The Service

What is mastering, and why is it necessary?

Mastering is the final creative and technical step in the production process. It ensures your music has consistent tonality and competitive volume, allowing it to sit seamlessly alongside professional commercial releases. Beyond the sonics, I provide an objective perspective, ensuring your mix translates perfectly across all playback systems—from club systems and high-end hi-fi to smartphones and earbuds.

What genres do you specialise in?

My work spans a broad spectrum, including Alternative, Metal, Pop, Electronic, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary Classical. Having worked on everything from Billboard #1 rock albums to delicate orchestral scores, my focus is always on enhancing the specific emotional intent of the genre.

What is your typical turnaround time?

I aim for a 48-hour turnaround for single tracks. For EPs and full-length albums, I will provide a specific delivery schedule upon inquiry to ensure each track receives the meticulous attention it deserves.

Do you offer stem mastering?

Standard mastering involves working with a finished stereo mix. While I generally prefer to work from the final stereo file as the producer intended, I do offer stem mastering for specific projects where more control over the balance is required.

Technical Requirements

Which file formats should I submit?

Please provide lossless WAV or AIFF files.

What are the ideal sample rates and bit depths?

Files should be submitted at the native sample rate of your mix session. Bit depth should be a minimum of 24-bit (32-bit float is also welcome). If only 16-bit files are available, I can work with them, though potential for enhancement may be slightly reduced.

Can you master from an MP3?

While I can work with lossy formats if no other source exists, it is not recommended. MP3s lack significant harmonic information, which limits the quality of the final master.

How should I prepare my mixes?

• Headroom: Ensure your mix is not clipping. Aiming for peaks between -3dBFS and -6dBFS is ideal.
• Processing: Keep “character” processing on your mix bus, but remove any peak limiting or loudness maximising plugins.
• Fades & Padding: Leave a small amount of silence at the start and end of the file.
• Reference: If you have been listening to a “limited” version during production, please include it as a reference.

Deliverables & Pricing

What is your pricing structure?

What are the options for Vinyl and CD?

For projects requiring physical distribution, I offer specialised mastering and delivery formats:

• Vinyl Pre-Masters: £50 per project. A dedicated, high-headroom master optimised for the physical requirements of vinyl cutting.
• CD/DDP Image & ISRC: £40 per project (Independent Artists). This is included as standard in the Independent Label rate.

Do you offer Apple Digital Masters (ADM)?

Yes. I am an Apple-accredited mastering engineer. If you require ADM-compliant files, please let me know at the start of the project.

What is your revision policy?

I offer revisions at no extra charge to ensure the master meets your expectations. The goal is that you are 100% happy with the result.

Do you offer free test masters?

I do not offer free test masters. For larger projects, we can master a single track first to ensure the sonic direction is correct before proceeding.