Hey there, musician! You’ve worked hard on your track, and now it’s time to take it to the next level with mastering. But before you hit that “send” button, you need to make sure your track is in the best shape possible for the mastering engineer. Don’t worry – this guide will walk you through everything you need to do to submit your music the right way and get the best possible results.
Name Your Tracks Correctly 📝
When you submit your tracks, make sure the file names are clear and easy to understand. It makes everything run smoother on both sides.
Use a Simple Naming Convention : Something like “Artistname_Trackname.wav” or “SongName_Version1.wav” works great. That way, there’s no confusion about which version is which.
Finalize Your Mix 🎚️
First things first, before you even think about mastering, make sure your mix is on point. Mastering isn’t going to fix big issues in the mix – it can only enhance what’s already there. So, take a moment and listen closely to your mix. Learn more about the differences between mixing and mastering.
👉 Check the Balance : Are the levels, EQ, and panning just right ? You don’t want your vocals to get lost or your drums to drown out the guitar. Make sure everything sits nicely together. Discover how to use EQ for a better mix.
👉 Leave Headroom : Aim for your peak levels to be around -6dB to -3dB. This gives the mastering engineer space to work their magic without clipping.
👉 Avoid Over-Compression and Limiting : Don’t squash the life out of your track with too much compression or limiting. You want to leave room for the mastering engineer to handle that.
👉 Quick Tip : If you’re using EQ on the master, we recommend sending two versions – one with the EQ and one without – so the engineer can pick the one that works best.
Remove Any Limiter, Compressor, or Effects on the Master 🚫
We know it’s tempting to put a limiter or compressor on your master bus, but trust us – you don’t need them here. The mastering engineer will handle all of that. Just make sure you remove any limiter or heavy effects from the master.
👉 Keep Filters and EQ : You can leave High-Pass Filters (HPF) or Low-Pass Filters (LPF) in place, and you can keep any EQ adjustments, but remember to send two versions of the mix if you’re using EQ.
Send a Track with a Peak Level Between -6dB and -3dB 📏
When you export your track, make sure the peak level is between -6dB and -3dB.
👉 Track Levels : All your individual tracks (like drums, vocals, bass) should be “green” (not peaking into the red). If any of them are peaking, lower the volume of those tracks. We recommend lowering the individual track levels first, then adjusting the overall master level.
👉 No Clipping : Your track should never clip! Clipping causes distortion, and we don’t want that.
Keep Your Mix Clean and Dynamic ✨
A great master starts with a great mix. Try to keep your mix clean and dynamic – don’t overcrowd it with too many elements. A cluttered mix makes it harder to get a polished, professional master. Make sure there’s space for your most important elements – like vocals, the lead instrument, and the bass.
Export the Final Mix Files 💻
Now that your mix is ready, it’s time to export it. This is where a lot of people make mistakes, so let’s get it right :
👉 Change the Rendered Track dropdown to “Master“.
👉 File Naming : Name your file clearly, like “TrackName_V1” to avoid confusion.
👉 File Format : Export your track in WAV or AIFF – both are high-quality formats that preserve the full sound of your mix. No Mp3, please !
👉 Sample Rate : 44.1kHz. If you mixed at a higher sample rate (like 96kHz or 192kHz), that’s fine too, just make sure your mastering engineer can work with it.
👉 Bit Depth : Export your file at 24-bit.
👉 Don’t normalize your stems. When exporting your stems, don’t normalize them. Normalizing adjusts the overall level, which can mess with the balance of your mix.
👉 Don’t use Dithering when you export your pre-master. It’s typically applied during mastering when reducing bit depth, and applying it prematurely can interfere with the mixing process. We’ll take care of it in the final stage.
👉 Your track is ready to shine! Let us handle the mastering and bring out its full potential.
Provide Reference Tracks 🎶
Here’s where it really helps to show your mastering engineer what you’re going for. Reference tracks are tracks that sound similar to what you want your song to sound like.
👉 Be Specific : Let the engineer know if you’re trying to match the loudness, energy, or tonal balance of a particular track.
👉 Pick the Right References : Choose tracks that are close in sound, vibe, and style to what you want. If your track has a similar vibe to a popular song, send that song along so the engineer can match the feel and tone.
Upload Your Files to a Secure Platform 📤
Once your track is ready to go, upload it to a reliable file transfer service. You want to make sure the mastering engineer has easy access to your files.
👉 Use Trusted File Transfer Services : Platforms like Dropbox, WeTransfer, Google Drive or Soundcloud are great for sending large files. Just make sure your track is properly uploaded and can be easily downloaded by the mastering engineer.
👉 Check for Integrity : Double-check that the file is intact and fully uploaded. You don’t want to send a corrupted or incomplete file!
Communicate with the Mastering Engineer 📞
Now, don’t leave the mastering engineer in the dark! Communication is key.
👉 Set Clear Expectations : If you have specific requests for the final sound (e.g., more low end, clearer vocals, etc.), make sure you tell the engineer. The more details, the better.
👉 Be Available for Feedback : Once the engineer sends the first draft, take the time to listen carefully and provide constructive feedback. If something doesn’t sound right, be clear about what needs adjustment.
Final Review and Approval ✅
Once the mastering engineer has completed the final master, it’s time to give it the once-over.
👉 Listen on Multiple Devices : Check how it sounds on your headphones, car stereo, and regular speakers. You want to be sure it sounds good everywhere.
👉 Give Feedback or Approve : If everything sounds perfect, it’s time to approve the master and get your music out into the world!
