How to Prep Your Files for Mastering

Before sending your mix off for mastering, here are a few simple but important steps to make sure everything is ready to go.

First, export your mix as a WAV file. Other formats like MP3 or M4A won’t work for mastering, since they’re compressed and lose audio quality. Stick with either 24-bit or 32-bit depth, and use the same sample rate you recorded and mixed at—don’t convert it up or down.

Next, make sure your mix isn’t clipping. You don’t need to worry about leaving a certain amount of headroom—I’ll take care of the normalization on my end. Just double-check that your final output isn’t distorting.

When naming your file, include both the artist name and song title. This helps keep things organized on my end and ensures nothing gets mixed up. Please avoid sending files with names like “final_mix_v6_master2_grandmaseggs.wav” (unless that’s actually the song title). Include the same song and artist info clearly in your email as well.

If you’ve been listening to a loud version of your mix or have a reference track you’ve been aiming for, feel free to send that along too. Hearing what you’ve been referencing helps me understand the direction you've been working toward and how you've been experiencing your music.

Lastly, if you have any notes on sonic direction or specific things you want from the master—whether that’s “make it punchy,” “keep it warm,” or “I want this to knock like D’Angelo meets Tame Impala”—send those my way. The more insight I have into your vision, the better I can serve the music.