Mastering

When mastering helps

Releasing a single, EP or album through a distributor, mastering helps level and tone sit closer to what listeners expect on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube — without normalising each track manually in your DAW. For vinyl, mastering is essential: bass management, sibilance and length decide whether a cut stays playable.

Only an internal demo? A solid mix may be enough. Unsure? Send a mix with no bus processing; we say honestly whether mastering adds value or you should revisit mix first. Broadcast and spoken compilations with strict loudness norms (EBU R128) are quoted separately — see podcast recording when source material is speech-heavy.

What to deliver

One stereo file per song, 24-bit WAV, no limiter on the mix bus unless that is an intentional artistic choice — say so. Leave at least 3–6 dB headroom; peaks around -6 dBFS are ideal. Do not add dither; we handle final bit-depth conversion.

For albums: deliver tracks in play order and note gaps between songs. Hidden tracks or gapless playback? Put that in the brief. Mixes from external engineers are welcome; we may ask for an alternate mix without bus compression if we need more room.

Streaming, vinyl and CD

For streaming we aim for integrated loudness and true peak within common platform guidance — details in our loudness guide. We avoid “louder is better” at the expense of transients; genre and dynamics stay in charge within sensible limits.

Vinyl masters are often slightly shorter with tighter bass mono below an agreed frequency; we deliver a cut-ready file to your pressing plant spec. CD projects can ship as DDP with PQ list; say whether ISRCs should be embedded now or added later by the distributor.

EP and album sequencing

An album is more than twelve isolated masters. We listen through the order, adjust level and EQ subtly so a ballad after an uptempo track does not feel whisper-quiet, and set gaps (typically 1–3 seconds, adjusted on request). EP rate €320 covers four songs; album rate €690 up to twelve tracks.

Extra songs or alternates (instrumental, clean edit) bill at €95 each unless quoted otherwise. Changing sequence after approving order may add time — finalise tracklist before the master pass when you can.

Pricing and VAT

Business clients see net amounts on invoices (e.g. €78.51 per song ex VAT). Deposit 30%; cancellation under terms with 7-day free window. Billing questions: contact or [email protected].

Revisions and communication

2 revision rounds belong to each package: note time codes and what you want different (more air, less sibilance, slightly quieter overall). We adjust and send a new proof. Extra rounds or stem swaps after mastering are not standard — that returns to mix level.

We reply within 2 business days. Attended mastering in-studio is possible by appointment; mix hourly rates do not automatically apply — ask about availability if you want to listen in De Pijp.

Delivery

Digital: 24-bit WAV and 16-bit on request for legacy platforms; FLAC when needed. Streaming uploads often want 44.1 kHz files — we export what your distributor requires. Consistent filenames (titles, track numbers) ease upload.

Files via secure link; we keep masters 24 months. After delivery, backups are yours. Peonscale has worked in Amsterdam since 2019; mastering uses a dedicated listening chain separate from other services in the building.

Service limits

Mastering does not fix serious mix issues: out-of-phase bass, clipped drums or a vocal that stays buried needs a mix revision. We do not offer stem separation, AI tape restoration or loudness wars for shady download sites.

Rights and credits sit between you, artists and distributors; we deliver technical files. Upload privacy is covered in our privacy policy. Site cookies: cookie policy or manage preferences.

Included

• Technical QC of supplied mixes
• Mastering pass on calibrated monitors
• Sequencing and gaps for EP/album
• 2 revision rounds on proofs
• Export for streaming or agreed medium
• Secure file transfer
• 24-month storage at Peonscale