HOW TO UPLOAD MY FILES?
Please see Order processing.
WHAT’S YOUR TURNAROUND TIME?
For mastering:
Standard: approx. 7-10 work days
Limited availability:
Express: 3 work days
Overnight: Night of the following day.
We operate on Berlin time (GMT+1).
Turnaround time starts, when final files & payment have both reached us.
For all other services we’ll meet your deadline.
WHAT ARE YOUR PAYMENT TERMS?
Please see Services > Payment Terms.
WHAT IS THE BEST AUDIO FORMAT FOR MASTERING?
It’s the best your DAW can do, as .wav or .aif export.
Native sampling rate & bit resolution (32bit or more) are required.
Your export resolution is independent from the resolution of your recordings.
While you might use 16bit recordings, your master bus resolution is still 32 bit or higher.
When mixing analogue, the maximum resolution of your AD converter applies: 24 or 32 bit.
The very best solution – though rarely used today – is an analogue master tape.
We can playback and digitize all those formats.
WHICH MASTERING FORMATS DO I REQUIRE?
HD Master for approval – native sampling rate of your mix, 24 bit.
Streaming Master for digital release (e.g. Spotify). This can be combined with an SD Master for download (for e.g. Beatport)
VINYL Master for vinyl cut
ADM Master for Apple Music (We are certified by Apple.) ADM can also be used for HiRes streaming platforms such as Qobuz, Tidal or Amazon Music.
Contact us for other formats (cassette, radio, small speaker, etc.).
Please always request the appropriate format from us. Your own conversion is likely to be lossy. Ideally, your digital distributor can handle separate masters for each purpose. That’s when it makes sense to order optimised formats for best possible quality. In some cases a standard wav (SD-44-16 or SD-44-24) functions as a “one for all”-file (e.g. Distrokid, Bandcamp)
CAN I SEND IN MIXDOWNS WITH MASTER BUS EFFECTS APPLIED?
Yes. Please send both unprocessed & processed exports.
We prefer both a reference of your intentions and an untreated file to work with. That’ll give us ultimate sonic possiblities for your master.
For the unprocessed version, please remove all plug-ins in your master channel (not only bypass them).
If only the processed mixdown is available, well then: we’ll still do our best.
WHY AVOID MIXING INTO A MASTERING CHAIN?
Because then you are likely to mix in order to ‘please’ your master bus processing. A big disadvantage of that is, that the whole mix is likely to fall apart when the plug-ins are removed. Also, important shaping possibilities in the mix may never be used because they are masked by the plug-ins in the master.
As a good practice please often listen to both: master effects on and off/removed.
I’VE BOOKED ADDITIONAL OUTPUT FORMATS BUT HAVE ONLY RECEIVED AN HD-MASTER YET. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER FILES?
Optional formats will be provided after you’ve finally approved your HD master. Please indicate your choice of SD to the engineer then: SD 44/16 or SD 44/24.
CAN I ADD OPTIONAL OUTPUTS TO MY MASTERING ORDER LATER (E.G. VINYL)?
Yes. We store your mastering session and can revisit the session at a later point in time for different output formats. So your digital album can be mastered for vinyl later (optionally).
ISRC CODES?
ISRCs may only be needed for the creation of a DDP (for CD production only), although most use a DDP without ISRC today.
ISRC codes are not encoded into the masters. Have them ready for your digital distribution nonetheless.
HOW MUCH HEADROOM SHOULD I LEAVE ON MY MASTER BUS?
Headroom is uncritical for 32 bit mixes. If the peaks of your mix are in a range of -20dbFS up to just below zero – and don’t clip – then everything is fine.
ARE MY FILES SECURE DURING UPLOAD AND TRANSFER?
We use https://calyx.wetransfer.com providing private and lossless transfers, using a CRC32 checksum to ensure data integrity at all stages.
We also offer our own free & password-protected server space upon request.
IS THERE A REDUCED RATE MASTERING SERVICE (after hours or similar)?
We no longer offer reduced rates due to our high workload, sorry about that.
ARE ATTENDED SESSIONS NECESSARY?
99.9% of our sessions are unattended. The more you provide a good briefing and references, the better your engineer will understand the direction you are aiming for. Plus we offer revision until satisfaction in mastering. You may request free revisions of your master, until you’re happy with it.
However, exchanging mixes during or after mastering are not cost-free, see below.
I’VE RECEIVED MY MASTER, NOW I AM UNHAPPY WITH THE MIX I SENT IN. WHAT CAN I DO?
Not a big problem, but additional charges will apply: 50% of your respective mastering rate (= AUX track), if the existing session can easily be modified. When your changes aren’t minor (like a bass drum exchange), then unfortunately a complete new mastering order will be required.
All of this is at the discretion of the respective mastering engineer.
MY MAIN TRACK ALSO HAS EDITED/DUB/RADIO/INSTRUMENTAL VERSIONS. DO YOU MASTER THEM, TOO?
Sure. Such edits are treated as AUX tracks and are charged with 50% of the respective mastering rate.
This does not apply, when your alt. versions are sonically differing from the original (like a remix). In that case an additional mastering order is required.
IS MY MIX ANY GOOD? PLEASE REVIEW!
We do offer reviewing your mix in conjunction with a mastering order.
For a brief analysis, we offer a MIX REVIEW in conjunction with a mastering order.
A more detailed analysis is available as a MIX CONSULTING.
COMMON MASTERING FILE OUTPUT FORMATS?
SD (Standard Digital): 16 bit / 44.1 kHz Wav, for digital distribution (e.g. Beatport)
HD (High Definition): 24 bit / (original sample rate) this is sent for approval.
ADM (Apple Digital Master): Apple Music’s Hi-Res format, 24 bit / up to 96 kHz (depend on orig. sample rate). Can also be used for other hi-res portals, such as Qobuz etc..
STREAM (Streaming Master): Optimized for best possible performance on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and alike. It not only matches the provider’s level requirements, but also considers tonal aspects, which come along with streaming.
VINYL (Vinyl Master): 24 bit / (orig sample rate). These files are prepared for the vinyl cutting process.
DDP: This is a container file consisting of audio and metadata. Required for CD manufacturing.
CAN I (OR A 3RD PARTY) CONVERT YOUR 24 BIT HD MASTER TO 16 BIT MYSELF?
You shouldn’t, as your conversion is likely to be lossy. We’re happy to provide you the according file in the required format. In general any conversion should be avoided when possible. Whereever a conversion may be mandatory – please leave it up to us. We will ensure it’s made in the best possible way.
GOOD LENGTH OF A VINYL SIDE?
Bass-heavy music will need more space on a vinyl record, than f. i. a recording of a singer with guitar accompaniment. Otherwise there is no hard rules.
Basic guidelines are:
Format – Loud Level – Average Level
7” 45rpm < 3,5 mins < 4,5 mins
10” 33rpm < 7 mins < 9 mins
10” 45rpm < mins < 7 mins
12” 33rpm < 12 mins < 15 mins
12” 45rpm < 8,5 mins < 9,5 mins
Album < 19 mins < 25 mins
Depending on the type of material you might need a DMM Cut instead of a lacquer cut, when a side exceeds 20 minutes. Mixing lacquer and DMM cutrs usually makes no sense by the way.
WHY DON’T YOU CUT VINYL FROM AN EXTERNAL MASTER?
We offer lacquer cutting only to our own mastering customers. That is, because mastering there and cutting here permits no sonic interaction between mastering and cutting. And our capacities simply don’t allow for it.
WHICH CALYX EMAIL ADDRESS IS CERTIFIED FOR APPLE MUSIC (formerly “Mastered for iTunes”)?
office @ calyx-mastering . com