Supplying a master to madtheory

A Data CD is the best way to supply your mixes, especially if you have recorded on a digital system.
24 bit or 32 bit float WAV, AIFF or SD2 audio files. 32 bit float is preferred, if possible. For 24 bit exports, the peak level should be -3dBFS at most.

Upload: we have a secure and private ftp service, where you can upload your masters and download demos. The final master is supplied on a physical CD (see below).

Sample rate must be the same as the session sampling rate, e.g. if the session was recorded at 48 kHz, then export/ bounce the mix at this rate.

Do not use any effects on the master fader. This includes compressors, equalisers, loudness maximisers, and dither plugins. We need the audio to be as clean and dynamic as possible in order to master it to the highest possible standard.

Do not top and tail the audio. This means that you should retain count ins, long cymbal crashes and chit chat at the beginning and end of the track. These will be edited out in mastering.

Do not fade in or fade out your tracks- but do specify if you want it done. This is because a limiter will often be used in mastering to increase the loudness. If you have fades done, they will come out shorter than you originally programmed. So fades must be done in mastering after the limiter and before the 16 bit dither.

Provide clear documentation of the tracks. Please use exact, complete, correctly spelled titles for every track.

ISRC numbers: These are codes used to identify tracks for logging purposes by broadcasters. They are used by IMRO and other collection societies to calculate your mechanical royalties, so it means more potential revenue for you! You can apply for these by contacting Daphne at PPI on 01-2365154 or email her. You need to set up a record company- all that is required is a name and an address.

You may provide a demo CD with your tracks in the order you require with the mastering sound you are going for. To save your time, it might be better simply to describe what you want when speaking to the mastering engineer.

You must decide on a running order for your album. The tracks will be mastered in this order with a loudness and tonality appropriate to the running order. This is the same process as structuring a song- intro, verse, chorus, middle bit, outro etc. It needs to be musical. The best way to decide on a running order is to assemble the tracks in a playlist program such as iTunes, and move them around until you get the most pleasing result. It is usually best to start with your best track, if it is your first commercial album release.

What you get at the end is a physical CD. The only way to get this to a duplication plant is by post, regardless of what certain plants will tell you. Why? Currently there is no standardised method for transmitting full and correct CD Audio data via the internet. This is because there is more information on an audio CD than just audio, namely: PQ code, EAN code (barcode), ISRC codes and CD text information. These codes are all necessary for your disc to work properly in all CD players, and for your royalties to be logged correctly. You can loose income and gain unhappy customers if these codes are not present, as well as destroy the flow of your album.

This means that you will NOT be able to copy the disc properly with "ripping" software such as iTunes or Windows Media player. These programs copy the audio only, and they are not 100% reliable. They made add clicks or gaps to your audio.

PQ code is information telling the CD player where the music starts and ends, and how long the pauses are. Literally- mind your ps and qs!
EAN code needs to be supplied by your duplicator or distributor. It is the barcdoe number, and can be encoded on the CD. It is another way to track your royalties, so again it can mean more income for you.

You will receive two copies- one for proofing, one for duplication. THE DUPLICATION COPY MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM ITS CASE. Any dust or marks on the disc may cause E32 errors at the plant, and they will return the disc to you as unuseable. This can delay your production by 3- 4 weeks in most cases.

You will also receive a PQ code printout, so that the plant can double check the disc against it.

Please telephone or email us if you have further questions!