FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Many artists and producers have questions about topics such as loudness for streaming platforms, true peak levels, file formats, and how to prepare a mix for mastering. This page provides clear explanations to help you understand the mastering process and how to achieve the best possible sound for your music.
Our mastering studio works with artists, producers, and labels worldwide, offering professional online mastering services optimized for Spotify, Apple Music, vinyl, CD, and other distribution platforms.
If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help you with your mastering questions.
What is online mastering?
Online mastering works the same way as traditional mastering, with the main difference being that everything is done remotely. Instead of visiting a physical mastering studio, you simply upload your track through our website and an experienced mastering engineer will professionally master your music.
Your track is processed using professional mastering tools, high-end monitoring, and years of experience to ensure it sounds clear, balanced, and competitive on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and other playback systems.
Unlike automated AI mastering tools, every master is carefully done by a real human mastering engineer who listens critically and makes musical decisions to bring out the best in your track. Of course while working close with the artists and/or recordlabel.
How do I prepare my track for Mastering?
Preparing your track for mastering is an important step to achieve the best possible final result. Make sure your mix is balanced, free from clipping, and exported in a high-quality format such as WAV 32-bit float. There's no need to leave -6dB of headroom, just make sure the TruePeak is below 0db throughout the whole track. When rendering in 32Bit Float the mastering engineer can easily bring back all the peaks in case there's any clipping.
Avoid heavy limiting or excessive processing on your master channel, as this can reduce the flexibility during the mastering process. It’s also important to check your mix carefully after exporting to ensure everything sounds correct.
A well-prepared mix allows the mastering engineer to enhance the clarity, balance, and loudness of your track more effectively, resulting in a professional master that translates well across streaming platforms, club systems, and headphones.
Can I come to the Studio for a Live Mastering Session?
Of course, feel free to reach out to us via Email, WhatsApp or Instagram to ask for the possibilities.
How loud should a master be for Spotify?
The ideal loudness for Spotify mastering depends on the style of music, but most tracks are mastered between approximately -8 and -12 LUFS. Spotify normalizes audio to around -14 LUFS, which means extremely loud masters will simply be turned down by the platform.
Because of this, modern mastering focuses not only on loudness but also on maintaining clarity, punch, and healthy dynamics. A well-balanced master will sound powerful and consistent across streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and other playback systems.
A professional mastering engineer will carefully control loudness, true peak levels, and dynamics to ensure your track sounds competitive while still translating correctly on streaming platforms.
What file format should I send for mastering?
For the best mastering results, it is recommended to send your track or stems in a high-quality format such as WAV 32-bit float. These formats preserve the full audio quality and provide enough headroom for the mastering process.
Make sure your exported file does not contain clipping and avoid heavy limiting on the master channel. Sending a clean mix allows the mastering engineer to make precise adjustments to balance, loudness, and overall clarity.
High-resolution audio files help ensure your final master will translate well across streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, as well as physical formats like vinyl and CD.
Please do not send MP3 or WAV 16Bit files. Always get WAV 32Bit Float or WAV 24Bit files. Also don't send us any DAW projects as we can not work with that. If you're not sure how to export, feel free to reach out to us!
What is the difference between mixing and mastering?
Mixing and mastering are two different stages in the music production process. Mixing focuses on balancing all individual elements of a track, such as vocals, drums, bass, and instruments, to create a cohesive and well-balanced mix.
Mastering is the final step after the mix is completed. During mastering, a mastering engineer enhances the overall sound of the stereo mix, adjusts loudness, improves clarity, and ensures the track translates well across streaming platforms, headphones, club systems, and other playback environments.
While mixing shapes the individual elements of a song, mastering focuses on refining the final mix and preparing it for professional release.
Is analog mastering better than digital mastering?
Both analog mastering and digital mastering can produce excellent results when used by an experienced mastering engineer. Analog mastering uses high-end hardware equipment that can add subtle warmth, depth, and character to a track.
Digital mastering offers extremely precise control and flexibility, allowing engineers to make very accurate adjustments to frequency balance, dynamics, and stereo imaging.
In many professional mastering studios, a hybrid approach is used, combining analog gear and digital tools to achieve the best possible sound for each track. Just like we do.
How long does mastering take?
The turnaround time for mastering usually depends on the complexity of the project and the number of tracks. In most cases, you can expect to receive your mastered track within 1–3 working days.
For larger projects such as EPs, albums, or multiple tracks, the turnaround time may be slightly longer to ensure consistent sound and quality across the entire project.
Our online mastering service focuses on delivering high-quality results while maintaining a fast and reliable turnaround.
Feel free to reach out to us for an estimated delivery time on bigger projects.
Otherwise, 1 - 3 Business days.
Do streaming platforms reject poorly mastered tracks?
Yes, streaming platforms and digital distributors have strict technical requirements for uploaded audio files. If a track contains clipping, excessive distortion, or incorrect true peak levels, it may be flagged or rejected during the upload process.
Poor mastering can also lead to loudness issues or audio artifacts that affect how the track is processed by streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
Professional mastering ensures your track meets these technical standards and translates properly across streaming services and other playback systems.
Can I preview my master before paying?
Yes. With our online mastering service you can upload your track and receive a mastered preview before making any payment. This allows you to hear the improvements in clarity, balance, and loudness before committing to the final master.
You will receive a private streaming link where you can listen to the mastered version in high quality. If you are happy with the result, you can complete the payment and receive the full downloadable master files.
This “try before you buy” approach allows artists and producers to experience professional mastering with no risk.