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 CHAPTER 1

The audio recording and

manufacturing process
At Disc Makers, scores of masters come through our doors for audio manufacturing every month. This
gives us a particular expertise when it comes to the best methods for preparing your master—as well as
knowing how to avoid mistakes. This guide will help clarify and simplify your transition from the artistic
(i.e., writing and recording) stage of your project to the manufacturing stage. Use this to answer questions
and help you produce a quality product with confidence and ease.

The audio recording and manufacturing process

The process of transforming your musical ideas into a finished product you can share and sell begins with
your recording sessions and continues through the delivery of your packaged CDs, vinyl records, and dig-
ital audio files. The choices you make at each step affect the quality of your final product, so familiarizing
yourself with this process at the earliest stages will help you produce the best possible results. In general,
the process runs as follows:

Recording. Recording involves capturing instrumental and vocal sounds, using microphones or direct in-
puts, and storing them on a digital audio workstation (DAW)—or in some cases, on digital or analog tape.
Some recordings are made direct to stereo, but the vast majority are recorded “multi-track,” meaning that
the sounds of the different instruments are recorded and stored individually.

Mixing. Mixing is the art of blending individually recorded sounds through a console or on a DAW, con-
trolling the level, EQ, and pan (stereo speaker placement) of each sound to create a final “mix” of your
musical selections, or songs. These mixes are typically two-track stereo and are stored on the hard drive
of a DAW or recorded to disc.

Master assembly. Master assembly means editing a collection of individual song mixes into a complete
album master that flows from start to finish in the desired order and with the desired amount of space
between selections. Due to the ease and control offered by digital waveform editing, digitally recorded
songs are typically compiled on a DAW, with the material then transferred in assembled form to a DDP 2.0
(Disc Description Protocol) master, recordable CD (CD-R), or flash drive.

Audio master. The term “audio master” refers to the music files—for an individual single or a collection
of tracks—that you have recorded, mixed, and are submitting for production.

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 Post-production mastering. Mastering is the final step in the recording process, which takes place after
the mixing process (post-production) to optimize and add the final sonic touches to your recordings.
When you send your master to a professional mastering studio like The SoundLABTM at Disc Makers, your
overall program level is set, as are the song-to-song (AKA relative) levels. EQ, compression, and other digi-
tal processing is also used to make your recorded material sound as good as possible when played in the
various listening environments of the customers who buy/hear the end product.

For CD and vinyl orders, once optimized through mastering, the resulting program is transferred to a
“production master” for the manufacturing plant that will make the actual copies. Production masters are
typically:
• DDP 2.0 master or CD-R for the CD plant; or
• a “master lacquer” for the vinyl record pressing plant.

Manufacturing. Manufacturing is the process of producing and packaging physical copies of the produc-
tion master for distribution and sale.

• Replicated CDs (typically for quantities over 300). First, the production master is transferred to a
“glass master.” Molds are made from the glass master, and from there discs are replicated in a
multi-step process involving injection molding, stamping, and lacquering.
•D
 uplicated CDs (typically for quantities under 300). The production master is used to record or
“burn” CDs in duplication towers using lasers to etch information on a recordable CD, or CD-R.
• Vinyl records. A master lacquer is created to make molds that are used to press the records.
• USB drives. The master is used to transfer data to multiple drives at a time in a USB duplication tower.

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 CHAPTER 2

Format options for

your audio master
Audio files via upload through our web interface (WAV, AIFF, FLAC, etc.)
While there are several format options to choose from when deciding how to prepare and submit your
master for manufacturing, most are provided to us via upload, as individual files, through our website.

Our web interface allows you to upload audio files of varying sample rates and bit depths. Note that audio
files provided to us at a higher resolution than the standard 16-bit/44.1K for audio CDs will be converted
as needed prior to manufacturing. One important feature of our web interface is that it allows you to
stream your uploaded files as a proof before you finalize the submission of your master.

During the upload process, you will be asked to:

1. place your uploaded files in the proper sequence for your album.
2. indicate the spacing you would like between your songs.
3. provide the artist name, album name, and song titles that will be encoded as CD-TEXT on your final
manufactured CDs. (CD-TEXT displays on many CD players.)

The two most frequently used file types are WAV and AIFF. They are identical in audio fidelity, and both
are almost universally supported by any audio software package. Both WAV and AIFF files can be created
in various levels of quality. At minimum, these files should be 16-bits with a sample rate of 44.1K. This is
the industry standard “CD quality” audio.

FLAC files are also accepted, which are reduced-size lossless audio files, but you should avoid using lossy
files (e.g., MP3) as significant audio content will be absent from the file.

DDP masters
DDP stands for Disc Description Protocol. It is an image file format that was specifically created for use as
a manufacturing-ready master to be provided to CD replication facilities. A DDP master can be easily and
securely uploaded through our website.

A DDP master is typically created by a mastering engineer using special software after the mastering of
your album is complete and you have given final approval. Though there are some low-cost software
options available for creating a DDP master, we highly recommend you have your DDP produced by a
professional to ensure it is prepared correctly.

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 A DDP master contains your audio master, laid out exactly as you specify to your mastering engineer, with
all song-to-song spacing, song order, and CD-TEXT information encoded. A DDP master also contains ro-
bust error-checking features that allow us to ensure the master file we receive via upload has not suffered
any data corruption.

The Disc Makers Master Uploader App

Our Master Uploader App (MUA) is an app you can download from our website that allows you to create a
manufacturing-ready master from individual audio files or a physical CD. You can import individual audio
files or a physical audio CD master, adjust the song order and spacing (for individual audio files only), add
CD-TEXT information, and proof your master prior to uploading to us by playing the album back in the
app or burning a test CD. Once you are satisfied with the layout of your master, an image file is securely
uploaded to us and stored on our servers for use in the manufacturing of your CDs.

CD-R masters
If you have a physical CD master that is laid out exactly how you want your final manufactured CDs to
play, you can mail that to our facility. Due to the additional costs of processing a physical master, there is
a small charge incurred for this master format.

DAT and analog tape

While these formats are increasingly rare, we do still get masters sent to us on tape. Note that these
formats require additional care related to packaging and shipping and will incur additional costs to
prepare the files for mastering. Always make a back up! Never send your only copy of your master analog
or DAT master.

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 CHAPTER 3

Preparing your master

If your goal is to produce a killer CD, there are certain steps that must be taken in the preparation of
your master.

First, your mix should come out of—and go back into—total silence. To do this, record for at least 15
seconds at the beginning and end of the song (for individual tracks) or audio program, with levels set at
minimum. Check each track for clicks, bumps, thumps, and other strange sounds that sneak into almost
every recording. Make sure your mixer’s output is as clean and quiet as possible by listening to each track
open all the way on headphones. Is there a hum or hiss that could be reduced or removed with proper
grounding or a cleaner power supply? Experiment to find the optimal output level for your mixer.

Dynamic range
The dynamic range (the difference between the quietest and loudest sounds on the tape) of a digital
recorder is in excess of 90 dB, but that’s not true for all music formats, so make sure the dynamic range of
your mix is not greater than that of your planned release format, particularly vinyl LPs.

What to provide on a digital master

Before you submit a final master to Disc Makers, take time to sit down and listen to it from beginning to
end. Hear for yourself what is on the master and make sure you know what to expect when you receive
your manufactured copies. If, at this point, there is anything you want to change, go back to the studio
and fix it. Whatever is on your master will be on your finished product.

Make sure that all songs are in the proper order with the correct spacing between them. Decide now
whether you are satisfied with the way the master sounds, taking into account the acoustics of the room
in which you are listening. Any unexpected post-production required at the mastering and manufacturing
stage will add to the cost of your project and the time required to complete it.

CD master preparation
When you submit a CD master to Disc Makers, you want to submit an audio CD that sounds just like
you want the final CD to sound. The songs must be in the proper order, with the desired spacing
between them.

Be sure to place a CD track or “index” marker at the start of each selection on your CD. These index mark-
ers will be transferred to your CDs and will make it easy for listeners of your CD to jump to each selection

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 as desired, including songs that fade into one another or have no discernible break.

• L isten to the CD carefully. It should sound exactly the way you want your finished product to sound.
•M
 ake sure the disc surface is clean and scratch free. Use only a soft-tipped marker to label the CD,
never a ball point pen.
•P
 lace a CD track marker at the start of each selection.

Handle all masters carefully, both before and after recording.

Touch CDs only by the edges and keep them free of fingerprints
and scratches that can cause data errors. Make sure your master
is clearly labeled with your contact information.

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 CHAPTER 4

Post-production mastering
Many people don’t understand the post-production mastering process and see it as an unnecessary
expense. Having committed months of devoted work to a project, and having taken advantage of the
pre-mastering tools at your disposal, it is often difficult to understand how a total stranger could improve
the final product. After all, if your mix didn’t sound right, you wouldn’t have left the studio.

Post-production mastering occurs after your recording is mixed and before CD and vinyl LP manufactur-
ing are done. It is the last creative process in the recording/mixing phase of an album and the first step in
the manufacturing process.

Every major- and indie-label release is mastered to prepare it for radio play and retail sale. The reason? A
good mastering engineer puts the whole album in perspective, subtly enhancing and balancing the con-
nection between songs and the focus of the project as a whole.

In the studio, you record one song at a time, resulting in songs that all peak at different levels (volume)
and have different EQs, etc. A mastering engineer attempts to unify the album with skillful use of EQ, gain,
and compression to give it a consistent sound from track to track, and to make sure that it will translate
the way you want it to when your fans listen to it. This mastering process also allows the engineer to raise
the overall level so your album is as hot as it can be, if that is your desire.

Mastering can also be helpful for fixing problems such as “pops,” out-of-phase tracks, and overall noise
reduction.

Note that it is crucial to get the tones and mix you want during the recording process, before you get to
the mastering stage. In mastering, the engineer usually has the entire, finished mix on two tracks, and
while the mastering process can take a good mix and make it brilliant, it is not the forum for fixing individ-
ual tracks and mistakes that occurred during the recording process.

One advantage of using a third-party audio post-production facility is that an unbiased sound professional
has the opportunity to evaluate your master and determine how to get the most out of your production in
an acoustic environment created for the specific purpose of mastering music. After you’ve spent weeks or
even months in the same recording studio listening to your music over and over again, a fresh pair of ears
can put the project into perspective and make your album sound its best.

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 Our SoundLAB mastering engineers typically use a set of processors that include:
• Compressors, limiters, and expanders. These processors adjust the dynamics of a mix.
•E
 qualizers. EQs help the mastering engineer target specific frequencies within a track—
or over your entire program—in an effort to adjust and enhance the tonal balance of your mix
and recording.

To improve your recording, a mastering engineer can:

• Raise the overall level.
• Even out song levels and EQ individual tracks for cohesion.
• Correct minor mix deficiencies with equalization.
• Enhance flow by changing the space between tracks.
• Eliminate noises between tracks.
• Make your music sound great on any sound system.
• Add your ISRC codes.
• Add CD-TEXT information (artist, title, and track names that can be displayed by some CD players).

Your master is the template for thousands of your CDs to be produced for commercial release. If you are
not mastering your audio recording, you are skipping what could be a crucial step in making your CD the
best it can be.

The SoundLAB at Disc Makers previews masters at no charge to determine what benefits can be achieved,
and offers affordable packages that include signal processing, equalization, limiting, and compression to
raise your master to optimal commercial industry standards.

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 CHAPTER 5

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Master Uploader App if I’m uploading content to be mastered by the SoundLAB?
Yes. The files created by the Master Uploader App can be used by The SoundLAB for your mastering
project, however, if you have 24-bit master files, you should use our Online File Uploader to preserve the
higher quality of your 24-bit files.

Why is CD mastering necessary?

In the recording studio, you record one song at a time, and the focus of the recording or mixing engineer
is to make each song great. The result, however, is generally a collection of songs that all peak at different
levels and may have different EQs. In the post-production audio mastering phase, a professional engineer
unifies the album by using EQ, compression, and other processing to give it a consistent sound from track
to track.

What does audio mastering do for my album’s sonic quality?

Mastering can raise your album’s overall level through the careful use of compression, so your album can
compete with any major label release. The mastering engineer also ensures that your music will sound
great—whether it’s being played through a car stereo, a portable CD player, or a top-of-the-line stereo
system. The sound of your album will be optimized, making it sound punchy, warm, and full, while raising
the overall level (volume) and highlighting details that aren’t already apparent. Mastering is also helpful
for addressing issues such as “pops,” out-of-phase tracks, and overall noise reduction.

What formats of audio master do you accept?

• DDP file set (on CD-R, DVD-R, flash drive, or via upload)
• Data files (WAV, AIFF, FLAC, etc.) on CD-R, DVD-R, flash drive, or via upload.
• Audio CD
• Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
• 1/2” or 1/4” Analog Tape

Do I get to review my CD after post-production mastering and before manufacturing?

Yes. We’ll send you an audio reference CD or electronic proof online for you to listen to and review. It’s the
perfect time to compare how much mastering can do for your album. Listen to your original CD master
after listening to your audio reference and you’ll hear the difference.

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 Will you preview my master for free?
Absolutely. We’re so confident that our mastering can make a huge difference in the majority of re-
cordings, we offer a FREE master review—upon request—when you place a new CD replication order. A
SoundLAB engineer will preview your audio master to determine whether or not your album would bene-
fit from post production, with no sales pitch.

What else do you need besides my audio master to do post-production mastering?

You must complete and submit a SoundLAB questionnaire (and a Track Listing Form for physical audio
masters). The questionnaire gives you the opportunity to provide us some important information that we
can reference when mastering your project (e.g., overall volume, EQ, editing, and spacing preferences;
other artists or recordings you like the sound of).

What if I’m not happy with the audio mastering after it’s done?
If you’re not satisfied, you pay nothing and we’ll just do a straight transfer of your original master.

Do you have to order replication or duplication to use the SoundLAB?

No! The SoundLAB at Disc Makers’ world-class mastering services are available to all artists, even if you
are not ordering a replication or duplication package with us.

Is mastering relevant if I’m distributing my album digitally?

Without a doubt, yes. Any deficiency in the mastering on your songs will be readily apparent, especially
when compared to releases from major labels. Things like lack of level, EQ issues, noise, etc. can be quite
noticeable when your songs are played alongside releases from major label artists.

My engineer just gave me this CD. I don’t know what’s on it besides the order and length of the
songs. Should I send it in anyway?
No, listen to it first! Do not send in a master if you do not know exactly what’s on it. Most problems in
mastering are easily avoided by spending a little time in the studio listening to the entire program one
last time.

At what level should I digitally record my material?

It depends on where you’re going next. If you are not mastering the project, have your peaks go up to
zero. Remember, it’ll be exactly the same on the replicated disc. If you are having your project mastered,
leave some headroom for the mastering engineer, anywhere near the -6 dB range should be adequate.

Can I compile my master from MP3, AAC, or other lossy files?

Technically, you can, but it is not recommended. These file types are heavily compressed, which lowers
the audio fidelity. Use WAV (.wav.) or AIFF (.aif) files to avoid a loss in audio quality.

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 RESOURCES

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