Pricing & Info
STANDARD Mastering RATES
ALL PRICING IN $US, ROUNDED TO WHOLE DOLLAR AMOUNTS
MASTERING
Pristine Audio Enhancement $16/min. of audio
- Traditional stereo file mastering.
- Includes: 24 bit HQ masters, 16 bit / 44.1k WAV for CD, & 320kbps AAC’s.*
- *Important Note: If you need to go back to the mix stage to fix issues, requiring new mastering settings, this will be billed as new time. Modified mixes that use the same settings are billed by the “alternate mixes” price.
- “Single” releases are $80
- (Singles are 1 song by itself)
STEM MASTERING
Bus or Group Stems $24/min. of audio
- Projects that give us individual bus or group stems to use for mastering.
- Next level control of the mastering process. Allowing us to make deeper adjustments by type of instrument/element, without affecting other parts of the mix.
- Please see our guide to preparing stems properly.
- “Single” releases are $160
- (Singles are 1 song by itself)
ALTERNATE MIXES
Mastering Alt Versions $8/min. of audio
- Running different mixes of the same material through approved master settings.
- Typically these alternate mixes are label/producer requests of vocal up/down, radio bleep edits, or different arrangements, etc…
STEMS FOR VIDEO
Mastering for Video Sync $10/Group Stem*
- Perfect for artists interested in sync royalties.
- Stay ahead with mastered stems! This applies cohesive master processing to all stems from your project for re-assembly in sync. Easy for video editors to place your songs to film.
- *After stereo master approval
STREAMING & DOWNLOAD FORMATS
APPLE DIGITAL MASTERS
ADM™ - Formerly "MfiT" $80/Album
- Liquid Mastering is an Apple approved supplier of Apple Digital Masters, formerly known as MFiT™ (Mastered For iTunes). These can be prepared separately for a nominal cost, at any point after the mastering session. Delivered as 24-bit Wave files. These masters may be slightly lower in overall level, as per Apple Spec.
SOUNDCLOUD
Maximized For Their Algorithm $5/Song
- SoundCloud uses a lossy compression algorithm for its streaming audio that has a tendency to create audible distortion and crackling during playback. If you plan on uploading your masters to SoundCloud, we can prepare a special set of files to ensure you’re getting the highest-fidelity that is distortion free. Like MFiT, these masters may be slightly lower in overall level.
MQA
Master Quality Authentication $100/Project
- Files exported using the proprietary “MQA” encoding technology.
- Learn more about the alleged performance of MQA here.
PHYSICAL FORMATS
DDP MASTER
File for Replication $80/Project
- If you plan to release your music on CD, you may need a properly assembled and error-checked DDP file set. Check with your CD Duplication / Replication company.
- You can order these at any point after the mastering session.
VINYL
Optimized For Lathe Cutting $8/min. of audio*
- Files optimized for the limitations in, and focused for, the vinyl format. Giving your record more life and dimensionality in the needle groove. Provided as one HQ file for each – Side A, B, etc.
- *After stereo master approval
CASSETTE
Mastering for Tapes $8/min. of audio*
- Cassette masters are prepared as one file for each side of the cassette, rendered at 16-bit, unless your replication/duplication facility can accept 24-bit files.
- *After stereo master approval
ISRC
Tracking Codes $40/project*
- We can generate ISRC for your project & give you a list with the master files to supply to your distributor. We can also embed your ISRC’s into the DDP master if you elect to go that route.
- *Single releases are just $15
OTHER MIX & MASTERING SERVICES
MIXING
Professional Mixing $250+/Song
- If your mixes aren’t shaping up the way you want to hear, let us take them to the next level for you before the mastering stage.
- Over 2 decades of experience mixing in almost every genre.
- Mixing is charged hourly, or per song rate based on compexity.
- Contact us to work out a budget that works for your project.
AUDIOBOOK MASTERING
Audible - Authors Republic $40/Chapter or PFH
- For those who record their own work but don’t have the tools to do the final editing and mastering, we will prepare your audiobook for online distribution. We handle any technical requirements for ACX & have mastered many audiobooks published on Audible & by self published authors.
- Mastering can be contracted on either a per chapter rate if just mastering with no editing, or a per-finished-hour (pfh) rate for editing as well. Contact us to discuss your project.
PODCAST MASTERING
Final Polish for Publication $5/min. of audio
- For those who make their own podcasts but don’t have the tools to do the final mastering, we will prepare any material for online publications.
- We handle all the technical requirements for distribution and have mastered many seasons of Podcasts.
- Contact us to discuss your project.
TV SERIES MASTERING
Final Polish for Distribution $5/min. of audio
- We will prepare any TV/Film audio material for online distribution.
- We handle all the technical requirements of global loudness standards (ITU-R BS.1770) for distribution and have mastered several seasons of shows on Amazon Prime Video.
- Contact us to discuss your project.
CONSULTATION & DESIGN
SYSTEM & ROOM DESIGN
Home Studio - Live Sound $Varies/Package
- Besides designing the Liquid Mastering room in 2016 and building Sprout City Studios in 1997, Thaddeus has helped design acoustic treatment and sound reinforcement or recording systems in dozens of venues & churches, for hundreds of musicians, authors, podcasters, & budding engineers.
- Also, having a passion for helping people understand sound physics, capture, and manipulation, he has taught audio engineering classes since 2003.
- Let him help you in your personal, or business space and equipment design.
- 2-Hour minimum on the first session.
MIX CONSULTING
Any DAW - Live Shows $Varies/Package
- Screen sharing, in person at your studio or venue, or in Liquid’s, Thaddeus enjoys helping people understand the deeper workings of their mixing system.
- Let him help raise your understanding of mix balance, bus/aux routing, EQ, compression, limiting, expansion, gating, distortion, effects, and helpful tricks and tips to make the most of any setup you have.
- 2-Hour minimum on the first session.