FAQs
What is mastering?
Mastering is the final step to prepare your music for distribution after it has been mixed. We take your stereo audio mix, creatively tonally process it using our hybrid analog and digital workflow, and prep it for distribution. There are several considerations in this process: unifying the sound of a record, maintaining consistency across all tracks, track spacing and preparing text data and file levels in the correct formats for distribution while preserving and enhancing the sonic integrity of the source mix.
We hold ourselves to a high standard and our mission is to create the best sounding masters - creatively and technically. Whether you recorded at home or in a world-class recording studio, we can optimize your music to stand out in the market. We’ve worked on thousands of records from around the globe.
What does Numberstation need from me?
Your mix files
A detailed email with the text info for your masters:
Artist name(s)
Track titles
Album title
Composer name
Songwriter name
Label name
ISRC codes (if used)
Info about preferred formats for delivery
*You are responsible for providing us with correct spelling and punctuation*
What are the specs for files to be mastered?
We recommend 24 bit @ the native resolution of the mix file
Anything from 44.1khz to 96khz WAV or AIFF files
Send us your mix approved files in either stereo interleaved or multi-mono (left and right)
.wav or .aif files in whatever sample rate and bit depth they were mixed
How much headroom should the mixer leave in the mix files?
We prefer mixes -3 to -6 db bellow digital zero. Also sending us versions of mixes with and without additional buss processing (limiting) used for listening and mix approval are helpful
How long until I receive my master?
Typically, you can expect to receive the first version of your master within 2-10 days of Numberstation receiving your files, depending on our current workload. We are happy to accommodate rush jobs at an extra cost - email us for more info.
We will send you an email with a link to download the files. Please listen to them on whatever systems you typically listen to music on, then get back to us via email with your thoughts and any change requests.
What formats do I need?
Consider how your will be distributed - do you plan to press cds, make vinyl, release on Spotify or Apple Music? If you are working with an Aggregate like Cd Baby, Distro Kid or Tune Core
you will only need a version of your masters at 44.1 24 bit or CD resolution we will include a HI-RES version for you to keep as your archival master and for submitting and selling where accepted like Band Camp.
What are ISRC codes?
ISRC Code or International Standard Recording Code is a unique code used to identify recording and publishing rights, and credit information. This is important if you want to track plays or collect royalties. More information is available here: https://isrc.ifpi.org/en/
How do I get ISRC codes?
You can apply for ISRC codes at your local ISRC agency. To find the agency for your territory visit http://isrc.ifpi.org/en/contact/national-agency-contacts
You will be provided with specific and clear instructions on how to create and assign your ISRC codes. When you send us your final track list, please include the ISRC code that corresponds to each song.
As a new registrant, the ISRC code format will be: XX-XXX-20-XXXXX (Country Code – Registrant Code – Release Year – Track Number.) The track numbers will begin with 00001, 00002, 00003, etc.
How many changes do I get included in the mastering fee?
Our fee includes up to 3 rounds of changes. Typically this is more than sufficient, but in the rare circumstance that additional rounds of changes are needed, those will be billed at an hourly rate.
What if I decide an element of my mix is too loud or quiet? Can you fix that for me?
Changes that require re-balancing the mix of your song should go to your mix engineer. We are happy to communicate with the mix engineer about what is possible on our end.