Custom Music Mastering & Audiophile Restoration
for Streaming, Vinyl, and Immersive
Los Angeles, California - Williamsburg, Virginia
Mastering Rate Card
Online mastering is the easiest, fastest, and most affordable way to give your music the audiophile treatment at Marsh Mastering.
Unattended Mastering Rates
Stephen Marsh
Chief Engineer Discography
Song Mastering Rates (singles)
Per Song (ea) .................................. $300.00
(Mastering of stereo mix, rates per song)
Edit / Instrumental / A cappella ... $100.00
(Alternate versions / same settings as the main mix, rates per version)
Recall from Session Notes ............ $100.00
(rates per recall)
Vinyl Mastering Rates
Lacquer Master for 12" ................................ $400.00
(Mastered at Marsh Mastering, 18 min/side max)
Lacquer Master for 10" ................................ $300.00
(Mastered at Marsh Mastering, 12 min/side max)
Lacquer Master for 7" ................................... $200.00
(Mastered at Marsh Mastering, 4 1/2 min/side max)
Reference Acetates ....................................... $150.00
(All Sizes)
Set-up/File prep ............................................. $250.00
(Cost is per hour, billed by the 1/2 hour)
Due to the time sensitive nature of freshly cut lacquers, all cut masters must be shipped via overnight service to the plating facility / pressing plant at a cost of approximately $75. To ensure a fluid handoff you must have your pressing order set-up at the pressing plant prior to placing your order for lacquer masters.
Lacquer Master for 12" ................................ $450.00
(Mastered at Marsh Mastering, 21 min/side max)
Lacquer Master for 10" ................................ $350.00
(Mastered at Marsh Mastering, 14 min/side max)
Delivery
DDP Master ................................ $250.00
(Master format file for CD duplication or
replication, delivered via download link)
Red Book Master CD ................. $350.00
(Master format red book compliant disc for
CD duplication or replication, includes full QC.)
Album Reference CD ................... $150.00
Single / EP Reference CD ............ $100.00
Thumbdrive .................................. $25.00
WAV Audio Files ....................... Included
(WAV audio files, 16 Bit / 44.1 kHz. Additional file formats available at additional charge, delivered via download link.)
MP3/AAC/FLAC Files ................... $250.00
(Up to 15 files)
Apple digital Masters (MFiT) ....... $250.00
(Up to 15 files)
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Stereo WAV or AIFF files are preferred.
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Optimum resolution is 32 bit.
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Optimum sample rates are 48 and higher.
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Your mixes should peak between -12 to -3 DBFS.
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If you have plug-ins on your master bus, please send processed AND un-processed
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Leave space before and after the end of your song - allow space for reverb tails to ring out
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Alternate versions should be the same mix as the main
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For more information and mixing tips, please visit our FAQ.
The Fine Print!
Given rates are for unattended sessions. Please see our quote form if your looking for custom or in-studio mastering rates.
Files for mastering with tracklisting and notes must be uploaded in the correct format and ready for download one day before a scheduled session. Alternate versions must be delivered at the same time as the main versions. Changes to the master due to unnoticed errors in the mix or later changes to the mix are billed as other editing. Mastered files will be delivered upon receipt of payment in full. Shipping of any physical discs and/or thumbdrive will incur additional charges.
Procedure for Online Mastering
Use our Online Services page to complete the following:
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Upload your files for mastering, designating with which engineer you would like to work
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Your engineer will confirm receipt of your files and provide expected delivery date
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Once mastering is complete, your engineer will contact you for payment
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After payment has been received, you will receive a download link to retrieve your mastered song(s)
Turnaround
The average delivery time is 48-72 hours for singles, or 5-10 working days for albums and EPs
Rush service is available, please call us at 310-598-6038 or email for availability (additional charges will apply)
Download
If you are not replicating or duplicating your project, you do not need physical masters
A download link to your mastered WAV files, ready for digital distribution, are included in all rates
Red Book Master CD or DDP Master
Choose a Red Book master CD or DDP master if you will be replicating or duplicating your CD. A DDP is an error corrected format used for glass master production. A DDP can be delivered on a physical medium or as a downloadable file. A DDP can contain ISRC and other codes. Shipping charges for physical masters will be an additional cost.
ISRC - International Standard Recording Code
If your music is to be sold on iTunes, you need ISRCs. If your music is being played on the radio, ISRC is an advantage for identification purposes. ISRCs are acquired either from the RIAA direct (or IFPI for international clients), through your distributor (such as iTunes or Tunecore) or your record label. The full code consists of the items below and each song will be assigned a unique ISRC. ISRCs must be provided when you upload your files for mastering and cannot be embedded into WAV files. US-ABC-10-001-01 (country-record label-year of registration-release-track)
Gracenote CD Database
For iTunes and similar software to show the correct title and track names automatically upon CD insertion into your computer, you need to submit your CD's information to online databases. Please read our FAQ for more information.
For more information, please review our FAQ.
Head back to Get Rates.