Stereo Mastering for a Commercial Sound

A great mix is the foundation, but mastering provides the necessary "glue" and perceived loudness required to compete with modern releases. At our Linz studio, we combine technical expertise with critical listening to maximize the emotional impact of your work without compromising musical integrity.

We treat every project as a unique piece of art. Whether it is an intimate indie track, a hard-hitting techno production, or a complex pop arrangement, our goal is always the optimal translation of sound across all media. We pay particular attention to spectral balance and dynamic control to ensure your track feels professional and polished.

Who is our Stereo Mastering for?

Our services are designed for independent artists, home producers, and small labels who require a professional final approval of their productions. Especially if you have created your mix in a room that is not acoustically optimized, our mastering in Linz provides the necessary objective control. We help musicians who need that final polish to prepare their tracks for platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, or for vinyl pressing.

How the collaboration works

The collaboration begins with a detailed inquiry via our contact page. Once the details are settled, you send us your mix as a high-resolution WAV file. While we primarily work online, we offer clients from Linz and the surrounding area the opportunity to evaluate the final masters together in our controlled monitoring environment. After the first version, you have up to three revision rounds according to our rules to ensure the result matches your vision.

What you should prepare for mastering

To achieve a professional result, the quality of the source material is critical. Please pay attention to the following points:

• Headroom: Your mix should not clip. A peak level between -3 dB and -6 dB is ideal.
• No Limiters: Please remove all limiters or maximizers from the master bus of your mix.
• File Format: We require files with a minimum bit depth of 24-bit and a sample rate of at least 44.1 kHz.
• References: Send us 1-2 tracks that reflect the desired sonic character (tonality, loudness).

What you receive at the end

Upon completion of the project, we provide a package with the final files. This typically includes:

• The final master as a WAV file (24-bit), optimized for distribution.
• A high-quality MP3 version for quick previews and demos.
• A detailed report on the measured integrated loudness (LUFS) and true peak.
• Upon request: Specific versions for vinyl or club systems.

Delivery times and deadlines

The average delivery time for a single master is 5 workdays. For larger projects such as EPs, we coordinate the schedule individually. Please note that we have a limited capacity of 12 tracks per month to ensure the quality for every project. Should you require a project urgently, we offer a rush fee of 30% above the standard price.

What is NOT included in Stereo Mastering

It is important to understand that stereo mastering is the processing of a single stereo file. The following services are not part of this service:

• Changes to individual instruments or volume levels within the mix (this is handled by our Single Track Mixing service).
• Vocal tuning or rhythmic editing of tracks.
• Creating instrumental versions from a finished stereo mix.
• The actual publishing or distribution on streaming platforms.

Pricing and Value Added Tax

Our prices are transparent and based on the scope of the project. For individuals and companies in Austria, the statutory VAT of 20% is added to the net prices. Billing occurs upon receipt of the final files or according to the agreed 50% deposit. For B2B customers, a payment term of 14 days applies.

Detailed scope of work

When you choose our stereo mastering, the package includes the following technical steps:

• Full spectral analysis of the input signal.
• Precise surgical EQ corrections to remove frequency conflicts.
• Optimization of stereo width and phase coherence.
• Application of high-end compression for dynamic control.
• Sonic saturation for analog warmth and character.
• Loudness maximization while adhering to True-Peak standards.
• Final dithering for the target bit depth.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mastering

All our services are subject to the Terms and Conditions. For further questions regarding your specific project, we are happy to assist you.