Music mastering

01 Why mastering is a separate step

After weeks with a song, nobody hears it objectively any more. A low end that seemed fine on your monitors can boom in a car; a vocal that sounded clear at home can turn harsh on earbuds. Mastering catches this before your audience does.

At Variatesystems it happens in a dedicated room, apart from the control room where we mix, so Lotte is not working with the same acoustic blind spots as the mix engineer. A different room and a different person are exactly what make mastering worthwhile.

Mastering works in fractions of a decibel across the whole song, not on individual instruments.

02 One master for each format

Streaming, CD and vinyl each ask for something different, and a single file for all of them usually ends up a compromise. We make a version for each destination.

Ask your pressing plant or distributor for their specifications and pass them on; we deliver to match. For more on loudness and normalisation, read our guide on mastering for streaming.

03 What to send

• One stereo WAV per song at the original sample rate, 24-bit or 32-bit float.
• No limiter or maximiser on the master bus, with a few dB below full scale.
• Intact heads and tails: let reverb ring out; we prefer to do fades ourselves.
• A track list in running order, with titles as they will appear on the release.
• ISRC codes and artist name if you need a CD or DDP.
• References and a short note on what you are aiming for.

Not sure your mix is ready? Send one song and you will get an honest answer within 2 working days. A small change in the mix often beats a big correction in the master. If the mix is not finished yet, have a look at mixing.

04 Treating the album as one piece

An album is more than twelve songs in a row. Lotte makes sure a ballad after a heavy opener does not feel like a drop-off and that the loudest track does not overshadow the rest. Gaps between songs are chosen deliberately, and where tracks segue, the transition stays seamless.

You receive a continuous listening file of the whole record so you can judge it as a listener before giving notes per song. The album package covers releases of up to twelve tracks; for longer records we quote separately.

05 Notes, revisions and sign-off

Every mastering job includes 2 revision rounds. Listen on several systems at different times of day, and compare at matched volume with your mix or reference: a louder version nearly always sounds better at first, even when it is not.

If a note concerns one instrument, such as a snare that is too loud, it is usually a mix issue. We will say so and can work from stems or ask your mix engineer to adjust. Final delivery files are made only after you approve the masters in writing.

06 Scheduling and turnaround

A single song is usually quicker than an album, but the exact timing depends on the calendar. Lotte also handles scheduling and puts a concrete delivery date in your quote. If you have a fixed release date, mention it right away.

Distributors typically want files a few weeks before release, and vinyl plants often need longer, including a test pressing. So do not leave mastering to the last day. We keep your masters and project files for 12 months, so an extra format can still be made later.

07 Not included in the mastering price

• Mixing or fixing problems in individual tracks; see mixing.
• Restoration of old or damaged recordings.
• Registering ISRC codes or barcodes; your distributor or label handles that.
• Cutting the lacquer for vinyl; the pressing plant does that.
• Revision rounds beyond the included 2.

If any of these come up, we discuss options and costs with you first.

08 Prices and payment

Mastering a single track costs €65 including 21% VAT (€53.72 excluding VAT). An album of up to twelve tracks is €540 including VAT (€446.28 excluding VAT), with every format from the table above.

A 30% deposit is due on confirmation and the balance on delivery of the masters. Business clients pay within 14 days of the invoice date. The full conditions are in our terms and conditions, and how we handle your files and data is in the privacy policy. Ready to start? Get in touch or call 020 846 3172.