Where mastering sits
Mastering polishes your stereo mix for the listening medium. It is not a second mix: we do not rebalance wrong stems, but we set final level, sequence and sometimes light tonal moves. Send a mix without a bus limiter and with a few decibels headroom. Unsure about exports? Read mix turnaround planning or email [email protected].
At Nephilimrivo, a stereo master costs €89 per song; an EP up to five songs in one session is €320. Prices include 21% VAT. More titles or alternates (instrumental, clean edit) are quoted separately.
Default digital delivery
By default you receive 24-bit WAV at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz — matched to your release path. Netherlands and EU streaming platforms usually accept high-res WAV via aggregators; some prefer FLAC, which we can add as an extra export on request.
Files are named clearly: artist, title, version (e.g. master, instrumental, TV). Delivery is a secure download link or your own SSD if you bring one to Overtoom 289. We keep sessions 24 months; download and store locally per privacy policy.
Loudness and streaming
Spotify, Apple Music and similar services normalize playback; hyper-loud masters lose impact after normalization. We aim at common integrated loudness targets so your track does not jump in a playlist. Share label specs at intake if you have them.
Podcasts and speech use different norms than music; spoken exports belong under podcast recording, not the per-song master rate. Musical podcast intros may still need mastering — say so upfront.
Vinyl and physical
Vinyl needs masters that respect cutting limits, mono content in the low mids and cautious bass stereo. Say whether you plan LP, 12-inch or 7-inch; speed (33⅓ vs 45 rpm) and side length constrain dynamics. We often supply a dedicated vinyl master beside the digital master.
Pressing plants send their own spec — forward it before we start. Nephilimrivo is not a plant; we deliver audio, you arrange manufacturing. CDs still need 44.1 kHz / 16-bit red-book files when requested.
Broadcast, video and sync
TV, radio or ads may require peak limits, true-peak ceilings or formats such as EBU R128 for short spots. State medium and duration; a 15-second cut is not an unchecked crop of the album master. For video, send picture length so endings align.
Sample clearance and sync rights stay yours; mastering does not change that. Legal exploitation questions belong with your adviser — studio basics live on FAQ and disclaimer.
Metadata and DDP
Provide ISRCs per track if you have them; we embed only when agreed. Album title, order and EP gaps are set in the mastering session. DDP for CD plants is on request — not included in €89 by default.
Send a text file with titles, versions and explicit flags. Typos in metadata resurface at aggregators; spell-check before upload.
Revisions, booking and next steps
Mastering includes 2 revision rounds like mix: bundled notes, not endless one-line emails. Returning to mix after mastering is a new mix job, not a free master tweak.
Book via contact or 020 244 8916; 40% deposit, replies within 2 business days. Mix not ready yet? Schedule mixing first. Vocals beforehand? See vocal session checklist. The studio is on Overtoom in Oud-West. Tram 1 stops at Overtoom (Overtoom / Vondelpark); from there it is about a six-minute walk. You can park bicycles at the entrance; cars use paid street parking or Q-Park Byzantium on Vondelstraat, roughly a ten-minute walk. — Tue–Fri 11–22, Sat 12–18.
