Audio Mastering and How To Get Started

Audio Mastering ensures that your master will sound exactly the way you want it to sound, with all of the songs in the correct order and the right amount of spacing between songs. You should make a safety copy of your master before you ship or deliver it anywhere.

Preparing your Audio Master for replication
Your CD Master must be mixed to two tracks, edited, and sequenced. Make sure it sounds exactly like you want it to sound, with all the songs in the correct order and the right amount of spacing between songs.

We do not provide equalization or level adjustments unless requested. As part of our mission to make you sound great, we are offering a FREE Audio Mastering review - upon request - when you place a new CD replication order. A SoundLab engineer will preview your master to determine whether or not your CD would benefit from post production audio mastering. We'll give you our honest opinion with no sales pitch.

To get started, please download and fill out the SoundLab Engineering questionnaire, to help our engineers get the most out of your master.

Track listing form for Audio Mastering
You must complete a Track Listing Form with your master. Click here to download the form. Required information on the form includes a complete and accurate running time log listing all events (tones, silences, songs, outtakes, noises, etc.) as they occur.

For CD replication, track starts should be indicated on the log.

Maximum program lengths vary by format. For CDs, the maximum length is 79:45 minutes. For programs over the industry recommended 78:00 total time, you must submit a signed disclaimer form with your order. Click here to download the Track Listing Form.

Master tape formats we accept for Audio Mastering

We can accept your master on one of the following formats:
• CD-R master (audio or files)
• PMCD master (pre-mastered CD)
• Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
• 1610 or 1630 U-matic Tape
• Mini Disk
• DDP (exabyte tape or cd image)
• 1/2" or 1/4" Analog Tape

Handling masters for Audio Mastering
Handle all masters carefully, both before and after recording. Touch them only by the edges and keep them free of fingerprints and scratches that can cause data errors. Make sure your master and box are labeled clearly with your contact information.