What our mastering step covers
Mastering at Cijativojaconsulting follows mixing: level, tonal balance and sequence for your release. Rates start at €98 per track and €395 for up to twelve songs. Stem masters — separate files per destination — are €145 each.
We do not hand over a mystery zip without notes. Delivery includes sample rate, bit depth, peak and loudness notes where relevant, plus clear file names. Your distributor, plant or broadcaster can work without endless email.
Scope and revisions follow the same 2 rounds as mix work in our terms and conditions. Project questions? Contact us.
WAV and hi-res basics
Default delivery is PCM WAV, usually 24 bit. Sample rate depends on the end platform: 44.1 kHz for many streaming and CD paths, 48 kHz when video or broadcast is involved. We do not convert blindly; if your mix already sits at 96 kHz we discuss whether downsampling fits your route.
Archive lossless. MP3 or AAC are derivatives for preview, not the vault. Keep backups in at least two places — local SSD plus cloud or a second drive — and mark which version is final after revisions.
Our project archive keeps sessions 12 months; you remain responsible for long-term master storage.
Streaming and loudness
Platforms in the Netherlands and elsewhere normalise playback. Too quiet wastes headroom; too hot can trigger extra attenuation and sound smaller. We aim for a balance that fits your genre — not a random forum number.
True peak limiting reduces clipping after lossy encoding. If you will encode again later, leave margin; we can supply an alternate «moderate loudness» version at stem rate when you truly need two targets.
ISRC and store metadata sit with your distributor; we deliver upload-ready audio. Release budgeting after mix is covered in planning a mix budget.
Vinyl and physical manufacturing
Vinyl needs different length and frequency choices than a streaming single. Side length, bass mono below a cutoff and sibilance are talking points before the final master. Give the plant what they specify — often WAV per side plus a timed track list.
When a CD plant expects DDP, we build that sequence on request as its own deliverable. Not every artist needs CD; state it in the quote so the budget matches.
Lacquer checks happen at the plant, not in our room. We align to their specs so the chain is not EQ’d twice.
Broadcast, video and stem masters
Broadcast and corporate video sometimes require EBU R128 or specific true-peak ceilings. Send format sheets before mastering starts; fixing later costs more than doing the right version once.
Stem masters are separate finals per medium — for example «instrumental for TV», «clean for radio», «vinyl side A» — at €145 each. Useful when one song serves multiple outlets without remastering from the mix every time.
Podcast loudness is gentler than dance; spoken shows often lean on podcast recording and light dynamics rather than album mastering.
Delivery and file exchange
We deliver via secure download or on a drive you provide when collecting at Overtoom 141 in Amsterdam. Large albums are unreliable over email; use agreed cloud or physical media.
A short listening note or checksum helps version control. Avoid renaming files randomly after receipt — aggregators sometimes match on title.
Audio privacy follows our privacy policy. Commercial rights stay as in your agreements with us and your rightsholders; mastering does not change authorship.
Common mistakes
- Archiving only MP3 and losing the WAV after upload.
- Leaving the mix bus pinned at -1 dBFS — mastering has no room.
- Publishing two different masters without version labels.
- Cutting vinyl from a streaming master without a bass check.
- Spreading revisions over months while the album is already promoted.
Avoid this by stating goals upfront and bundling revisions within a few weeks, as with mix work.
Checklist before you book mastering
- Final mix without a limiter on the mix bus unless agreed.
- Platform list: streaming, vinyl, broadcast, video.
- Plant or broadcaster specs as PDF or link if they exist.
- Album order and fades; ISRC later at the distributor.
- Choose single master, album bundle or extra stem masters.
Ready to start? See mastering and delivery or call 020 737 0842. Recording too? Read prepare for a vocal session so mixes are ready for the final pass.
