John Sellekaers

A MASTERING SESSION

1. Please make sure to read the different sections of this site. Then contact us as soon as possible, even if the production of your album is not completed, to arrange a session and a price. Don’t hesitate to ask any question you might have; we’ll be glad to help.

2. When your project is ready (recorded and mixed), prepare the material for the mastering session:

  • If you plan to send your project by mail, burn a data CD-R, DVD-R or DVD+R (WAV or AIFF files), or an audio CD-R.
  • If you prefer to upload it on our FTP server, prepare a folder containing all your tracks in WAV or AIFF format. You can ZIP or RAR them for a quicker and safer transfer. We also accept lossless compression formats such as FLAC.

Preferred format: WAV or AIFF, at 44.100Hz, 16, 24 or 32-bit. MP3 files or other lossy formats are not recommended.

3. Add a clear track-listing for the final product (the order of the songs), and your specific instructions (silences between tracks, fades, noises to remove, EQ preferences etc.)

4. Send it by mail or FTP (we will give you the necessary instructions to do so). Make sure to clearly label everything and to include your name, email, phone number and address.

5. We work on your project. We might email or call you if there’s any problem or question. As soon as the master is ready, we contact you. The payment should be arranged at this stage.
We deliver the master by mail or FTP, with the invoice.

  • By mail: two replication-ready CD-R (Red Book), with corresponding PQ log sheet. They are identical, one should be kept as listening copy.
  • By FTP: a CD image or individual tracks (exact format to be decided depending of your needs).

6. When you receive the mastered tracks, listen to them carefully. If there’s anything you’d like to change, let us know.

7. (Optional) If corrections are needed, we follow your instructions to prepare a  final version. We deliver the new master by mail or FTP.

8. You can then send the master CD to the pressing plant of your choice (for a CD or a vinyl) or upload the tracks for a digital release.

F.A.Q.

  • What is a mastering?
  • Free FTP software: Cyberduck (OS X),  Filezilla (Windows).
  • Free software to open RAR files: UnRarX (OS X),  RarZilla (Windows).
  • Free software to convert your tracks to FLAC: Max (OS X), dBpoweramp (Windows).
  • Preferred format: WAV or AIFF, at 44.100Hz, 16, 24 or 32-bit. The files can be compressed in ZIP, RAR or FLAC formats. Audio CD-R are also accepted. MP3 files or other lossy formats are not recommended.
  • Giving us credit: It is always appreciated! Please use the following information in your liner notes: Mastered by John Sellekaers, or Mastered at Metarc, or Mastered by John Sellekaers at Metarc. You can also add the location: (Montreal, Canada).