Audio Production Masters

Preparing your music for the rest of the world to hear.

Streaming Services and Online Stores • Vinyl • Apple Digital Masters • Video and Music Licensing • Cassette • Compact Disc • Artist and Social Platforms • Download Cards

An Audio Production Master is simply your mastered audio correctly formatted for its intended distribution medium. Digital and physical distribution formats are constantly evolving. Streaming services are currently a popular destination, but vinyl and even cassette releases are also seeing a resurgence.

You may be planning to release your music in many different forms, so you'll need to make sure you have the appropriate type of Audio Production Master for each format you choose. While mastering will always take place at high resolution, your final mastered audio may need careful reformatting to meet the submission requirements of your intended distribution channels.

The process of creating different Audio Production masters may include:

  • sample rate conversion

  • bit depth reduction

  • encoding to a different file format

  • sequencing and editing tracks to conform to specific standards

No matter where your music is headed, I'll deliver properly created, error-free Audio Production Masters in any form necessary. Some of the most common distribution mediums and formats are described below.

Common Distribution Mediums and Formats

Some of the most common distribution formats that require their own type of Audio Production Masters or special preparation can be found below.

It’s always best to have your mastering engineer use high-quality tools to create your Production Masters. You’ll then have the ability to listen to them and have confidence everyone else will hear what you expect them to.

Streaming Services and Online Stores

Many streaming services have started accepting 24 bit files at high sample rates for their high fidelity subscriptions.

Some will still require 44.1 kHz / 16 bit masters. They will then encode them into a lossy format such as AAC or Ogg Vorbis for streaming or download.

Your masters will be 24 bit and possibly at a higher sample rate, so they may need quality sample rate conversion and bit depth reduction before delivery.

Apple Digital Masters

Formerly known as Mastered for iTunes, I am an Apple approved mastering engineer for the Apple Digital Masters program.

For a release to have the official Apple Digital Masters badge, the masters must be created by a mastering engineer on Apple's official Provider List who follows Apple’s quality control protocols.

Your mixes must be delivered to mastering at a minimum of 44.1 kHz / 24 bit. Mastered audio will be returned at 24 bit for delivery to Apple who will then encode them.

You do not need Apple Digital Masters to release your music on the Apple Music platform. This applies only if you want your release to have the official Apple Digital Masters badge.

Artist and Social Platforms

Video & Music Licensing

Platforms like SoundCloud and Bandcamp allow you to upload 24 bit files at sample rates higher than 44.1 kHz.

While they will encode these to a lossy format for streaming, but they allow listeners to download the full resolution files in the same lossless format you uploaded.

Vinyl

Cassette

A Vinyl Cutting Master is a single 24 bit digital audio file for each side of your record at the project’s native sample rate. It's sent to your vinyl cutting house along with a track list containing detailed timing information.

Each side of a record is a single file so the spacing between tracks remains locked. The timing sheet helps the cutting engineer understand the layout relative to the size and speed of the record as well as with banding between tracks.

Mastering for vinyl may require special sonic considerations in order to bring out the full warmth and sonic range of the format. At the end of the day, listening to records is a mechanical process, so there are many factors to consider in mastering.

Compact Disc

The Compact Disc is still a popular format in some parts of the world. It requires 44.1 kHz / 16 bit audio with masters usually formatted as a Disc Description Protocol image (DDPi) or in some cases and Audio CD-R.

The DDPi is an ideal format for an absolutely error-free master, creating a superior sounding CD which is also more reliable across a wide range of players.

Tracks are sequenced in your desired order with the appropriate gaps, fades and crossfades. Any optional metadata such as ISRC codes and CD-Text information can also be added.

This is all combined into a digital image of the Compact Disc. Also included is a track list containing detailed timing information.

I provide clients a software player that allows then to listen to the exact image of the CD that will go to manufacturing. It also allows them to burn their own reference discs.

Delivery requirements for video can vary widely, but the most common format is a 48 kHz / 24 bit file. Because of this, 48 kHz (or 96 kHz) has become a popular sample rate choice for artists as they begin the recording process.

Many music licensing services will also ask for a high quality mp3 that can be used for quick auditioning of tracks in their online tools.

If you’re hoping to license your music in television or film, be sure have instrumental and / or TV versions (usually no lead vocal, but keeping background vocals) of your mixes ready for mastering as well.

Cassette Production Masters are typically a single 44.1 kHz / 16 bit digital audio file for each side of the cassette. Some duplicators may accept 24 bit files at higher sample rates, but they may likely just convert them to 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.

This format is called "Program Ready" audio where each side of the cassette is considered a Program - Program A is Side A and Program B is Side B.

Combining the tracks into a single audio file means that all tracks are in the correct order with the desired gaps between them.

All masters are accompanied by a track list with timing information about each side.