A professional song master takes your finished stereo mix and prepares it for release: balancing tone, controlling dynamics, setting loudness for streaming, and exporting a clean, dithered final file. Solar Heavy’s Single Track Audio Master is built for exactly that, for singles and instrumentals, using a hybrid analog approach with a 3-day turnaround.
Here’s what each part of the process does, and how to prepare your mix so the master can do its best work.
What the Single Track Audio Master includes
According to the product page, each master covers:
- Harmonic excitement
- Stereo enhancement
- Gentle compression as needed
- A hybrid analog gear approach
- Transient shaping
- Removal of stacked frequencies
- Dithering
- DSP-respected LUFS and RMS loudness levels
- 3-day turnaround on delivery
- A 24-bit dithered mastered WAV file
- Two free revisions per order, then a $5 revision add-on for any further revisions after the second has been requested
It costs $25.
What each step does to your song
Removing stacked frequencies
When several instruments pile up in the same range (often 200–500 Hz in dense mixes) the track sounds muddy and loses punch. Careful EQ clears that build-up so each part reads clearly. Creating Space in Your Mix Using EQ explains the idea at the mix stage.
Transient shaping and gentle compression
Transients are the initial hits of drums and plucks. Shaping them keeps the track punchy once loudness is raised, while gentle compression helps the mix hold together without flattening it.
Harmonic excitement and stereo enhancement
Subtle saturation adds harmonics that help elements come forward on small speakers. Stereo work widens or focuses the image while keeping the low end centred and mono-compatible.
Loudness and dithering
The master is brought to a loudness that suits streaming platforms, then dithered down to 24-bit so quantisation noise is handled cleanly. For background, see What Is Dither and Does It Matter? and How Loud Should My Master Be?.
Who it’s for
The page describes it as “perfect for instrumental songs / singles”: artists releasing one song, producers finishing a beat for release, or anyone who wants a second set of ears before distribution. If your track has vocals and you can export the vocal and instrumental separately, the Stem Audio Master treats each part individually. For several songs, the Three Track Bundle Master costs less per song.
How to prepare your mix for mastering
A master can only work with what it’s given. Before you order:
- Leave headroom. Aim for mix-bus peaks around −6 to −3 dBFS, and remove any limiter you added just to make the mix loud. Check with the free dB meter.
- Bounce at the session’s sample rate in 24-bit or 32-bit float WAV.
- Listen to the start and end. Leave a little silence and make sure nothing is cut off.
- Note any references. A song or two you’d like it to sit near helps set expectations.
- Check your mix in mono and on small speakers. Problems there are easier to fix in the mix than in the master.
More detail is in Preparing a Mix for Mastering.
What mastering can’t fix
Mastering polishes a finished mix; it can’t rebalance it. If the vocal is far too quiet, the kick and bass clash, or one instrument is harsh, fix it in the mix before ordering. If you only have a stereo file and the vocal level is the problem, the stem option gives more room to adjust.
How ordering works
Add the master to your cart, then attach your song file during checkout. Delivery is a 24-bit dithered WAV within 3 days, with two free revisions included. Further revisions are a $5 add-on after the second.
Frequently asked questions
A 24-bit dithered mastered WAV file.
The turnaround is 3 days.
Yes. Every order includes two free revisions. If you need more after the second, you can buy a $5 revision add-on.
Your final stereo mix as a WAV, with headroom and no loudness limiter on the mix bus. You attach it during checkout.
For three or more songs, the Three Track Bundle Master costs less per track.
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