Album and EP mastering.
An album has to work as one record, not ten separate songs. I master EPs and albums so every track holds its own and the whole thing flows, for streaming, club play, CD and vinyl.
The details
Why an album needs its own approach
Mastering single tracks is about making each song as good as it can be. Mastering an album adds a second job: making the songs belong together. Levels and tone have to feel consistent from track to track, so nobody reaches for the volume between songs, while quiet moments still feel quiet and big moments still feel big.
What album mastering covers
- Consistency: loudness and tonal balance matched across the whole record.
- Flow: track order, the spaces between songs, fades and transitions, with seamless crossfades for continuous mixes on request.
- Formats: release ready WAV files for streaming and download, separate masters for vinyl with side lengths checked, and DDP for a CD plant on request.
- One sound, two contexts: for electronic releases, versions that work both on streaming and on a club system when you need them.
What to send
Your final stereo mixes as WAV or AIFF, 24 bit, at the project's sample rate, with some headroom and no limiter on the mix bus. Add the track order, any gaps or crossfades you want, and a few reference records whose sound you like. If one song isn't finished yet, tell me early: it is easier to plan the album around it than to fit it in afterwards.
For vinyl
Vinyl adds physical limits: side length, low end and high frequencies. I prepare masters specifically for the format and deliver them to your cutting engineer or pressing plant. More on mastering for vinyl.
Price and timing
Album and EP projects are quoted individually, depending on the number of tracks and the formats you need. Mastering includes one revision round. Send me the track list and your release date and you'll get a clear quote and timeline before anything starts.
Questions
Should I master an album track by track?
Not in isolation. Each track still gets individual attention, but the decisions are made with the whole record in mind, so the songs sit together when they play in order.
Can you master an album for vinyl and streaming?
Yes. Streaming and vinyl usually get separate masters, because vinyl has physical limits that a digital master doesn't. Both come from the same sound so the record feels the same on every format.
Do I need stems for album mastering?
No. Stereo mixes are standard. If a few songs have balance problems that can't be fixed in the stereo file, stem mastering for those tracks is an option.
Do you make DDP files for CD?
Yes, on request. If you're pressing CDs, I can deliver a DDP image that the plant can use directly.
How long does album mastering take?
It depends on the number of tracks and formats. You get a clear timeline with the quote, before you commit.