Frequently Asked Questions &

Terms and Conditions

Learn more about our professional audio mastering services, including pricing, delivery times, payment options, revisions, file requirements, and what to expect from the mastering process. We've answered the questions we receive most often to help make your experience as simple and straightforward as possible. How much do you charge for your service? We offer a range of affordable audio mastering options to suit all budgets, whether you're releasing a single track, EP, or full album. Our prices can be found here Do you provide mixing service? We currently specialise in audio mastering and therefore do not offer a standalone mixing service. For most projects, we require a single stereo mix file for mastering. However, if during our assessment we feel that the quality of the final master could be significantly improved by addressing issues within the mix, we may request the individual stems from your project. This allows us to make any necessary adjustments before mastering, ensuring we achieve the best possible results for your music. What file format do you require from me? For the best possible mastering results, we recommend submitting your mix as an uncompressed WAV or AIFF file. Ideally, your files should be exported at 24-bit or 32-bit float resolution and at the original sample rate of your recording session, such as: 44.1kHz 48kHz 88.2kHz 96kHz Please avoid converting your mix to a different sample rate before submission, as this can unnecessarily affect audio quality. We also recommend leaving sufficient headroom on your mix and avoiding excessive limiting or clipping on the master output. We do not recommend submitting MP3 files for mastering wherever possible. MP3 is a compressed audio format that permanently removes audio data in order to reduce file size. As a result, some of the original detail, clarity, and dynamic information contained within the recording is lost and cannot be fully restored during the mastering process. If you are unsure whether your file is suitable for mastering, feel free to send it to us and we will be happy to advise before work begins. What type of mastering do you provide, Analogue or Digital? We utilise both analogue and digital mastering techniques, selecting the most appropriate approach for each project based on the genre, style, and specific requirements of the music. Our goal is always to achieve the best possible sound for your track. Some songs benefit from the warmth, depth, and character of analogue processing, while others are better suited to the precision, transparency, and flexibility offered by digital mastering tools. By combining the strengths of both analogue and digital workflows, we can deliver a professional, polished master that enhances your music and ensures it is ready for streaming, download, radio, and commercial release. What studio gear do you use? We utilise a carefully selected combination of industry-leading digital software and high- quality analogue mastering equipment to achieve the best possible results for every project. Our mastering process combines the precision and flexibility of modern digital tools with the warmth, depth, and character that analogue hardware can provide. This hybrid approach allows us to tailor each master to the specific needs of the track, ensuring a professional, polished sound that translates well across all listening platforms. If you're interested in learning more about the equipment and techniques we use, you can view part of our analogue mastering chain and read more about our workflow on our about us page here Do you use presets No. Every track we master is treated as a unique project and is carefully assessed by an experienced mastering engineer. We do not rely on generic presets, automated processing, or one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, each master is customised to suit the specific characteristics of your song, taking into account the genre, mix quality, dynamics, tonal balance, and your desired sound. This personalised approach allows us to achieve the best possible results for every track. All mastering work is carried out by real mastering engineers with a minimum of 25 years of professional experience, ensuring your music receives the individual attention and expertise it deserves. How quickly can you master my track? The turnaround time for your project depends on the mastering service option you select. General Mastering Option Please allow up to 5 working days for completion, Priority Plus Mastering Option Our Priority Plus service includes a guaranteed delivery time of up to 48 hours, making it the ideal choice for artists working to tighter release schedules. Our turnaround times begin once we have received all required files in the correct format and continue until we send your mastered sample back for approval. In general, the earlier you submit your files, the sooner we can begin working on your project. In rare circumstances, such as large album projects, unusually high demand, or technical issues with submitted files, delivery times may be affected. Should this occur, we will contact you promptly to discuss the situation and provide an updated timeframe. Please note that all turnaround times are based on our business hours in the United Kingdom. What format will you return my files as? As standard, all mastered tracks are delivered as 24-bit / 96kHz stereo WAV files, ready for commercial release, streaming platforms, digital distribution, and archiving. We can also provide the following formats at no additional cost upon request when registering your song: 16-bit / 44.1kHz WAV 24-bit / 96kHz ALAC (Apple Lossless) 320kbps MP3 If you require your masters in a different format, we offer a wide range of additional file conversion options for a small fee. If you have any questions regarding file formats or delivery options, please feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to help. Do you offer a file conversion service? Yes. We offer a high-quality audio file conversion service for customers who need their audio delivered in alternative formats for streaming, distribution, broadcasting or personal use. To ensure the highest possible conversion quality, our audio engineers have developed a custom-built audio conversion system designed to preserve audio integrity and minimise quality loss during the conversion process. This allows us to provide professional- grade results across a wide range of audio formats. Whether you need WAV, MP3, ALAC (Apple Lossless), FLAC, or other audio formats, we can help. For more information about our file conversion services, supported formats, and pricing, please visit this page for further information. I haven't received my mastered samples and the delivery time has passed If the estimated delivery time for your chosen service has passed (excluding weekends and public holidays) and you have not received your mastered samples, the most common reason is that our email has been filtered into your spam, junk, or promotional email folder. We recommend checking these folders first, as email providers can occasionally block or filter messages containing audio attachments or download links. If you are still unable to locate our email, please contact our Client Support team as soon as possible. We will be happy to confirm the status of your order and, if necessary, resend your mastered samples to an alternative email address. To help prevent future delivery issues, we also recommend adding our email address to your contacts or safe sender list before submitting your project. Who handles my tracks? Your music is handled exclusively by our professional mastering engineers throughout the entire mastering process. We never share, distribute, or provide your audio files to any third party outside of our studio. We understand the importance of protecting your work and maintaining confidentiality. All files submitted to us are treated with the utmost care and are used solely for the purpose of completing your mastering project. For security and data management purposes, project files are stored on our secure servers for up to 7 days after your project has been completed and delivered. After this period, files may be permanently removed from our systems. We strongly recommend that you create a backup of your mastered files as soon as you receive them to ensure you always have a secure copy for future use. What payments types do you accept? We accept a wide range of secure payment methods through both PayPal and Stripe, including: Visa Mastercard Maestro American Express Visa Electron Delta Eurocard Most major debit and credit cards One of the benefits of our service is that no upfront payment is required. Once we have completed the mastering work, we will send you a watermarked demonstration version of your mastered track(s) for evaluation, along with a secure payment link. For your convenience, we will provide pricing in British Pounds (GBP), US Dollars (USD), and Euros (EUR). As soon as your payment has been received and confirmed, we will promptly send you the final, unwatermarked mastered files in your requested format(s). If you have any questions regarding payment options or currencies, please feel free to contact our support team. I represent an independent record label Can you help? Absolutely. We work with independent record labels of all sizes and can provide professional, high-quality audio mastering at affordable rates. We understand the challenges that many independent labels face in today's music industry, particularly with reduced revenues from streaming platforms and increasing production costs. That's why we aim to offer cost-effective mastering solutions that help you maintain professional standards while keeping your expenses under control. For labels requiring regular mastering services or larger volume projects, we offer discounted rates tailored to your requirements. If you represent an independent record label and would like to discuss your mastering needs, please contact us with some information about your label and the type of projects you release. We'll be happy to discuss the available options and see how we can help support your business. I Am Having Issues Registering My Songs. What Should I Do? If you have completed our registration form and clicked the submit button but nothing appears to happen, please allow a few minutes and check your email inbox, including your spam or junk folder, as your registration may have been processed successfully. If you do not receive a confirmation email after a short period, please try submitting your registration again. This is a known issue that can occasionally occur due to the third-party currency conversion application integrated into our website. While the problem is usually temporary, we apologise for any inconvenience it may cause. If you continue to experience difficulties, or if your issue is unrelated to the registration form, please contact our Client Support team and we will be happy to assist you as quickly as possible.

Terms & Conditions

About Us Low Price Audio Mastering is a trading name of Loud Crow Audio Mastering, a professional online mastering studio based in Bristol, England. We specialise in providing affordable, high-quality audio mastering services to artists, producers, bands, and independent record labels worldwide. Audio Quality & Recording Disclaimer Mastering is designed to enhance and optimise your mix; however, it cannot completely correct issues caused by poor recording environments, low-quality equipment, or problematic mixes. In some cases, the mastering process may reveal unwanted frequencies, background noise, hum, buzz, distortion, or other imperfections that already exist within the original recording. Where appropriate, we may use professional restoration and noise-reduction tools to minimise these issues. While we can often achieve significant improvements, we cannot guarantee the complete removal of all unwanted noise without affecting the overall quality of the recording. For the best results, we recommend recording with suitable audio interfaces, microphones, and acoustic treatment appropriate for your genre and vocal style. Revisions Policy Our goal is to deliver a master that you are completely satisfied with on the first attempt. However, if adjustments are required, we offer the following revision options: Before Payment All customers receive up to 2 free revisions before payment is required. General Mastering Option After payment has been made, we provide up to 3 additional revisions free of charge if we feel we are progressing towards your desired result. Additional revisions beyond this allowance are charged at £10.00 per song for every 3 revisions. Priority Plus Mastering Option Customers selecting our Priority Plus service receive unlimited revisions for up to 5 days after payment. You may also submit an updated mix of the same song as part of the revision process. File Storage Completed projects are stored on our secure systems for a limited period, typically 7 days after delivery. After this time, files may be permanently deleted. We strongly recommend that all customers create backup copies of their mastered files immediately upon receipt. Refund Policy Due to the time, expertise, and resources involved in every mastering project, we do not offer refunds. To ensure customer satisfaction before purchase, we provide full-length watermarked mastering samples for evaluation prior to payment. This allows you to assess the quality of our work before committing to a purchase. Pricing & Currency All prices displayed on our website are listed in British Pounds Sterling (GBP). For international customers, we also provide quotations and accept payments in: US Dollars (USD) Euros (EUR) Currency conversions are provided when you request a project quotation. Turnaround Times General Mastering Service Please allow up to 5 working days for completion, depending on current workloads and project requirements. Priority Plus Mastering Service Our Priority Plus service includes a guaranteed turnaround time of up to 48 hours. Turnaround times begin once we have received all required files in a valid format and continue until we send your mastered sample(s) for approval. The earlier your files are submitted, the sooner we can begin work on your project. In exceptional circumstances, such as large album projects, unusually high demand, or technical issues with submitted files, delivery times may be affected. If this occurs, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss an updated completion schedule. All turnaround times are based on United Kingdom business hours. File Delivery Completed masters are typically delivered via secure download links using one of the following services: WeTransfer Dropbox Google Drive Alternative delivery methods may be available upon request. Payment Methods Payments are securely processed through: Stripe Card Payments PayPal We accept most major debit and credit cards through these payment providers. Right to Refuse Service We reserve the right to refuse service, request upfront payment, or withdraw our free sample evaluation service where a customer has previously failed to complete payment for services rendered. This policy also applies where there is reasonable evidence of abuse of our free sample system or any behaviour that may negatively impact our business operations. By submitting audio files to Low Price Audio Mastering, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

Sales / Discounts & Promo Codes

Terms & Conditions

Our New Client Discount is available only against our standard website pricing and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer, discount, special price deal, or promotional code. All promotional codes, special offers, and discounted pricing are valid only while the relevant promotional banners or advertisements are displayed on our website, unless a specific expiry date is stated as part of the promotion. Where a promotion applies to multiple tracks, albums, or bundled services, all tracks must be registered and submitted at the same time in order to qualify for the advertised discount. Only one promotional code may be used per order. Promotional codes cannot be combined with other promotional codes, discounts, special offers, or reduced price packages. Discounts offered to independent record labels or trade customers cannot be used in conjunction with any other website promotion, special offer, new customer discount, or promotional code. We reserve the right to amend, withdraw, or refuse any promotional offer, discount, or promotional code at our discretion where misuse, abuse, or eligibility concerns are identified.