Mastering Built for the Format
Vinyl and cassette aren't just distribution formats — they're listening experiences. We master specifically for each, so your record sounds the way it was meant to.
Most mastering sessions are built around streaming and digital files.
Vinyl and cassette demand something different. Each format has its own physics, its own limitations, and its own character — and working with those constraints is where the real craft is.
At Quiet House Recording, format-specific mastering isn't an add-on. It's the whole job.
Vinyl Mastering
Getting a record to play back correctly on a turntable is more than turning the volume up and sending a file to the plant. We master with the cutting lathe in mind — shaping the low end to stay mono where it needs to, pulling back the sibilance that causes mistracking, and preserving the dynamics that make vinyl worth listening to in the first place.
What's included:
Full lacquer-prep mastering session
RIAA curve-corrected low-frequency control
High-frequency treatment to prevent skipping and distortion
Side-by-side level and sequencing for A and B sides
Side length consultation (we'll flag anything that risks cutting issues)
DDP or WAV masters formatted to your plant's specifications
Reference MP3s for approval before submission
Formats accepted: WAV or AIFF, 24-bit minimum, 44.1k or higher Recommended: 24-bit / 96kHz or 88.2kHz
Cassette Mastering
Cassette has a sound — warm, slightly compressed, with a noise floor that's become part of the aesthetic. Good cassette mastering works with that character rather than against it. We optimize your masters for tape playback, account for the format's natural high-frequency rolloff, and make sure your music translates to both chrome and ferric tape stocks.
What's included:
Full cassette mastering session optimized for tape playback
Frequency shaping to compensate for tape's HF rolloff
Dynamic and loudness treatment calibrated for cassette's headroom
Side A / Side B sequencing and timing
Masters delivered to your duplicator's specs
Reference MP3s for approval
Formats accepted: WAV or AIFF, 24-bit minimum, 44.1k or higher
WHY FORMAT-SPECIFIC MASTERING MATTERS
Why This Isn't Just "Mastering"
A master optimized for Spotify sounds wrong on vinyl. A vinyl master sounds wrong on cassette. Each format has a different frequency response, a different headroom ceiling, and a different relationship with dynamics.
Sending a streaming master to your pressing plant is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes in independent releases. Plants will press what you give them, and by the time you hear the problem, you've paid for it.
We flag issues before they become expensive. Side lengths that risk cutting problems, low-end that will cause skipping, stereo width that won't survive the cartridge — all of it gets addressed in the mastering session, not after the test pressing comes back wrong.
PROCESS
How It Works
1. Submit your files Send us your final mixes in WAV or AIFF, 24-bit or higher. Include any reference tracks, notes on the sound you're after, and your plant or duplicator's specs if you have them.
2. We master for your format We treat vinyl and cassette sessions separately — different tools, different priorities, different decisions. You'll receive a set of reference MP3s to review before anything is finalized.
3. You approve Listen on the systems you know. If something's off, we revise. One round of revisions is included with every session.
4. Files delivered You receive masters formatted exactly to your plant or duplicator's requirements — DDP, WAV, or whatever they need — ready to submit.
Turnaround: [3-5 business days standard / Rush available]
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can each side of a vinyl record be? It depends on the diameter and groove speed, but as a general rule: 12" at 33⅓ RPM can hold around 18–22 minutes per side at good volume. The longer the side, the quieter it has to be cut. We'll flag anything that's pushing limits.
Do I need separate mastering for vinyl if I already have a digital master? Yes. A digital master — even a great one — is not a lacquer-prep master. The adjustments made for vinyl (mono bass, sibilance control, RIAA compliance) are different enough that submitting a streaming master to a plant is a gamble. Sometimes it works. Often it doesn't.
Can you work directly with my pressing plant or duplicator? Yes. If you want us to liaise with your plant directly, we can do that. Just connect us and we'll coordinate.
What if my mixes are already pretty loud or heavily compressed? Let us know upfront. We can still master them, but heavily limited mixes have less to work with. If you have the session open, pulling the buss limiter before export gives us more room to work.
Do you do test pressing review? Yes — if you want us to listen to your test pressing and confirm it sounds right before you approve the run, we offer that as an add-on. [Price: $XX]
What file formats do you deliver? DDP image sets (standard for vinyl plants), WAV files, or whatever your plant specifies. We match your duplicator's requirements exactly.
How many revisions are included? One round of revisions is included. Additional rounds are available at [your rate].