Guide · Online mastering
Online mastering: how it works, and which one to choose.
There are two ways to get a track mastered without coming to the studio: an automated service, calibrated on my own masters, or an attended remote session with me, in real time. This page explains what each one does, what it costs, and which one fits your project.
The listening positionWhat online mastering is.
Mastering is the last step before a track is released: tonal balance, level, consistency across songs, delivery formats for streaming, vinyl or the club. Online mastering is exactly that work, without travelling: you send your mix, you receive your masters.
Behind the phrase sit two very different things. On one side, automated services: an algorithm processes the file in minutes. On the other, an engineer working on your track on a studio chain, remotely. Both have their place, as long as you know what you are buying.
Automated or engineer: the real difference.
An automated service applies a preset process. It doesn't know you, doesn't know your song, and won't make an artistic choice. It is fast, cheap, and perfectly suited to a demo, a self-released track, a test before pressing or a catalogue that needs levelling.
An engineer listens. He hears that a chorus lacks air, that a bass masks the vocal, that track 3 of the EP doesn't hold up against track 2. He tells you, and he fixes it. That is what the price difference pays for. I built Sonabilis for the first case, and I offer attended remote mastering for the second.
| Sonabilis (automated) | Remote mastering (with me) | Studio session | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who masters | A process calibrated on my own masters | Me, on the studio chain | Me, with you in the room |
| Turnaround | A few minutes | 2 to 3 business days | Same day as the session |
| What you get | 3 masters (Streaming, Vinyl, Club/DJ) + PDF report | Master(s) in the requested formats, one revision included | Same, approved on the spot |
| Follow-up | None — instant result | Real-time listening via ListenTo, video call | Live |
| Price | €19 per track | €80 per track, €70 from 4 tracks | €80 per track, €70 from 4 tracks |
| Best for | Demos, self-releases, tests, back catalogues | Releases, EPs, albums, high-stakes projects | High-stakes projects, vinyl, workshops |
What it costs.
Sonabilis: €19 per track, paid online, three masters delivered instantly with a PDF report. Remote mastering: €80 per track, €70 from four tracks, the same rate as in the studio, one revision included. Full rates are on the pricing page. No subscription, no credits to buy upfront.
How it works, step by step.
With Sonabilis. You upload your mix (WAV, preferably 24-bit, no limiter on the master bus, 3 to 6 dB of headroom). The process runs. You listen to the result against your mix, at real level, then download your three masters and the report.
Remotely with me. You send the mix and a few lines about the project (references, target platform, vinyl pressing or not). I prepare a first pass on the studio chain. We meet on a video call: you hear every adjustment live, in high fidelity, via ListenTo. We approve together, I deliver the files in the requested formats.
What to send.
In both cases: the mix as WAV or AIFF, at the project's sample rate, 24-bit, with no limiter or maximizer on the output bus, and some headroom (loudest peak around −3 to −6 dBFS). If you have a "loud" mix you like, send it too as a reference, but have the version without limiter mastered. For an EP or an album, send all the tracks together: consistency between songs is part of the job.
Who it is for.
A demo for a label, a track for SoundCloud or Bandcamp, an old catalogue to level, a test before paying for a pressing: Sonabilis. A release on the platforms, an EP, an album, a track for the club or for vinyl, or simply wanting an opinion: remote mastering. And if the project calls for it, the studio is in Paris 11th, sessions are open to artists. For a vinyl release, lacquer cutting happens on site.
Online mastering — frequently asked questions
What is online mastering?
Mastering a track without coming to the studio: you send your mix, you receive your masters. It can be done by an automated service or by an engineer working remotely.
Is automated online mastering as good as an engineer?
No, and it doesn't claim to be. An automated process applies a calibrated setting; an engineer listens to your track and makes choices. Automated suits demos, self-releases and tests; an engineer suits releases and projects that matter.
How much does online mastering cost?
Sonabilis, my automated service, costs €19 per track with three masters and a report. Attended remote mastering with me costs €80 per track, €70 from four tracks.
How long does online mastering take?
A few minutes with Sonabilis. Two to three business days for a single with remote mastering, a bit more for an album; the exact turnaround is on the quote.
Which file should I send for online mastering?
A 24-bit WAV or AIFF, no limiter on the master bus, 3 to 6 dB of headroom, at the project's sample rate.
Does online mastering work for vinyl?
Sonabilis delivers a 'Vinyl' master suited to cutting. For a vinyl release I recommend remote mastering or a studio session, then lacquer cutting on the Neumann VMS66.
Two options, one studio.
Sonabilis to go fast, remote mastering to go far. If in doubt, write to me: I'll tell you which one fits your track.