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.
What Is Stem Mastering?: Stem mastering is the process of level balancing and editing multiple consolidated groups of instruments during the mastering process. It allows the engineer to get much deeper into a mix, and has the possibility to allow for more control over the final master. Read more about stem mastering
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.