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Mastering

The step before release: your mix is listened to on studio monitors, balanced for tone, and prepared for streaming, download and physical media — with clear file formats you can hand to a distributor.

Mastering engineer listening on large control room monitors

Mastering is not a mystery trick; it is a set of controlled decisions on a trusted listening chain. At Nomadisedexa in Vienna we work from your finished stereo mix or from stems you send in. The aim is a master that translates on headphones, speakers and typical living-room setups without wiping out what makes your mix yours.

We work with solo artists, bands, producers and labels releasing in Austria or abroad. Whether you ship a single, EP or album, you get defined delivery files, a reference check against your loudness goals and up to 2 booked revision rounds in writing. Format details are in our guide master delivery formats.

Process

  1. Check material

    You send the mix (WAV/AIFF), optional reference tracks and target platforms. We usually reply within 1 business day with questions or a schedule.

  2. Analysis & brief

    We look at level, dynamics and spectrum and agree on loudness and tone. On albums we set order and transitions between songs.

  3. Mastering pass

    Work in the control room (22 m²), checks on mains and reference headphones. Export at up to 96 kHz as agreed.

  4. Delivery & tweaks

    Download link or pickup on Lerchenfelder Straße. You test at home; changes go through 2 rounds per terms and conditions.

What mastering here does — and what it does not

Mastering brings your mix together: gentle EQ, dynamics, stereo image and loudness that fits your genre and release plan. We do not fix fundamentally broken recordings or replace full mixing. If a song still has obvious balance issues, we say so and suggest fixing the mix first or sending stems.

For streaming we deliver masters that respect common loudness targets without squashing everything flat. For download and Bandcamp we can leave more headroom. Vinyl or CD mastering is quoted separately, including pressing-house specs.

Who this service is for

Home-studio productions, band takes from our live room or mixes from elsewhere all land on the same mastering desk. Labels with several songs often use the album package; indie artists book per track. Podcast beds, intros or instrumentals from a vocal session can get a final polish too when supplied as stereo mixes.

Minimum age for contracts is 16. Business clients receive invoices with ATU78129561; B2B payment terms can be 14 days when agreed.

How to prepare your mix

Send 24- or 32-bit WAV, sample rate at least 44.1 kHz, ideally the same rate as tracking (up to 96 kHz). Avoid heavy limiters on the mix bus that glue everything shut — leave some headroom. Name files clearly: artist, title, version.

  • Stereo mix without dither artefacts from repeated exports
  • Optional instrumental and vocal stems if fine tuning might be needed
  • Reference tracks (links or files) whose loudness you like — not a promise to copy them
  • Track list and ISRC plans if you already have them

More on stems before mixing: stems for mixing.

Session flow in the control room

You do not have to attend: many masters run asynchronously. If you want to listen in, book during Mon–Fri 10–19, Sat 10–16 — directions: U3 Volkstheater or Neubaugasse, then about 5 minutes on foot along Lerchenfelder Straße. Tram lines 5 and 49 stop nearby.. We check the mix on several systems, note issues and apply corrections. On albums we keep tone consistent and tidy gaps between tracks.

Markus Höller and Elena Krammer share mastering sessions depending on load; your confirmation names who handles the project. Mid-project questions go by email or +43 1 526 48 92.

Delivery formats at a glance

Default is high-resolution WAV (24-bit) plus MP3 or AAC preview on request. Distributors usually want 44.1 kHz / 24-bit WAV; we can also deliver 48 kHz. We do not embed label or legal metadata — that stays with your distributor.

Use caseTypical formatNote
Spotify, Apple MusicWAV 44.1 kHz, 24-bitLoudness aligned to platform norms
Download / BandcampWAV or FLACMore dynamics possible
Social clipsMP3 or AACShorter edit on request

Explained in depth in master delivery formats.

Revisions and archiving

Prices include 2 revision rounds. One round means your feedback in writing (timestamps or section notes); we return an updated version. Extra rounds or a full restart after a new mix are billed by time or as a new track fee.

Project files and masters stay on our systems for 12 months, then we delete them on schedule — keep your own copies. Unused studio time from other services may carry up to 6 months under terms; that mainly applies to on-site bookings, not online-only mastering.

Pricing and booking

Listed prices include 20% VAT for consumers in Austria. Net for businesses: €73.33 per track and €375 for the album package (up to 12 tracks). Single: €88; album: €450.

Book via contact form, email [email protected] or phone. On-site sessions need a 30% deposit. Free cancellation up to 7 days before the slot; see terms. General questions: FAQ.

Not included in the fee

Mixing, editing, stem surgery, production, artwork, distributor upload, physical pressing, third-party ISRC registration and legal clearance are separate. Heavy restoration of damaged files is scoped upfront. Clean/explicit radio versions after mastering are extra from the same session.

We do not promise chart positions or playlist placement — only careful master files against your brief.

Included

  • Listening on calibrated control-room chain in Vienna
  • Spectrum and loudness check before export
  • Up to 2 bundled revision rounds
  • WAV master at agreed sample rate
  • Short written delivery note (level, format)
  • Project archive for 12 months
  • Check against references you send (not a clone)

FAQ

Do I need to come to the studio for mastering?

No. Most projects run by upload and download. Live sessions in the control room are optional and scheduled like studio time — request a slot.

What loudness do you aim for on Spotify?

We follow common service targets without flattening your mix unnecessarily. Tell us in the brief if you want more dynamics on purpose.

Can I master only some album tracks?

Yes, at €88 each. For a cohesive album we recommend €450 so transitions and tone match.

What if my mix still has problems?

We flag issues before processing. Often a mixing pass or fresh stems saves revision time at the master stage.

How fast will I get the master?

Typical singles within a few business days once material is complete. Albums and busy periods are confirmed in writing; we aim to reply within 1 business day.

Other services

Recording in Vienna?

Tell us about your session

A short outline is enough: we usually reply within 1 working day with a slot and a written quote.

Send request +43 1 526 48 92