Mastering

The last listening pass before your mix goes public: level, tone and sequence matched to how people will actually hear it, with one focused revision round built in.

Mastering is not a fix for a weak mix; it is the stage where your material translates on earbuds, car systems and club PA’s. At Nitentxara in Amsterdam we work from a dedicated mastering chain in our control room (21 m²), separate from tracking days, so we can judge balance, dynamics and loudness with fresh ears.

You send a finished stereo WAV; we return masters suited to streaming, download or vinyl cutting. Many clients arrive after mixing in-house, but outside mixes are welcome when they leave headroom and avoid a slammed mix bus. For background on loudness targets, see our loudness and mastering guide.

Process

01
Brief
Send mixes, target formats, references and track order if you have it. We confirm within 1 business day(s) what is feasible and when masters will be ready.
02
Check
We scan for noise, clicks, DC offset and whether the mix leaves enough room to work. If something looks wrong, we email before processing so you are not paying to master an overloaded file.
03
Master
EQ, dynamics and level are tuned to your medium. EPs and albums get a consistent line across songs; gaps and sequence are agreed with you.
04
Deliver
You receive download links with clearly named files (WAV and other formats when agreed). One revision round from concrete notes is included; after that the job closes under our terms and conditions.

Who benefits from mastering

Independent artists releasing a single or EP, producers who mix themselves but want a neutral second opinion, and bands that tracked at live band recording and now need a final polish: mastering is for anyone treating release seriously. Small labels that want several songs on the same loudness line also book us for short batches.

Attended sessions (you listen in the control room) are billed per stem at the attended rate—useful when you want to hear what half a dB changes in real time. Unattended mastering—you upload, we work async—fits tight schedules or clients abroad.

What to send

Deliver one stereo mix per song as WAV, ideally 24 bit at 48 kHz (other sample rates are fine when your project requires them). Include tempo, title and desired running order. Avoid mixes already crushed to streaming loudness: roughly 3–6 dB of headroom gives us space to work.

One clearly named file per song
Optional: two or three reference tracks (for intent, not cloning)
For vinyl: side A/B layout and maximum length per side
For sequenced releases: pause lengths between songs in seconds

If your mix is still open, delivering stems for mix may help; otherwise a quick note via contact before payment saves back-and-forth.

Loudness and platforms

Streaming services normalize playback; pushing level in mastering rarely wins audibility and often adds distortion on quiet systems. We aim at common integration targets without wrecking your mix. For download or your own store we can leave a little more peak room when you prefer it.

Medium guidelines (indicative)
Medium	Focus
Streaming	Consistent perceived loudness, true peak within platform limits
Download / Bandcamp	Slightly wider dynamics when your audience listens on proper monitors
Vinyl	Bass mono issues and side length cap how hot a cut can be
Video / sync	Dialogue mixes sometimes sit a touch lower than music-only

More detail lives in loudness and mastering; meters guide us, they are not the artistic goal.

EPs, albums and sequence

An EP up to six songs uses the €340 package; anything beyond that is quoted upfront. Larger albums may split into mastering blocks or bill per track—transparent on the quote.

Sequence is more than file order: we watch energy between songs, crossfades where needed, and how the set feels as one playlist. Send a draft order; after the first master pass you hear the sequence as one timed download.

Revisions and notes

Mastering includes one revision round: send timecodes or clear notes (for example “verse at 1:45 less sibilant”), we adjust and re-deliver. Extra passes or a new creative direction after approval are quoted separately, as is stem mastering if you later want individual buses treated on their own.

Mix changes after mastering fall outside that round: send a new mix and we treat it as a new song or revision package depending on scope. Major remix work is better handled in mixing, where 2 revision rounds sit in the price.

Delivery and archive

We deliver PCM WAV masters at the agreed sample rate. When your distributor asks for specific formats (such as 16 bit for certain aggregators), we add them if we have discussed any trade-offs. ISRC and store metadata stay with you in the aggregator; we supply audio files only.

Project files stay on our secure storage for 12 months, then delete unless you book an extension. Download masters promptly and keep your own backup—studio drives are not a substitute for yours.

Pricing and VAT

All rates on this page are consumer prices including 21% VAT. Business invoicing is available with 30-day payment terms when company details are complete. Attended slots require a 30% deposit per terms and conditions; unattended jobs invoice per order.

€48 applies per stem when you are in the room; unattended per-song work uses €90. Net figures for your books: €74.38 per track and €280.99 for the EP package.

What is not included

Mastering does not cover remixing, vocal tuning, rescue of poorly recorded sources, or uploading to Spotify or Apple Music. We do not produce DDP for CD plants or book vinyl cutting at the plant; we do deliver files your cutter expects when you share specs.

Recording from scratch starts at vocal and rap recording or podcast and voice-over; mastering always follows a finished mix. Usage questions sit in FAQ and, where relevant, our privacy policy.

Included

Listening on mastering monitors in the control room
EQ, dynamics and level matched to your medium
One revision round from concrete feedback
Sequence and gaps for EP/album within package
WAV delivery via secure download
12 months project archive after delivery
Short technical check of your mix before mastering

FAQ

How fast is unattended mastering?

A single song usually lands within a few business days after we receive a healthy mix. EPs and busy weeks get a deadline in the confirmation email; for rush slots call 020 244 8916.

Can I attend the session?

Yes—that is attended mastering at the stem rate. Book within opening hours — Mon–Fri 10–20, Sat 10–18 — and we work interactively on level and sequence.

Should my mix already have a limiter?

Preferably not on the stereo bus. Mixes without heavy limiting master best. Severe clipping in the upload triggers a conversation first; returning to mix is sometimes smarter.

What if I want changes after the included revision?

The included round covers targeted tweaks. Structural changes or extra passes are quoted separately; approval by email keeps pricing clear.

Do you master for clients outside Amsterdam?

Yes. Upload via our link; briefing and payment run online. Only attended sessions require showing up at Overtoom 551.

Other services

Recording in Amsterdam?

Tell us about your session

Describe your project: we reply within 1 working day with a slot proposal and a written quote, no obligation.

Request a quote 020 244 8916