Online Mastering FAQ

How does the mastering process work for me?

After purchasing the required services, you will receive access to our upload portal in the confirmation email. There, you will upload your mix audio files in WAV or AIFF format. Within five business days, you will receive a download link to the mastered files.
 

In what format and resolution should I export the mix audio files?

We accept WAV and AIFF audio files. The mix files should be exported at the highest resolution possible. Bitrate and sample frequency are best kept at the resolution in which the production was mixed (e.g., 44.1kHz/24bit, 48kHz/24bit, 96kHz/24bit). Upsampling for mastering does not make sense.
 

What should I consider when naming the files?

The mix audio files should contain all essential information such as the title, date, and version in their naming convention.
 

Can I provide the mastering engineer with information about my sonic preferences?

We appreciate it when there are specific sonic preferences and desires for a track. On the upload portal, a link to a stream (YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud) of a reference track can be provided. Additionally, ideas and preferences can be written directly into our checkout form.
 

How should stems be exported for a Dolby Atmos mix/master?

It's important that all stems have the exact same start and end point down to the sample level to ensure everything is properly aligned when creating the session. Naturally, individual stems may also contain longer passages of silence. Additionally, each stem's filename must include the corresponding song title and musical content (e.g., YourSong_Kick, YourSong_Bass, YourSong_Vocals).
To fully leverage the sonic potential of the Atmos version, it's advisable to export stems in very granular detail (Kick, Snare, Bass, Lead Vocals), almost like individual tracks from the mix session. These tracks must include all sonic processing such as EQ and compression, tuning. For effects like reverb or delays, it's best to export them as a shared stereo file for each respective subgroup (Drumreverb, VocalFX, KeysReverb). These effect stems should not contain dry audio signals.
 

What does album sequencing mean?

When mastering an entire album, the tracks are first arranged in the correct order, and the spacing between them is adjusted. In the next step, the individual titles are also adjusted to each other in terms of dynamics and frequency response in the desired sequence.