HOW SHOULD I PREPARE MY MUSIC FOR MASTERING?

• Export your audio at the native bit rate and sample rate of your mix session.

• No peaks over 0 dB. Some headroom is ideal for safety.

• Send your files as WAV or AIFF. Not mp3 as this is a lossy format.

• Ensure to leave some silence at both ends of your mixes to avoid chopping off any starts or tails of songs.

• Remove your final limiter. Other creative mix bus processing (such as compression and EQ) can be left on. If you're unsure then send a copy of the mix with and without your mix bus processing. 

• Ensure your producer or mixer knows you're having your music mastered by me so they can send suitable files for mastering. If your mixer has been sending limited mixes for approval then please send me a copy of these too as a reference so I can hear what has been signed off. 

• Listen to your exported mixes before sending them. Glitches can occur that you may not hear in your DAW. This will help avoid delays to your music being mastered.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?

My rates can be found on my pricing page. I am committed to making high quality mastering accessible, if you are on a budget please don't hesistate to contact me and we can discuss a rate that works for everyone.

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WHAT IS YOUR TURNAROUND TIME?

I typically allocate 2-3 working days for singles and up to 7 working days for EPs and albums. Once your project is scheduled, I will confirm the specific turnaround date with you.

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HOW SOON IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK?

The sooner the better. I usually have a 1-2 week lead time on jobs but I can accept rush jobs at an additional cost depending on my current schedule.

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DO YOU OFFER MASTERING FOR VINYL?

I can provide masters that are optimised for vinyl. I'm also happy to speak directly with the cutting house/engineer that you are using or I can recommend one if you need.  If you have any questions about this service, please feel free to get in touch and we can discuss it further.

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If you plan to release your project on vinyl, it's often recommended to create a separate vinyl master. The method for achieving volume on a vinyl record differs from that of digital, and just using your digtal master for the vinyl cut can compromise the sound quality of your vinyl release.

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DO I NEED A DDP FILE?

A DDP file (Disc Description Protocol), is used for CD manufacturing. It includes your audio along with details such as the artist name, track titles, song gaps, crossfades, and ISRC and UPC codes. It also contains a checksum file to verify any errors. If you're making CD's make sure to confirm with your manufacturing plant whether they accept DDP files. It is the most reliable method for sending your masters to the plant.

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WHAT IS AN ISRC CODE?

ISRC codes are unique identifiers for your songs, commonly embedded into your WAV and DDP files. They can also be added when you upload your music to an online distributor for streaming, purchasing and distribution. To obtain ISRC codes, you can apply through the music governing body or organization in your country, such as PPL in the UK. If you are uploading your music via a distributor like Distrokid, Tunecore or CD Baby they will provide you with ISRC codes when you submit your songs and embed them into your files.

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WHAT ARE APPLE DIGITAL MASTERS?

Apple Digital Masters (formerly Mastered for iTunes) is a set of standards developed by Apple to ensure that masters sound their best after being encoded for the iTunes format. All of my masters can be prepared to meet Apple Digital Masters specifications which means that your music will be eligible for the Apple Digital Masters Badge when released on Apple Music.

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WHAT CAN A MASTERING ENGINEER DO FOR ME?

Artists, producers and mix engineers spend a long time crafting mixes, and during that period will hear the music over and over again. A mastering engineer approaches your music with fresh ears, much like your future audience will be; hearing it for the first time.

However, unlike your typical listener, a mastering engineer can offer several critical services; providing constructive feedback on your mix, fixing any issues, enhancing the overall sound quality, ensuring consistency across an album in terms of quality and style, and guaranteeing that your music sounds its best across all playback systems.

Once the mastering process is complete, the mastering engineer’s final task involves organising and supplying the correctly formatted files for distribution or duplication. Your mastered tracks will sound balanced, professional, well-organised, and will be delivered in the appropriate formats to fulfil all the requirements of your project.

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Mastering engineers don't just provide stereo processing for your music. It's quality control, creative collaboration and peace of mind. Most importantly, having an emotional reaction to your music and acting upon it.

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DO YOU OFFER MIXING?

I will take on mixing projects when I'm confident I can deliver what the artist is looking for. If I don't feel like i'm a good fit, I can recommend a number of skilled mixers who'd be a perfect match for your needs.​​

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HOW MUCH CAN I FIT ON A VINYL RECORD / CD / CASSETTE?
VINYL: 
You need to decide how many tracks you're going to have on each side.
Recommended timings per side:
7": 33 RPM / 6 mins || 45 RPM / 5 mins
8": 33 RPM / 7 mins || 45 RPM / 6 mins
10":  33 RPM / 13 mins || 45 RPM / 11 mins
12": 33 RPM / 18 mins || 45 RPM / 15 mins

There are frequency and dynamics limitations to what you can cut to vinyl (and the intensity of the music effects the amount of time) so it is a good idea to have dedicated vinyl masters made so that your record sounds good. If you can, send me a test pressing to check as well.
 
CASSETTE:
Similar to vinyl, you need to decide how many songs are going to be on each side.


C15: 15 mins in total, 7.5 mins per side
C30: 30 mins in total, 15 mins per side
C45: 45 mins in total, 22.5 mins per side
C60: 60 mins in total, 30 mins per side
C90: 90 mins in total, 45 mins per side

CD:
Maximum recommended length is 78 mins. 

It is recommended to use a DDP file for CD manufacturing to keep your metadata and sequencing information intact.