Online mastering for singles and albums
You have finished the mix. The next step is not to run it through a preset and hope the numbers look right. It is to have someone hear the record, understand what you want to keep and make the final decisions around the release.
I am Rupert Withers, the producer and mastering engineer behind Vigilante Studio. I listen to every track and master it myself. You can tell me what matters in the mix, what you are already happy with and what still concerns you. That context belongs in the mastering process.
- £50per track
- Turnaround7 to 10 days
- Apple Digital Master delivery included for eligible recordings
Mastering starts with what you want to keep
The mix already contains choices. The bass may be deliberately forward. The vocal may sit inside the band rather than above it. A quiet track may need to stay quieter than the songs around it.
I listen before deciding what needs attention. The aim is not to force every track towards the same balance, loudness or character. It is to prepare your music for release while keeping the choices that make it yours.
Your notes do not need to sound technical. Tell me how you hear the song, which references are useful and whether there is anything you do not want changed. If something that bothers you belongs back in the mix, I will say so rather than pretend mastering can solve it.
A music mastering service built around finished stereo mixes
Online mastering is for a finished stereo mix. It suits independent artists, bands and labels releasing a single, EP or album and looking for a named mastering engineer rather than an automated result.
Single-track mastering covers a song up to five minutes long. Albums can run to 74 minutes in total and are charged at the same £50 per-track rate. A longer individual track should be discussed before you order so the scope can be confirmed.
This is not stem mastering. If you need changes to individual instruments, vocals, effects or edits, the project may need more work in the mix first. Production and stereo mixing are available separately where the track is not yet ready for mastering.
What to send
Please send WAV or AIFF files. Standard 44.1 kHz, 16-bit files are accepted, along with higher-resolution files from 48 to 96 kHz and 24 to 32 bit.
Export the finished mix at its native sample rate and bit depth. Do not convert a lower-resolution file to a higher number simply to make it appear more suitable. Upsampling cannot restore information that was not present in the recording.
If Apple Digital Master delivery is part of your release plan, the original recording and mix must meet the programme requirements. A true 24-bit source is required. The Apple Digital Master page explains the source conditions in more detail.
What you receive
Your mastered WAV files are returned by email and are ready to download from your account. For eligible recordings, the delivery includes an Apple Digital Master version and a CD-quality version at no extra charge.
If an album requires a DDP for replication, mention it before ordering so the required sequence, track information and delivery can be confirmed. Do not assume a DDP is included automatically when the release does not need one.
The final masters are prepared for the agreed release rather than for one streaming service alone. Playback level, encoding and normalisation can differ between services and devices, so the mastering decisions need to work as music rather than chase a single screen reading.
£50
per track
One price and no rush tier
The published price is £50 per track. VAT is added for UK customers and is not charged to overseas customers.
The stated turnaround is 7 to 10 days, and I aim to return the work sooner. Work is scheduled on a first come, first served basis, and there is no paid express tier. If you are working towards a fixed release date, tell me before you order so I can confirm whether the schedule is realistic.
Apple Digital Master delivery is not a paid upgrade. It is included when the recording is eligible.
Upload, checkout and leave the engineering to me
1
Choose the number of tracks you need mastered and add them to the basket. Checkout provides one upload field for each track purchased. You can upload the files, add your notes and pay without creating an account or using a separate transfer portal.
2
The files are attached to the order. Once payment and uploads are complete, you receive confirmation and I receive the information needed to begin.
3
I then listen, master the tracks and return the finished files by email. If I need to clarify a note or hear a mix issue that should be discussed before mastering continues, I will contact you.
Online from Buckinghamshire and available internationally
Vigilante Studio is based in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, but the mastering service is handled online. You do not need to travel into London, book a studio room or attend a session.
I work with artists and labels in the UK, the US and other international markets.
Questions about online mastering
Can I order mastering from outside the UK?
Yes. You upload the files during checkout and receive the masters by email. VAT is not charged to overseas customers, subject to the final checkout configuration.
Do you offer stem mastering?
No. The online mastering service is for a finished stereo mix. If the track needs changes to individual elements, ask about production and mixing before ordering mastering.
What happens if my song is longer than five minutes?
Contact Rupert before ordering. The published single-track service covers songs up to five minutes, so a longer recording needs to be checked before payment.
Can mastering fix a problem in my mix?
Sometimes a concern can be addressed at the mastering stage. Other changes require access to the mix. Describe what you are hearing and Rupert will tell you when the issue belongs back in the mix.
Let me hear the record you have made
Upload your finished stereo mix, tell me what matters in it and start your online mastering order.