Preparing Your FILES for Mastering
Hey there! My name’s Paul.
Mixing and mastering are an art, and my approach is to follow your idea and vision.
I never force my opinion on my clients, so please feel free to share any comments and ask for revisions – I never get tired or frustrated with that.
As a studio engineer, my mission is to preserve your track’s original vibe and creative vision,
so please keep all effects such as reverbs, delays, modulations, saturations, and even master bus automation or plugins like ‘Endless Smile’ active.
To ensure the best sound quality and a smooth workflow, follow next guidelines carefully.
Revisions on my side are free and unlimited. However, if you need to replace files after submission, there is a $10 charge per file.
Please keep in mind that Mastering is just a final polishing of the sound.
If your mix doesn’t sound the way you want, you should consider ordering the full mixing service first.
This guarantees top-notch sound quality without any compromises — mastering alone can’t fix a poor mix.
Let’s make your tracks shiny 🙏
Step-by-Step Export Guide:
1. Turn off all technical plugins on the master channel.
Keep all creative effects, such as ‘Endless Smile’ or low-cut automation, on the master bus, as well as all effects on groups and individual tracks.
Disable only technical processing such as compression, EQs, limiters, or clippers on master bus.
2. Check output peak level.
Ensure the highest peak level stays close to -6dBFS.
Avoid extreme low levels, as they can introduce noise and reduce the effectiveness of mixing.
If the level is too high, lower it to prevent clipping. If it’s too low, increase it to maintain a strong signal.
3. Audio settings:
File Type – WAV.
Sample Rate – Original.
Bit Depth – 24-bit.
Dithering – None.
Normalize – Off.
4. Export and properly name your pre-master:
Follow this structure, please:
Artist Name – Track Name (Mix Name)
Avoid using ALL CAPITALS or adding any extra information.
File naming is very important for me. Thanks!
5. Verify your pre-master.
Make sure it starts from zero and includes the full tail.
Confirm that all automations and effects are correctly rendered.
6. Export your home master.
Don’t worry about the sound quality- it’s just to help me understand your vision and track balance.
7. Provide reference tracks.
Not to copy the sound, but to gain a deeper understanding of your artistic choices.
List your reference tracks in a .txt file using the format: Artist – Track Name.
Please avoid including any links or audio files.
8. Package and send.
Place all files in a folder named: Artist Name – Track or EP Name.
Archive as a .ZIP file.
Upload your tracks here: DropBox Link
Please ensure all steps are followed, as improperly prepared files may be rejected.
Looking forward to making your track sound its best.
Thanks,
Paul.