pixel

Mastering

Demystified
Here at Spice House Sound we believe mastering should be straightforward and simple. Your master will sound like the mix you already love with some HiFi Analog Magic sprinkled on it.

Mastering with Alex Santilli is a multi-day optimization process using the best mastering equipment available. You will receive a master that’s sensitively optimized for all playback formats, especially streaming.


Email us to get your tracks mastered

Alex@SpiceHouseSound.com



What is Mastering?
Modern mastering consists of putting the last layer of polish on a mix, deciding the pace of the album, and optimizing the files for correct playback from all formats and for all playback systems. It also serves as a final check to make sure there aren’t any technical issues missed in mixing.

What will I get back?
Streaming-optimized CD quality masters come standard. If you need DDP, Vinyl, instrumental versions, or 24-bit Apple Digital Masters please let us know.

What’s your turnaround time?
We pride ourselves in our speedy turnaround time. If we know when your files will be submitted, we can typically get them mastered within 5 business days. Rush Processing is also available.

What do you need from me?
1. A 24-bit or greater .wav file in whatever sample rate you recorded at, with at least 1dB of headroom

2. Full payment through Venmo, Paypal, Cash App, Cash, or Check.

3. The track order and any notes about the songs. Detailed notes are welcome!

Why should I pick you?
Alex Santilli has over a decade of mastering experience and a plethora of the best mastering equipment available. Our WSDG-designed control room sports in-house made custom speakers tuned especially for us.

We’ve got everything we need to make your masters will sound the best they can!

Mastering Rates

our pricelist

Base Rate

$60/Song
  • 10/min beyond 6 minutes
  • Apple Certified Mastering
  • Up to 2 revisions per master

Extras

$10/Song
  • Instrumental Versions
  • Vinyl Bounces
  • DDP Image
  • Apple Digital Masters (ADM)
  • Stem Mastering
  • Extra Revisions
  • Rush Processing

Mastering Clients

Just a few


Rush Week

Dr. Dog

The John Byrne Band

Whitney

The Cold Seas

Little Big League

Sony Records

Japanese Breakfast

Deer Tick

Foxtrot and The Getdown

Secretly Canadian

Julia Pratt

PlayStation

Cigarettes for Breakfast

Mt. Joy

Stereo League

The Haxan Cloak

Dry Reef

Park Secret

Good Game

See a full client list here

Specialty Mastering Equipment

Hand picked over a decade

  • Lynx Aurora (n) 32 Channel Mastering Converters
  • D.W. Fearn VT-4 Matched Pair
  • Knif Eksa Mastering Equalizer
  • Thermionic Culture Vulture Mastering Edition
  • Spectra 1964 v610 Complimiter (2x) (Matched Sequential Pair)
  • Retro Instruments 176 (2x) (Matched Sequential Pair)
  • Dangerous Music Compressor
  • Knif Vari Mu II Mastering Compressor
  • A collection of specialty plugins by DMG
  • Hand Built Custom Monitoring System
  • Power Modules Belles 350a Audiophile Amplifier
  • WSDG designed control room

 

Technical Questions

FAQ about nerdy stuff
What should I name my .wav file? What about tagging?
Nowadays that’s done in Distribution. We live in a glorious post-CD world where distribution companies like Distrokid, Tunecore, and more will put in your music on a hundred sources at once. It’s their job to make sure all the titles, accreditations, track order, and more all show up correctly on every platform and in every file type.
What are Apple Digital Masters (ADM) and why do I want it?
Apple Digital Masters, previously known as Mastered for iTunes (MFiT), is a fantastic future-proofing mastering standard pioneered by Apple to ensure all music is archived at maximum quality. It also is designed that your music will play through internet radio and lossy formats without clipping. MFiT certified masters also get preferential placement in the iTunes store. Alex Santilli is an Apple Certified mastering engineer and all music mastered here will benefit from the technical advances of ADM, but only 24-bit ADM masters are ADM certified.
Doesn’t every song need to as loud as possible?
Thankfully, the loudness wars are over. Every internet and terrestrial radio will make sure all songs are played back at the same loudness regardless of how ‘loud’ it is mastered. Making songs too loud will only ensure that they don’t ‘hit’ when being played on radio. A master of reasonable loudness will sound better on radio than a loud master.

 

 

1514 E Wilt St, Philadelphia, PA 19125