FAQ

Getting Started

• How do I know which service I need?

  Use the Contact page and describe what you have: the recording, the format, and what it needs to become. We will tell you the right service and what it costs before anything is booked or paid. If you have a finished mix that needs to hit streaming platforms, that is mastering. If you have raw stems and no mix, that is mixing. If you have a recorded podcast episode that needs to be edited, cleaned, and delivered, that is podcast production or audio editing.

• What is the difference between Instant and Premium mastering?

  Instant mastering is algorithm-driven and returns a polished, streaming-ready master within 24 hours. No revisions, no engineer, no communication - upload and download. Premium mastering puts a real engineer on an analog hybrid chain to listen to your track, reference your target, and make judgment calls that algorithms miss. It includes 3 revision rounds and delivers to any platform spec you need.

• Do I need to create an account?

  Yes, for purchase-based services. An account is required to access your client dashboard, manage uploads, and download completed files. You will be prompted to create one during checkout. For quote-based services (editing, podcast, restoration, vinyl), we set up the project at intake.

• Can I request a custom quote?

  Yes - use the Contact page for anything outside standard pricing. EP and album packages, recurring podcast production agreements, agency batch work, restoration projects, and vinyl collections are all quoted on a per-project or per-agreement basis.

Podcast Production & Audio Editing

• What is included in podcast production?

  Full-chain production: structural edit, filler word removal, dead air cleanup, iZotope RX dialogue cleanup and noise reduction, music beds and transitions, loudness targeting per platform spec (Spotify -14 LUFS, Apple Podcasts -16 LUFS, YouTube -14 LUFS, broadcast -23 LUFS), ID3 metadata with chapter markers, and RSS-compatible export. Whisper AI transcripts are available as an add-on for show notes, SEO, and accessibility.

• What is the difference between podcast production and audio editing?

  Podcast production is the full chain from raw recording to published episode - editing, cleanup, music, loudness targeting, metadata, and delivery. Audio editing covers the structural and technical work on the audio without necessarily including the full delivery workflow. For a corporate team producing weekly episodes, podcast production is the right service. For a client who just needs a raw interview tightened up and cleaned for internal use, audio editing covers it.

• Do you handle recurring weekly production?

  Yes. Recurring clients get an agreed turnaround SLA established at project start. After the first episode sets the template, ongoing production requires no setup overhead. We handle multiple shows simultaneously and have automation pipelines to keep per-episode delivery time consistent at volume.

• What about transcripts?

  We produce transcripts via OpenAI Whisper with an accuracy review pass. Delivered as plain text for show notes, speaker-labeled transcript, SRT/VTT captions for video versions, or in an accessibility-compliant format. Structured delivery documentation is available for healthcare, legal, and compliance-sensitive content.

• What file format should I send for editing or podcast work?

  WAV or MP3 is fine for editing and podcast work. If you are recording in a DAW, export the raw audio at session resolution before sending. Multi-track recordings should be exported as individual tracks and zipped together. If you are recording directly to a phone or portable recorder, send us the native format and we will handle it.

Mastering & Mixing Files

• What file format should I send for mastering?

  WAV or AIFF, at your session's native sample rate and bit depth. Do not normalize or limit the master bus before sending - leave headroom to work with. A mix with -3 to -6 dBFS of headroom is ideal. Do not send an MP3 for mastering.

• What do I send for mixing?

  A single ZIP file containing all stems exported at session resolution, your DAW project file (optional but helpful), any reference tracks you want to work toward, and a note on what is working and what is not. Export all stems from the same start point with no master bus processing applied.

• What is the maximum file size?

  We accept files up to 2GB. Most mastering files are well under 500MB. A full mixing ZIP with stems rarely exceeds 1GB. For larger sessions or archival transfers, contact us and we will arrange file delivery.

• What do I receive when it is done?

  Mastering delivers WAV and MP3. Premium mastering also offers DDP for vinyl or CD production on request, and vinyl-cut-optimized files. Mixing delivers a stereo mix WAV plus any stems you need separated. All formats delivered through the client dashboard.

Audio Restoration & Vinyl

• Can you fix a recording that sounds really bad?

  Usually, yes - to some degree. Send us a sample first and we will assess it before you commit. Most audio problems - noise, reverb, clipping, hum, crackle - are solvable with iZotope RX and the right approach. Some things cannot be fully fixed (a recording so clipped there is no signal underneath the distortion, for example), and we will tell you that honestly before any work begins.

• What kinds of recordings do you restore?

  Podcast interviews recorded on speakerphone. Voiceovers done in reverberant spaces. Conference room recordings with HVAC and flutter echo. Archive tape transfers with crackle and dropout. Vinyl with surface noise and damage artifacts. Zoom and Teams recordings. Old digital files with compression artifacts. If there is audio there, we can usually improve it significantly.

• How do vinyl transfers work?

  We capture through a calibrated turntable, proper RIAA equalization, and 24-bit RME conversion. We offer flat archival transfers (no processing) and transfers with restoration applied. Local Austin clients can drop off by arrangement. Out-of-area clients ship records to us and receive digital files delivered online or on a drive, with records returned.

• What formats do you transfer?

  12-inch LPs and singles, 7-inch 45 RPM singles, 10-inch records, private press and demo recordings, and promotional discs. 78 RPM shellac on a case-by-case basis - contact us first. Acetate reference discs handled carefully with condition assessment before transfer.

• What do I receive from a vinyl transfer?

  Archival transfer: 24-bit/96kHz WAV as a continuous side file. Track splits available on request. Transfer plus restoration: the flat archival WAV plus a restored version and an MP3 listening copy. Collection projects include metadata tagging and organized file delivery per your specifications.

Turnaround

• How fast is Instant Mastering?

  24 hours from upload confirmation.

• What about Premium Mastering?

  Standard sessions are scheduled by date. You pick your slot after purchase. Delivery is at the end of your scheduled session. Expedited sessions (+$50) are available for next-day turnaround.

• What about mixing turnaround?

  Mixing sessions are scheduled after purchase. Delivery is at the end of your session date. Complex sessions (24+ tracks) may extend to the following day.

• What about editing and podcast turnaround?

  Standard episode edits: 24-48 hours. Rush delivery available on request. Recurring project SLAs are agreed at project start. Batch projects are quoted with a delivery timeline at intake.

Revisions & Payment

• How do revisions work?

  After delivery, you review the file in your client dashboard and submit revision notes. We make the adjustments and re-upload. Previous versions are retained throughout the revision process.

• How many revisions are included?

  Instant mastering: no revisions. Premium mastering: 3 revisions. Mixing: 5 revisions. Podcast production and editing: revision terms agreed at project start. Restoration and vinyl: typically one review pass included.

• What if I need more revisions?

  Additional revision rounds are available at $25/round for mastering and $50/round for mixing.

• When am I charged?

  For purchase-based services (mastering, mixing), at checkout before your session is scheduled. For quote-based services, payment terms are agreed at intake - typically 50% to start, 50% on delivery for larger projects.

• Do you offer refunds?

  If work has not yet begun, a full refund is available on request. Once a session is complete, refunds are not available - but we will work through revisions until you are satisfied.