How should I prepare my master?
In order to provide the best source files, Duplion would always recommend that you use a professional mastering engineer familiar with vinyl to master your tracks.
- When we receive an audio master, we expect this to produced ready for vinyl production – meaning that the dynamics and range of frequencies have already been approved by you.
- Unless advised otherwise, we expect that you want the end product to sound the same as the supplied master.
- Our objective is to achieve the truest possible transfer of the supplied audio material to vinyl through the available technologies.
We ask that you supply your audio master in one of two forms:
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- CD-R master burned in a mixed-mode (audio-tracks and data tracks as WAV or AIF); OR
- a pure data CD with wav or AIF with 44.1 KHz 16 /24 bit stereo (other formats on request).
- The file names should begin with the side/track positions, e.g. A1.wav, A2.wav, A3.wav for side A…and B1.wav, B2.wav. etc.
- For Vinyl please send a Zip file with Audio containing one continuous WAV file for each Side. The WAV file should be mastered for vinyl with enough headroom (-6dB) for adjustments.
- The file names should begin with the side e.g. SideA.wav, SideB.wav, etc.
To help you in creating the perfect source material we have listed some important steps…
- Intensive high tones such as S and F vocal sounds in singing, high tone instruments, synthetic sounds or squeaking and peeping noises may sound distorted in the playback, and also cause problems during the cut.
- As far as the acoustics are concerned, a range below 20 Hz is not recommended in any event.
- If the differences between the channels are too large, this may also result in distortions. In the same way, restrictions apply in regard to the cut: more space is required, and this may result in less playtime and/or in a lower cutting level.
- The identification groove has no influence on the playback result and does not create any pauses (adjacent titles). In the absence of special instructions, an identification groove will be assigned to each title.
- Loop (locked groove): In the case of a cut of 33⅓rpm, a loop must have a length of exactly 1.8 seconds and in the case 45rpm of exactly 1⅓ seconds (one rotation)! The sequence which is to be repeated in the loop must be arranged in the master at least five times in succession, just as it should be heard in the playback.
- We recommend that you create and assign a catalogue number to your Master (CD-R or WAV files) and associated artwork files. This will enable your materials to be easily identified.
- When creating your catalogue number, it is quite common to use a short abbreviation for your label and a number for your release, e.g. ABC-001.
- If you want to upload your files you can use the link in your order confirmation email or please ask your Duplion service contact for FTP details.
- See also: How to prepare your artwork files.