Mastering Session Checklist

We will provide you with a link to our servers for uploading your files.

Please try to upload the highest bit rate files you have. If attending bring the files on CDR , DVD, hard drive or flash drive as data files.
Make sure you provide a sequence for your material. (Please have it printed as to how you’d like your CD text to read including artist and CD title.)
If attending and are bringing a hard drive to the session please don’t forget to bring your power supply and all associated cables. It is always a good idea to bring a back up on CDR or DVD as well.
If you are planning on encoding ISRC codes in your master please provide your 3 digit artist code.

For Information regarding ISRC codes and/or applying on line visit our Links page or contact:

RIAA, 1025 F Street NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20004

isrc@riaa.com

Tel: +1 202 775 0101
Fax: +1 202 775 7253

Masters of the Mixes

Use the highest bit rate and sampling rate you have available.
Always check your mixes in mono for phase issues.
Never Normalize, over compress or severely limit. It is best to leave 2 to 3 db of headroom. If you want to check your mixes with mastering eq and limiting, create another pass and upload both versions.
Check your mixes in headphones in their entirety for any problems like drop outs and distortion.
If attending, bring with you all backups and alternate mixes.

Analog reel (1/2′ or 1/4′ @ 30 – 7.5 ips) Dolby SR, Dolb A, and dbx Type I NR Please include 1k, 10k, 100hz tones
44.1, 48k, 88.2 , 96k,176k or 192k 24 bit digital file formats uploaded on our server, sent on CDR or DVD or Sonic Exabyte archive
R-DAT (the original masters) Please note that these tapes have not been aging well
Tascam DVR 1000 DSD files
Audio CD We urge you to use 24 bit files on CDR. But if audio CDRs are the only option please use high quality CDRs such as Taiyo Yuden blanks.
Stem Mastering available as a special request

When you’ve finished uploading your files, please contact us that you’ve done so.