EP & Album Mastering for Sonic Cohesion

Mastering an album is fundamentally different from mastering a single. While a single needs to stand alone as a powerhouse, an EP or an album requires a narrative arc. It is about the relationship between the tracks—the silence between the songs, the gradual build-up of energy, and the consistent tonal balance that prevents the listener from reaching for the volume knob between every track.

At Banaedgezen, we approach album mastering as a final architectural layer. Based in our 24 m² control room in Melbourne, we use a combination of high-end monitoring, including ATC SCM25A and Genelec 8341A, to ensure your project translates across all playback systems, from club stacks to smartphone speakers. We focus on the cohesive "glue" that binds your work together, creating a professional record that meets industry standards for distribution.

Who is this service for?

Our album mastering service is designed for independent artists, bedroom producers, and small labels who have completed their mixing phase and need a professional final polish. Whether you are releasing a 4-track EP or a full-length LP, this service is for those who want their music to sound competitive on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, or for those preparing a physical vinyl release.

It is particularly beneficial for artists who have mixed their tracks at different times or in different environments, as we can bring all the elements into a single, cohesive sonic space, removing the disjointed feel that often plagues home-produced albums. By establishing a consistent frequency profile, we ensure that the listener experiences the album as a singular piece of art rather than a collection of separate files.

How the collaboration works

The process begins with a digital handover. Once the project is initiated, you send your final mixes via a secure link. We then enter the analysis phase where we listen to the project as a whole. Communication is handled in English, ensuring every nuance of your vision is understood. We do not apply generic presets; we craft the sound based on the genre and the mood of your music.

Throughout the process, you will receive a first pass of the mastered project. Based on our rules, you have 3 rounds of revisions to ensure the balance and loudness are exactly where you want them. We work remotely, though our Melbourne studio is available for scheduled listening sessions if you are local to the CBD.

What you need to prepare

To ensure a high-quality result, your files must meet our technical requirements. We require stems or final mixes with a sample rate of 44.1kHz or higher and a bit depth of 24-bit. Crucially, please leave a peak headroom of -6dB; this gives us the necessary breathing room to apply professional processing without introducing unwanted distortion.

Along with the files, provide a tracklist in the desired order and any specific notes regarding the energy of certain songs (e.g., "Track 3 should feel significantly more intimate and quieter than Track 2"). Providing a reference album that captures the overall sonic character you desire helps us align the project with your expectations from the first pass.

What you receive on delivery

Upon completion, you will receive a comprehensive delivery package. This includes high-resolution WAV files (24-bit) for distribution and high-quality MP3s for quick review. We provide a detailed loudness report including LUFS (Integrated) and True Peak values, ensuring your music will not be overly compressed or attenuated by streaming algorithms.

If requested, we can provide specific versions such as instrumental masters or "clean" versions for radio, ensuring every version of your album maintains the same professional sonic character. All files are delivered via a secure download link, and we maintain a backup of your project for 6 months.

Turnaround times and scheduling

Our average turnaround for an EP or Album package is 5 business days. This allows us enough time for critical listening and careful processing. If you are on a tight deadline for a label release, we offer a rush service for an additional 30% fee, which prioritises your project in our queue.

Please note that we limit our monthly capacity to 15 tracks to maintain a high standard of quality control. We recommend booking your slot at least two weeks in advance of your intended release date to ensure availability in our Melbourne-based control room.

What is not included

It is important to distinguish mastering from mixing. Our album mastering service does not include fixing a bad mix. We cannot change the volume of a specific instrument (e.g., making the vocals louder) or remove a mistake in a recording. If your tracks require significant balance changes, we recommend our Single Track Mixing service first.

Additionally, the package does not include graphic design, cover art creation, or the actual upload process to distributors like DistroKid or TuneCore, although we provide the exact files you need for these platforms. Any extensive audio restoration or noise removal is considered a separate service and must be quoted individually.

Pricing and GST

Our pricing is transparent and designed for professional independent creators. For an EP package (up to 5 tracks), the cost is A$500 including GST. This means the base price is A$454.55, with 10% GST (A$45.45) added to the final invoice. This package includes the initial mastering of all tracks, sequencing, and 3 rounds of revisions.

For B2B clients, payment terms are set to 14 days from the invoice date. For all other clients, a 50% deposit is required to secure your place in the production schedule. All invoices clearly separate the base cost from the GST to ensure compliance with Australian accounting standards.

If you are unsure about the target loudness for your specific genre, we highly recommend reading our guide on Streaming Loudness Explained Simply to understand how platforms handle your audio.