Frequently Asked Audio Mastering Questions | CD Mastering Q&A plus SoundOps Studio Tips

Questions List

1. Inside the Studio Gateway, I see some of the status indicators are still GRAY - is that a problem?
2. How do I prepare my audio for mastering?
3. Is shipping FREE if I'm outside the US?
4. Why is online audio mastering better? Shouldn't I be there during the mastering process?
5. Does SoundOps only master music, or can I send other types of audio for mastering?
6. How do I know if my songs are ready for mastering? Like the mix, and the audio file format, and so on...
7. Can SoundOps ship my finished masters outside the United States?
8. Do you accept PayPal?
9. I don't live in the U.S. Can I use a foreign currency to pay for my mastering?
10. Can SoundOps master audio that isn't just music (like commercials, Podcasts, speeches, etc.)?
11. I've provided my shipping address, and chosen a password, but I can't go to the next step. What's wrong?
12. What do you guys think about CD Baby? Should I send one of my original master discs straight to them to get started? Is their music retail service even the right move for an indie band?
13. My mix is distorting in a few places, will your multi mastering techniques be able to fix that? I didn't notice any clipping from the recorded tracks - only after I mixed all the instrument and vocal tracks together. Now my song sounds muddy...
14. Can SoundOps also mix my recording project before mastering all my songs? I did a lot of my own mixing and recording too, but it just doesn't sound right...
15. What if I don't see my question (or the answer) here? I'm not sure if it's related to online audio mastering...
16. If my recording needs a lot of mixing work before it can be mastered, or before digital mastering will make the biggest difference, can SoundOps handle all the mixing, or do I need to send my session files to a different studio, and then bring back the final mixdowns?
17. Can we pay for digital mastering over time? Do you or any other mastering studios offer a payment plan, so we can split up the total cost of our mastering project over several months?
18. Who do you recommend for CD duplication, replication, disc packaging, etc.?
19. Should I have my music mastered before I sell it on iTunes?
20. After I master my music, what's the best way to get physical distribution? I want to sell my CDs in other countries...
21. When SoundOps sends out my final masters, can I burn copies from them myself? Are they formatted for that? If so, what's a good quality burner that doesn't cost too much?
22. What audio mastering software do you recommend if I want to master my own recordings at home? My band always does its own recording and mixing with audio editing software (like Adobe Audition, Pro-Tools, etc.)...
23. Do you also offer duplication or replication services? Or should I look for a disc manufacturing company?
24. Can SoundOps master live recordings?
25. Can my band send in one song at a time to get mastered?
26. How can I make sure SoundOps will work with my vision for this project?
27. Will my music and my personal information be safe?
28. Will MASTERING make my songs LOUDER?
29. How many engineers will work on my project?
30. Can I order additional copies of my favorite master? How much will it cost?
31. How long will it take to master my music?
32. My band wants to split the cost of mastering. Can we use more than one credit card?
33. Can SoundOps master a demo that wasn't professionally recorded?
34. What happens if I choose "SEND TRACKS FIRST"?
35. So do I have to pay before I mail my tracks?
36. Can our whole band have access to the Studio Gateway?
37. Do we need to send our session files? Or is a mixed down version OK?
38. Will multiMASTERING include a version specifically engineered/optimized for online media players?
39. Can MP3s be mastered?
40. Is there a discount if I have a lot of songs to master?
41. I have a home studio. Is there a referral program if I send my clients to SoundOps?
42. Can SoundOps add ISRC codes to the premaster disc?
43. How long should it take to upload my tracks?
44. Is the mastering process different for different styles of music?
45. Will I need to install any software to utilize the Studio Gateway and upload my songs?

Questions & Answers Detail

1. Inside the Studio Gateway, I see some of the status indicators are still GRAY - is that a problem?

Not at all. The status indicator lights are for you to know what stage your music is in during the multiMASTERING process. A green light indicates successful completion of a step, and orange is for tasks in progress or where more information could be supplied. However, a red light means the process is on hold and requires an action on your part or by a third party (such as a mixing engineer, a mail carrier, etc.). Some indicators may stay gray, or unused, for the duration of your project.

2. How do I prepare my audio for mastering?

The most important thing to remember before sending your mix-downs in for mastering, is to make sure there are no places where your audio is louder than -3dB. It's actually a good practice to keep your entire track below -6dB. If you aren't sure how loud your mix is, contact us first. We'll help you get your tracks ready.

3. Is shipping FREE if I'm outside the US?

No, but high-quality downloads will be made available for you immediately after multiMASTERING is complete, so there will be no delay for you in receiving your finished masters. If you still prefer to have the studio originals mailed to you, the price is not padded, but will depend on the chosen carrier and method of shipping.

4. Why is online audio mastering better? Shouldn't I be there during the mastering process?

Choosing an online mastering studio is good because, you don't have to pay the high rates that come with a retail studio location. And with us, you can "be there" with the STUDIO GATEWAY. We bring all the engineers to you, so you can have control without leaving home.

5. Does SoundOps only master music, or can I send other types of audio for mastering?

Music is most commonly requested, but we can master almost any type of recording. If you have a speech, commercial, Podcast, or even a phone call that needs mastering, contact us first. Our per-song pricing doesn't apply to some of these types of audio, but instead will depend on length, and the specific restoration or media conversion needed.

6. How do I know if my songs are ready for mastering? Like the mix, and the audio file format, and so on...

That's a great question - there are several things to check before sending your music to SoundOps for mastering. Because every project is different, we recommend contacting the studio first for a free consultation. Just give us a call and a member of The Studio Team will be glad to help you ensure your tracks are ready for mastering.

7. Can SoundOps ship my finished masters outside the United States?

Yes. We'll send them wherever you want, but depending on the exact destination and the size of your order, a small additional fee may apply.

8. Do you accept PayPal?

Yes. Just choose the SEND TRACKS FIRST option when placing your order for mastering, and let your engineers know you'd like to use PayPal.

9. I don't live in the U.S. Can I use a foreign currency to pay for my mastering?

No, but you can use PayPal. Just contact us first and we'll help you place your order over the phone. Then, everything else can be done Online. We make it easy for our International clients to get their music mastered.

10. Can SoundOps master audio that isn't just music (like commercials, Podcasts, speeches, etc.)?

Certainly. Our website is designed to serve musicians mainly, but much of the equipment and software is the same to master other types of audio. Click the CONTACT US link at the bottom of this page to talk to a member of The Studio Team, and we'll go over the details. There is a discounted rate for large sessions (like movies and sermons).

11. I've provided my shipping address, and chosen a password, but I can't go to the next step. What's wrong?

Make sure you've checked the box to agree to the Terms of Service. Once you agree and all the other fields have been properly filled, the "NEXT" button will turn green, and you can continue to the next step.

12. What do you guys think about CD Baby? Should I send one of my original master discs straight to them to get started? Is their music retail service even the right move for an indie band?

Good distro question - both physical and digital sales of your music are important, and even though CD Baby is a big name in the indie distribution world, it may be more valuable to have professional help marketing your albums after mastering than having them collect dust in a .com or even local warehouse. Check out Label 2.0 (from Greg Rollett and Eric Hebert) to see what money saving and money making options there are for you with worldwide distribution. When you leave the mastering studio, you can spend the rest of your money in a hurry and be stuck using your band's CDs for coasters if you don't have the right marketing tools. If you market your band and songs well, they can sell from anywhere to anywhere :)

13. My mix is distorting in a few places, will your multi mastering techniques be able to fix that? I didn't notice any clipping from the recorded tracks - only after I mixed all the instrument and vocal tracks together. Now my song sounds muddy...

Mastering your recording won't fix everything, mainly because we can't make adjustments to only one track without affecting the others. When SoundOps masters your audio, we begin with a single stereo WAV file of each song, which means you're past the point in the production process where you can adjust tracks individually. Sometimes distortion can be eliminated, but it depends on several factors. That's why we don't charge our clients for mastering until we've carefully checked each second of audio for errors, and closely analyzed the mix. If we discover the mix needs more attention before we can significantly enhance it with mastering, we'll let you know right away - but because our Studio Team is always available, we can help over the phone and through email so you can be sure your mixdowns are ready before you send them to our studio for mastering.

14. Can SoundOps also mix my recording project before mastering all my songs? I did a lot of my own mixing and recording too, but it just doesn't sound right...

This is a common question - believe it or not, sometimes mastering is the only thing missing, and amateur mixing skills won't be as noticeable. However, it is also very common for songs to arrive at the mastering studio that aren't quite ready for mastering. When that happens, we let our clients know right away if more mixing time will make a big difference in the quality of the finished masters. Sometimes, though, it's less mixing that is needed, and we request an earlier version of the mix before certain limiting and compression settings were applied for example. We are happy to perform some finishing work to your mixes prior to the primary mastering process, but it isn't as easy to quote this type of pre-mastering studio service without analyzing the actual session files ourselves first.

15. What if I don't see my question (or the answer) here? I'm not sure if it's related to online audio mastering...

To submit your studio question, call SoundOps at 888.290.9663 or send an email to answers@soundops.com. The worst question is the one you don't ask. If you don't see a topic covered on this page, and you want to ask an expert, feel free to contact The SoundOps Mastering Team anytime. Even if you aren't looking to have a recording mastered right now, and you're just doing research, we'll be happy to take time out to help you learn the ropes and share some insider studio tips and tricks. If you're interested in having your music recorded professionally, or doing your own mixing, finding out the best way to prepare your mixes for the highest quality mastering results, or if aren't sure how to decide between CD duplication and replication - even what to do to start selling songs online or set up physical distribution - we've been in the music and audio production world for a long time, and we enjoy working with new recording artists, engineers, and producers...because let's face it, between the creation and the marketing of any finished album, there's a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it. So, let's get going!

16. If my recording needs a lot of mixing work before it can be mastered, or before digital mastering will make the biggest difference, can SoundOps handle all the mixing, or do I need to send my session files to a different studio, and then bring back the final mixdowns?

We don't market ourselves as a mixing studio, because we believe 3rd-party mastering is more effective than letting the same engineer(s) mix and master your recording. Depending on your location, and whether or not you'd be comfortable with an online mixing service (like a lot of touring musicians use), we should be able to recommend a mixing studio that will do very good work. A great master really does start with a great mix.

17. Can we pay for digital mastering over time? Do you or any other mastering studios offer a payment plan, so we can split up the total cost of our mastering project over several months?

Actually, we do sometimes offer an extended payment plan option for our indie studio clients. The way it works is you receive an invoice for a half or a third of the total investment when we get started and we'll spread out the remaining balance over a few months, by sending the following invoices every month until the mastering service is paid for in full. This is a great option for a lot of young bands, but not everyone can qualify. There's no credit check. But, you may need a credit card, and the monthly billing is set up through PayPal.

18. Who do you recommend for CD duplication, replication, disc packaging, etc.?

That's a good question, because after your have your music mastered, the next step is to make copies of your new CD and start selling them. There are so many options, and they aren't all the same. In the past we've recommended Discmakers, but now tell all our clients to call Mona from MyDiscOutlet.com. She's very helpful, and has been burning CDs for longer than most of us have been playing music!

19. Should I have my music mastered before I sell it on iTunes?

Yes. It's more important than ever to have a professional sound when considering digital distribution. You want people to hear the difference right away when they're browsing for new music. Mastering will give you the advantage you need for selling your songs online.

20. After I master my music, what's the best way to get physical distribution? I want to sell my CDs in other countries...

One great option for indie artists to sell their CDs internationally is to go to Audiolife.com. They offer a free service that allows you to send them your music and artwork first, set up an online store, and you only pay when people buy your CD. The cool part is audiolife will manufacture, package, seal, and ship your CDs (and t-shirts too) one-at-a-time like that, so you can save money on a giant box of band merch.

21. When SoundOps sends out my final masters, can I burn copies from them myself? Are they formatted for that? If so, what's a good quality burner that doesn't cost too much?

When you receive your studio masters either on CD or as downloadable files, they are ready to copy and sell. You want to make sure you are burning an exact copy (or replica) of the album master you want to package and sell. It really depends on how many CD copies you want to make at a time, and what kind of other computer gear you have as to which DIY solution will be best. None of us @ SoundOps Mastering even with short-run CD releases ever tried to make hundreds of copies ourselves. Your time is more valuable than you might think. Let a company like MyDiscOutlet take care of replicating your CDs and packaging them for you - it will save you time...so it will make you money in the long run.

22. What audio mastering software do you recommend if I want to master my own recordings at home? My band always does its own recording and mixing with audio editing software (like Adobe Audition, Pro-Tools, etc.)...

Well, unfortunately, there isn't a single piece of mastering software or hardware that will give you the results you need to stand out in the music market. Audio mastering programs are better today than they were a few years ago, but they only emulate the real thing. So if you don't know what all the buttons and knobs do, and the principals of post-production, then you may spend more money and still not have the result you're looking for. The newest version of T-Racks is good for starters, but remember that if you do your own recording and mixing, you owe it to yourself, your fans, and your songs, to at least have a professional help you at the mastering stage - it's the least expensive part of the whole project to pay studio engineers to handle.

23. Do you also offer duplication or replication services? Or should I look for a disc manufacturing company?

No. SoundOps is exclusively a mastering studio. However, we can recommend a company for short-runs and large CD replication orders. The best option for you may depend on your location. Just let your engineers know when you choose the multiMASTERING edition you like best, if you'd like us to send it for you.

24. Can SoundOps master live recordings?

Yes! Some of the best albums are live, but they take extra care in mastering. It may take a little longer, but it's worth the wait for sure!

25. Can my band send in one song at a time to get mastered?

Yes, but we recommend you wait until you're ready to have your entire project mastered before sending any tracks, because one of the biggest advantages of mastering is maintaining a uniform sound from one song to the next. If we master them at different times, it may not be possible to replicate the exact mastering environment each time.

26. How can I make sure SoundOps will work with my vision for this project?

Don't worry...at SoundOps, we know, every artist should care about his/her songs. The engineers that are working on your music will have specific instructions from you. And you will be able to communicate with them throughout the entire mastering process.

27. Will my music and my personal information be safe?

Yes, indeed. SoundOps has spared no expense in protecting your musical and financial identity. Our website as well as our entire studio network uses encryption techniques designed to ensure your safety. No other studio can protect your music like we do. Most of them don't even try. For more information on our standards, follow the PRIVACY & SECURITY link located at the bottom of the this page.

28. Will MASTERING make my songs LOUDER?

Yes. Usually, your audio will seem louder. But, this is not the main purpose of top-level mastering. Overall balance and clarity are also main objectives in the mastering process.

29. How many engineers will work on my project?

The entire SoundOps team of engineers will have access to your audio, but only the best 3 editions will be chosen for final clean-up and specialty production. You can connect with the team working on your music from the STUDIO GATEWAY.

30. Can I order additional copies of my favorite master? How much will it cost?

Yes. Up to 3 additional copies of a single edition are FREE upon request, and can be mailed for the price of shipping and handling.

31. How long will it take to master my music?

Not long. Once you finish the order process and SoundOps receives your tracks, we will begin the multiMASTERING process right away. That's why we recommend uploading and downloading your files, instead of physically mailing them. It usually takes about a week to have your music mastered and for the three best web-ready editions to be available for download. You should receive the studio originals in 10-15 days. Depending on our work flow, it can be done quicker, or take slightly longer.

32. My band wants to split the cost of mastering. Can we use more than one credit card?

Yes. Each person in your band can choose the amount he or she can contribute. When you place your order, just click the SHARE THE COST button. If you don't have all the credit card information with you, just click "pay later" and come back to your studio gateway when you're ready to complete your order.

33. Can SoundOps master a demo that wasn't professionally recorded?

Of course! The best thing you can do for your demo is master it. Even if the recording is not the highest quality, our unique process will provide you with 3 great studio versions that will make the most of each track.

34. What happens if I choose "SEND TRACKS FIRST"?

This is for your convenience, in case you need extra time to get your credit card information. When you select the SEND TRACKS FIRST option, you will be prompted to continue to place your order and send us your tracks. You can log in to your studio gateway any time to finish the payment process. Remember, you must complete this step before SoundOps can begin mastering your music.

35. So do I have to pay before I mail my tracks?

Yes. You will receive a confirmation email to print out and include with your CD when mailing your music.

36. Can our whole band have access to the Studio Gateway?

Yes. Whoever places the order can give access to other band members and friends from the MY INFO tab inside the Studio Gateway. Just enter their email addresses and we'll create an account for them and notify them by email. They will be able to communicate with the engineers and download the web-ready versions as soon as multiMASTERING is complete.

37. Do we need to send our session files? Or is a mixed down version OK?

We do not need multi-track session files for the mastering process. A common stereo mix of your finished recording is what we usually master from. If you already have the tracks on your computer, the recommended file type is a WAV (example: yoursongtitle.wav).

38. Will multiMASTERING include a version specifically engineered/optimized for online media players?

Yes. We know how important an online presence is for today's bands. With our standard multiMASTERING service, you'll get 3 unique studio masters. Each one will also have a web-ready version that can be downloaded from your STUDIO GATEWAY immediately after mastering is complete.

39. Can MP3s be mastered?

Yes, but we highly recommend a file that is not compressed (like a .WAV) MP3s are compressed to save space, but they lose certain frequencies to accomplish this. That means, they won't have as much room for improvement with mastering.

40. Is there a discount if I have a lot of songs to master?

No. We have found that every song needs the same attention. Our price is based on the necessary elements for multiMASTERING. Most mastering studios cut corners on a large project, but you will hear the difference when each second of your audio has been handled by our team of engineers at SoundOps. Your music is worth the extra time.

41. I have a home studio. Is there a referral program if I send my clients to SoundOps?

Yes, of course. SoundOps is a producer-preferred studio. For more information, check out our PARTNER INCENTIVES link at the bottom of this page.

42. Can SoundOps add ISRC codes to the premaster disc?

Yes. Just supply us with the numbers for each track and we will apply them before the studio master discs are finalized.

43. How long should it take to upload my tracks?

It could take a while, depending on the file size(s) and the speed of your Internet connection. We recommend you take 5 - 10 minutes to start uploading all your track(s) and let the program run over night. Even a large project should transfer in a few hours. *Advanced: If you encounter problems uploading or if you'd prefer to use a robust FTP client, our Studio Help Team can provide the necessary information and help you transfer your files.

44. Is the mastering process different for different styles of music?

Most of the equipment is the same, but the settings and levels we use can be very different depending on the project. And with multiMASTERING, you get 3 unique versions of your music so you can choose the one that best represents your style.

45. Will I need to install any software to utilize the Studio Gateway and upload my songs?

SoundOps.com is designed to handle everything. You may need to install a simple Active X plug-in, but it will come from a trusted source and only take a moment to download and run.