audio education for over two decades now. We understand the challenges of achieving that elusive "professional" sound and are committed to helping you attain it in your own mixes and masters.

That’s why we created the Sage Audio Membership™.

Just for signing up, you receive 10 free mastered songs per month with your own dedicated mastering engineer, unlimited mixing feedback, and access to Sage Audio University™ mixing and mastering courses - which include start-to-finish walkthrough sessions for various genres and 35 multitrack sessions for hands-on practice.

This platform is supported by our thriving community and tight-knit network of audio engineers. Every day, we see and hear great wins in the membership from both new and seasoned engineers, noticing a huge improvement in their mixes and masters after joining.

There are 6 unique value-points inside the Sage Audio membership, so let’s go over each one so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.

1. 10 Free Mastered Songs Per Month

2. Unlimited Mixing Feedback

3. Sage Audio University™ (SAU) — (Mixing and Mastering Education Platform)

4. Sage Audio Community

5. 700+ In-depth Sage Audio Mixing and Mastering Videos

6. 70+ GB of Curated Sage Audio Downloadable Content, Including:


Join the Membership with a 70% Lifetime Discount = $15 /month.

See you inside,
— Sage