Master Formats
Be sure to use the zipped DDP file for CD production and of course, the correct WAV files for various digital distribution options (see below). If you are doing vinyl or cassette, please use the special vinyl pre-master for vinyl production, and/or cassette pre-master for cassette duplication. Please do not modify these files in any way as I cannot guarantee their accuracy if they are modified.
If you use DistroKid for digital distribution, please DO NOT choose the option to adjust the loudness to Spotify’s recommendation, and please DO NOT submit mp3 files as master files.
DDP:
You likely already know how to use the DDP and embedded HOFA DDP Player by now. Be sure to use this zipped DDP file for any CD manufacturing needs. It’s the only way I can guarantee the integrity of the manufactured CDs. Do not unzip the zip file and send any of the individual files within the DDP folder to the CD manufacturer. Do not upload a WAV or mp3 file of each song to the CD manufacturer. They need the entire zipped DDP file to properly manufacture CDs. Anything else can lead to errors.
Use the fully zipped DDP file for CD production. Your CD manufacturer will need the full zip file, and not any individual files inside the zip file. Safari may be set to automatically unzip the file upon download, but you can turn that off in the Safari Preferences, or use Google Chrome to download the fully zipped version.
You can burn your own reference CD-Rs from the HOFA DDP Player for personal use but if your CD manufacturer requires a physical CD-R for CD production, please let me know so I can properly burn and test a CD-R master disc before it’s used as a master for CD production. If you need more info on using the HOFA DDP Player embedded in the DDP zip/folder, please CLICK HERE.
24-bit/96k (or 88.2k/192k) WAV DIGITAL MASTER:
The high-resolution 24-bit/96k sample rate (or in some cases 88.2k or 192k sample rate) WAV files of the digital master can be used for digital distribution with nearly all digital distributors (aside from CD Baby), and websites such as SoundCloud or Bandcamp. This allows you to offer high-resolution master source files for digital distribution/streaming, and for people to download when possible. The high-resolution master files are also within spec to be master WAV files if you are doing a special Apple Digital Masters release with your digital distributor, which is not to be confused with a standard iTunes/Apple Music release.
16-bit/44.1k WAV:
You will likely only need the 16-bit/44.1k WAV files if you use CD Baby for digital distribution. The rest of the major distributors (such as DistroKid, TuneCore, and The Orchard) now accept high-resolution 24-bit WAV files and higher sample rates (see above). The 16-bit/44.1k WAV files may be your safest bet for sending the songs out for radio play, though most (but not all) stations can play 24-bit WAV files these days. Do not send mp3 files for radio play because aside from being lower quality files, the quality of an mp3 is reduced again in cases of digital streams which are common these days for listening to radio via Internet and/or Satellite and HD radio.
Vinyl Pre-Master:
The vinyl pre-master is just one continuous 24-bit WAV file for each side of the record at 96k sample rate*. There is also a PDF file for each side of the record in the zip file. *Note that for some projects, the audio may be 88.2k or 192k if either of those were the native sample rate of the unmastered mixes. The actual PDF files for your project will indicate the actual sample rate of the audio files.
Please double check the audio files to be sure that side A and side B are correctly split, and that everything else looks and sounds good. At the very least, please check the PDF files to see if everything looks correct.
The audio has been optimized to be as vinyl friendly as possible, and translate to vinyl as well as possible. The biggest thing you may notice is that the vinyl pre-master is not as loud and compressed/limited as the digital masters. This is normal.
The lacquer (or DMM) cutting engineer will determine how loud your record will be based on the length of the longest side, low frequency content, and other variables specific to vinyl. It’s important to communicate with your lacquer cutter/pressing plant whether you are looking for a loud record which can sometimes cause distortion and other playback anomalies (audio content and user playback systems contribute to this), or if you’d like a cleaner and more conservative cut for potential added clarity and to help avoid playback issues.
There is still an artistic step between this vinyl pre-master and the end product so please communicate with your lacquer cutter/pressing plant about the vision of your project. For more info, as well as some vinyl production recommendations, CLICK HERE.
Cassette Pre-Master:
The cassette pre-master is just one continuous WAV file for each side (or program) of the cassette. The files are 16-bit/44.1k sample rate. There is also a PDF file for each side of the cassette in the zip file.
Please double check the audio files to be sure that side A and side B are correctly split, and that everything else looks and sounds good. At the very least, please check the PDF files to see if everything looks correct.
24-bit/44.1k WAV:
The 24-bit/44.1k WAV files are also an option for those using DistroKid, The Orchard, TuneCore, and other distributors that accept 24-bit files, but I now suggest submitting 24-bit and higher sample rate WAV files to your digital distributor if they accept them as most do).
The 24-bit/44.1k WAV files are useful for places and services that can accept 24-bit audio, but are limited to 44.1k sample rate.
Additionally, while most video editors work at 48k sample rate, and many video productions are done at 48k sample rate, YouTube still recommends 44.1k sample rate audio so you may find that 24-bit/44.1k WAV files are best for the YouTube version of your video edit specifically, while in other cases, the 24-bit/48k WAV files are better for most other video production needs. The main goal is to avoid any unnecessary sample rate conversions in the video creation process so the audio sounds as good as possible in the end. More info HERE.
mp3:
The mp3 files are 320kbps bitrate with the metadata and artwork embedded/tagged (if you have provided it). The mp3s are mostly for personal/promo use and sharing directly with others. Don’t use the mp3s as master files except for certain download card services that require mp3 files be directly provided as the master source. This means they do not do any additional conversions to the files, they simply host the files you give them and nothing more. It should be clear on their website if they require mp3 or WAV as the source file. If not it’s not clear, ask them.
Instrumental Masters:
This is a zip file containing three folders. In the folder named 48k WAV you’ll find 24-bit/48k sample rate WAV files of each song which is the format that most video editors and licensing agencies prefer as the master source file, and in the folder named 44-1k WAV you’ll find 24-bit/44.1k WAV files which may also be of use.
There is also a folder of reference mp3 files. These should not be used as master files for any video productions or anything else. They are small and easy to send reference files for auditioning purposes only. Because they are mp3, they are too low of a resolution to be considered a master format for professional use.
48k WAV Masters For Video Editors:
The 24-bit/48k sample rate WAV versions of the full album/project master. These files are ideal for sending to video editors because audio for video is primarily done at 48k sample rate, and using these 48k files means video editors will not need to convert the audio to 48k using their own means.
Additionally,
while most video editors work at 48k sample rate, and many video productions are done at 48k sample rate, YouTube still recommends 44.1k sample rate audio so you may find that 24-bit/44.1k WAV files are best for the YouTube version of your video edit specifically, while in other cases, the 24-bit/48k WAV files are better for most other video production needs. The main goal is to avoid any unnecessary sample rate conversions in the video creation process so the audio sounds as good as possible in the end. More info HERE.