Mastering for streaming
Mastering for streaming services, article Updated for March 2020 :
Audio mastering, by ear.
One engineer, one room, sixteen years of solely audio mastering. Every track is heard by me, in a well treated room. If a mix change would give you a better master, I’ll let you know (if requested). Every audio mastering job is a custom job.
£30 per track£112 4 tracks£230 10 to 12 tracks
Half the going rate. Same PMC monitoring, same acoustic treatment, same Manley, Crane Song and SSL hardware as the rooms charging ninety pounds a track. No VAT, anywhere. Revisions included.
Every price, and what is included Some of the records
Public Service Broadcasting (UK top 10 album), Denise Chaila (RTÉ album of the year), Nick Powell (Attenborough’s Our Story), Acid Jazz Records, Ozric Tentacles, Omni Trio, Låpsley, The Beat, Carpe Sonum, Dee C’rell, Backatcha Records, Kuljit Bhamra MBE, Terence Collie, and a few thousand independent artists since 2010.
Why people come back
Automated services process. An audio mastering engineer hears what your mix needs, advises on the mix if asked, and takes responsibility for the result.
Someone actually listens
Every track is cared for, in a treated room, given due attention. If a mix change would give you a better master, I tell you (if requested). Every audio mastering job is tailored, precision work.
You are not on your own
Clear notes in plain English, a phone number that gets answered, and mix feedback on request.
One engineer, one standard
No trainees, no second-tier rate, no mastering bolted on to a mix room. Twenty-four years of professional audio, sixteen solely audio mastering.
A room you can trust
PMC IB1S monitors flat to 25 Hz, 28 bass traps, Crane Song conversion, Manley and SSL hardware. The same reference for thousands of releases.
Fast, without rushing
Singles in two to three working days, EPs in three to five, albums in about a week. Paid jobs go straight into the schedule.
Free mix notes
Ask for a mix appraisal and you get specific, usable notes before mastering starts. Free on singles and EPs.
How it works
Most first-time clients email first. Regulars just pay and upload. Both are fine.
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Send your mix
24-bit WAV or AIFF, no limiter, no clipping. WeTransfer or a link in the form. Say what the release is for and send one reference if you have one.
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I listen first
Before audio mastering, I listen carefully in room.
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Mastering
Analogue and digital tools chosen for the track, on PMC monitoring in a room that is flat to 25 Hz. One engineer, no assistants.
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Approve and release
Masters sent back to check on your own system. Nine in ten are approved first time. Revisions on the same mix are included, within reason. DDP, vinyl and streaming versions on request.
Whatever you are releasing
The process is the same: listen, correct, enhance, check.
Song mastering
A single track, given the same care as an album. £30, two free revisions, instrumental or PA version included.
EP mastering
Three to six tracks levelled and equalised to sit together as a release. Four tracks £112.
Album mastering
Ten to twelve tracks sequenced, spaced and finished as one product. DDP and vinyl pre-masters available. £230.
Stem mastering
Up to fourteen grouped stems for targeted fixes to kick and bass, vocals or harshness. £56 per track.
Mix appraisal
Written, specific notes on your mix before mastering starts. Free on singles and EPs when requested.
Vinyl, CD and streaming
Quality-controlled 24-bit vinyl pre-masters, DDP images with a player, ISRC embedding and loudness-aware streaming masters.
In their words
I am extremely happy with the results. It sounds both smoother and fatter, exactly what I was after, without being over hyped. I had tried doing it myself but nothing beats a fresh pair of good ears in a good room with good equipment, and Barry has all of those.
Your golden ear and attention to detail really came through. Over months and eight CDs your patience, diligence and professionalism were unparalleled. “Good enough” is clearly not in your vocabulary.
When presented with an album of eclectic music that required balancing and bringing together, Barry delivered swiftly and with real finesse. His masters really breathed air into the music, with subtlety and great taste.
The tweaks you suggested made a big difference and your critique was spot on. The song really has punch and bounces along just how I envisaged. You nailed it.
Very impressed with your work. I will definitely be sending more mastering work your way.
Right from the beginning I was impressed by his professionalism, punctual communications and advice. The finished product really brought the music to life. We will definitely be using him for our next album.
The room
Why the room matters more than the rack
A master is only as good as the decisions behind it, and every decision is made by ear. This room has 28 broadband bass traps (one is two metres deep), PMC IB1S three-way monitors on isolated stands and a Crane Song Solaris DAC. It is flat to 25 Hz, which is why sub bass, kick weight and low-mid mud are judged correctly here and translate to earbuds, cars and club systems.
The analogue chain is real and in the room: Manley Massive Passive, SSL Bus+, HCL VariS and Summit DCL-200 valve compressors, alongside a carefully chosen digital toolset. The combination of what is used depends on the track.
What you get that an app cannot give you
Human mastering is for a release you care about, a person who listens, advises, cares and takes responsibility is the difference.
| Aspect | Safe&Sound | Automated mastering |
|---|---|---|
| Who listens to your mix | A mastering engineer with 24 years of professional ears, in a treated room | An algorithm. Nobody listens |
| Mix feedback before mastering | Free on request. Problems get fixed at source | None |
| Clicks, pops, sibilance, bad edits | Found and repaired by hand | Not resolved |
| Loud master and streaming master | Both, when the track benefits, at no extra cost (discretionary) | Preset based, one result |
| Revisions | Included. Nine in ten approved first time anyway | Re-run the preset |
| Price per track | £30, no subscription | Subscription or per-track fee |
From the blog
Straight answers on mastering, loudness and preparing your mixes, written from the mastering chair.
Preparing your music tracks for mastering
1. This is a concise entry with high information density about how to prepare your tracks and subsequent exported/bounced files for mastering.
Mix appraisal and mix advice (pre mastering)
Mix appraisal and advice is a service I have been providing at Safe&Sound Mastering for 9 years. Prior to becoming a mastering engineer I…
Before you send a first track
What files should I send?
Stereo 24-bit (or 32-bit float) WAV or AIFF at the sample rate of your session. No limiter on the master bus, no clipping, a little silence before and after. No MP3s. The FAQ covers preparation in detail.
How much does mastering cost?
A single track is £30, two tracks £60, three £90, a four-track EP £112, five tracks £130, and a ten to twelve track album £230. Stems are £56 per track. No VAT for any country. Revisions on the same mix are included, within reason. Full price list.
How long does it take?
Singles usually two to three working days, EPs three to five, albums about a week. Payment schedules the job; if you have a deadline, say so.
Is the mix appraisal really free?
Yes, on singles and EPs, when you ask at the start of a paid job. You get short, specific notes so problems are fixed at the mix. A full album appraisal is £50.
Do you master for Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube?
Yes. Standard delivery is a dithered 24-bit 44.1 kHz WAV that works everywhere. For loud genres I supply a loud version and a streaming version at no extra cost where it helps (discretionary).
Why are your prices lower than other engineers?
No loans on the equipment, low overheads, and a preference for steady work over high rates. The room, the monitoring and the experience are the same as studios charging three times more.
Ready when your mix is.
Send a 24-bit, unlimited mix and I will listen before anything is processed. Ask for a mix appraisal if you want notes first.
- Phone
- 07810 271371
- Files
- WeTransfer to the email above