FAQs

HOW DO I BOOK MY MASTERING?

Get in touch via our CONTACT FORM or email us us at info@oxbowmastering.com

DO YOU OFFER MIXING?

No, we offer mastering services only. We can however put you in contact with trusted mixing engineers.

WHAT ARE THE TURNAROUND TIMES?

We will meet your deadlines if you are in a rush. Usually the process take around a week for an album, and two days for a single.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

Everything you need:

• Detailed advise to improve the mix, if asked for.
• All revisions needed to the master to achieve the result you want.
• DDP image for CD duplication and DDP player software to check the DDP image.
• Wav mastered files plus any other format when required.
• ISRC codes encoded onto the master, if provided.

MASTERING PREFERENCES

If you have a preference for the style of mastering, please let us know before the mastering process begins. If you are unsure, let us know of tracks that you prefer the sound of in terms of overall loudness and tonal balance. Loudness is not a problem, we can make the tracks competitively loud to your genre or we can work to the 'organic' loudness potential of your mixes if you would prefer to avoid any compromises that extreme loudness processing sometimes requires.

Another option is to leave it to us with no prompting, this approach can take the track in another direction that you wouldn't have considered and can be quite revealing at times as to how others hear the potential of the material.

WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU NEED?

• Artist/Band Name: Exactly as it should appear.
• Album or Release Title: Use standard capitalisation unless part of the official name.
• Track Listing / Song Order: List all songs in order. For vinyl and cassette, indicate the sides A and B split.
• Release Format(s): specify all formats you’re releasing (CD, vinyl, cassette, digital/streaming, etc.).
• Editing Requirements: Provide notes on noise removal, count-ins etc. to be kept/removed.
• Release Sequencing: Information on transitions between tracks, preferences for gaps and spacing.
• Release Codes: If applicable. Required for digital distribution. Providing ISRC and UPC/EAN codes in advance ensures they’re embedded in every master format, including CD masters. (They cannot be added once CD production begins.)
• Album Artwork: if you’d like cover art embedded in your MP3s etc. please send a .jpg or .png file along with your audio.

You can send this in a text file along with your audio files or in an email.

AFTER THE MASTERING

The mastered files will be made available securely our website for playback and approval. Playback of the release is lossless and will include transitions (gapless or otherwise) between tracks. Once approved, those files can be downloaded after payment has been completed.

HOW ARE PAYMENTS PROCESSED?

Payments are paid via direct bank transfer or via Stripe. All details and options will be available from your invoice. Payment is due on completion.

HOW DO I SEND MY FILES?

You can email us a download link or we can send you a secure upload link.

WHAT IS YOUR MASTERING PROCESS?

A combination of analogue and/or digital processing. Whatever will work best to serve the music.