Send Your Premaster
24/32-bit WAV or AIFF at your session sample rate. Leave 3–6 dB headroom, no master-bus limiter. Describe your vision in 2–3 sentences.
Metal & Gothic Mastering Studio
Mastered by gut feeling. Metal mastered by analysis.
Specialized in Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom and Gothic. Every project starts with a full audio audit — before the first plugin gets touched. Frequency spectrum, dynamics, stereo image, phase, loudness, sonic character. You get a written analysis report and a concrete mastering strategy. Unlimited revisions.
Limited mastering slots per week
Audit-First ApproachAnalysis before mastering — no blind guessing
Musicology-groundedStudying Systematic Musicology · University of Hamburg
Unlimited revisionsPay after delivery if you like, no upfront risk
A/B Loudness Demo
SYNTH SIGNAL
A · Premaster
0:00 / 0:08
LUFS-I-18.4
TRUE PEAK-3.2 dBTP
DYNAMIC RANGEDR 13
STREAMING-READYNO — too quiet
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The Polished Difference
Full Audio Audit
before every master.
An audio audit is a full technical and perceptual analysis of a mix, carried out before any mastering decision is made. Other studios start straight with plugins. Polished starts with a scientifically grounded analysis — because what isn't measured can't be deliberately improved. You get a full written analysis report of your mix before a single mastering step happens.
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/ 01Frequency Spectrum AnalysisIdentifying resonances, masking, tonal gaps and genre deviations — mapped against Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom and Gothic reference standards.
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/ 02Dynamics & Loudness ProfileCrest factor, RMS distribution, LUFS values, peak-to-loudness ratio. Streaming-platform compliance checked — see how loud metal should be mastered.
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/ 03Stereo Image & Phase CoherenceStereo correlation, mono compatibility, phase issues in the sub-bass range, stage positioning for wall-of-guitars mixes.
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/ 04Sonic Aesthetic AssessmentCompared against genre reference tracks. What's working? What needs to change? A concrete mastering strategy for your track.
AUDIT.REPORT · v2.4
ANALYSIS
Frequency BalanceMid-Boost 2.4kHz
Sub-Bass (20–60Hz)In Range
Mud Region (200–400Hz)
Presence (4–8kHz)Slightly Soft
Air (12kHz+)Optimal
Crest Factor
LUFS-I (current)
Stereo Correlation
Mono CompatibilityPass
Phase IssuesBelow 80Hz
Audit Recommendation
Workflow
How a master comes together.
Clear steps, no black box. You get visibility into every stage — and stay in full control the whole way.
Audio Audit
Full technical and aesthetic analysis of your mix. You get a written report with identified weaknesses and a concrete mastering plan.
Mastering
Targeted processing based on the audit strategy. Every move documented. Quality-checked on multiple reference systems.
Delivery
Master delivered as 24-bit WAV, 16-bit AIFF and 320kbps MP3. Platform-specific exports for Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp. Secure download link.
Revision & Release
Not 100% right? Unlimited revisions — no extra cost, no time limit. Then release-ready for every platform.
Genre Expertise
Online metal mastering service — Metal & Gothic only.
Generic mastering templates ruin more tracks than they save. Black Metal needs different treatment than Death Metal, and Doom needs different treatment than Metalcore. The audit shows exactly what your subgenre needs.
/ 01 — Raw · Atmospheric · Lo-fi to Hi-fi
Black Metal
Mastering
Mastering
Tremolo-picked walls of noise without losing bite. Raw or polished — the cold high end and atmosphere stay intact, low end stays controlled.
/ 02 — Brutal · Technical · Blast Beats
Death Metal
Mastering
Mastering
Palm-mutes with real weight, blast beats that don't blur into mush, vocals that cut through the wall without thinning out the guitars.
/ 03 — Heavy · Atmospheric · Dynamic
Doom & Gothic
Mastering
Mastering
Space to breathe without losing weight. Dynamics preserved for the slow builds, low end thick without swallowing the rest of the mix.
/ 04 — Tight · Modern · Syncopated
Metalcore &
Djent Mastering
Djent Mastering
Precise low end for syncopated riffs, clarity on breakdowns, vocals — clean or screamed — sitting exactly where they should.
Packages & Pricing
Transparent. Fair. No subscription.
Flat rates per project, final prices including 19% German VAT. No upfront payment required: pay on invoice after delivery, or up front if you prefer. Audio audit and unlimited revisions included in every package.
/ 01 · Single
€79
incl. 19% VAT
Stereo mastering incl. audio audit
∞ Unlimited Revisions
- Full audio audit
- Professional stereo mastering
- Streaming exports (Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp)
- 24-bit WAV + 16-bit AIFF + 320kbps MP3
- Unlimited revisions
- Delivery in 48–72h
/ 02 · Stem Pro
€129
incl. 19% VAT
Stem mastering — maximum control
∞ Unlimited Revisions
- Full audio audit
- Stem mastering (up to 6 stems)
- Maximum sonic control per element
- All platform exports included
- Unlimited revisions
- Delivery in 48–72h
/ 03 · EP
€349
incl. 19% VAT
Mastering for an EP (up to 5 tracks)
∞ Unlimited Revisions
- Audit per track
- Stereo mastering for up to 5 tracks
- Album-consistent loudness balance
- Sequencing & track transitions optimized
- Unlimited revisions
- Delivery in 5–7 days
/ 04 · Album
€629
incl. 19% VAT
Album mastering (up to 10 tracks)
∞ Unlimited Revisions
- Audit per track + album audit
- Stereo mastering for up to 10 tracks
- Album loudness & tonal consistency
- Vinyl-ready master on request
- Unlimited revisions
- Delivery in 7–14 days
Bundles & Label Rates
Releasing more? Pay less per master.
Same audit, same process, same unlimited revisions. Pay up front or on invoice after delivery, whichever suits you.
/ 05 · Single Series
€73
per single · incl. 19% VAT
Three singles, mastered as you release them
- Audit per single
- One consistent sound across the whole release campaign
- Deliveries spread over up to 12 months
- Pay per single or all three up front
- Unlimited revisions
- Delivery in 48–72h per single
/ 06 · Stem EP
€549
incl. 19% VAT
EP mastering from stems (up to 5 tracks)
- Audit per track
- Up to 6 stems per track
- Album-consistent loudness balance
- Sequencing & track transitions optimized
- Unlimited revisions
- Delivery in 5–7 days
/ 07 · Label Partner
€63
per single · incl. 19% VAT
Fixed rates from 4 releases per year
For independent labels with a release schedule
- Single · stereo€63
- Single · stems€103
- EP · up to 5 tracks€55.80 per track€279
- Album · up to 10 tracks€49.90 per track€499
- One consistent sound across your catalog✓
- Prepaid or invoiced per release✓
All prices are final prices incl. 19% VAT · How much does mastering cost? Market comparison · Mastering Kosten & Preise (Deutsch) · Mastering for labels: partner rates explained · Last updated: October 2026
Tim Borchert
Mastering Engineer · Producer
The Engineer · Tim Borchert
Mastering isn't a gut feeling.
Mastering is applied audio engineering.
I treat every track like a research subject. Before I decide which EQ move, which compression, which saturation — it gets measured, compared, analyzed. That's not academic, it's efficient: targeted moves instead of plugin roulette. I'm studying Systematic Musicology and Media Studies at the University of Hamburg, and that isn't a marketing detail — it's an operative tool.
Polished launched in 2024 — new as a studio, but the process isn't: it's the same systematic, audit-first approach from the first project onward, no shortcuts because the business is young.
Systematic Musicology & Media Studies · student, University of Hamburg
Live & release experience · Two years of event-technician training, live mixing for a rock band, own releases on labels in Mexico, India and Turkey, and time at the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben, the Hamburg foundation that has supported young top-level musicians since 1962
Audit-First Workflow · Full analysis before every mastering session
Personal, not algorithmic · Every track handled by hand
Revision Guarantee
Until it sounds exactly right.
Every package includes unlimited revisions. No time limit, no argument. If a master doesn't 100% match your vision, it gets reworked — as many times as it takes. That's not generous, that's standard.
Request Audio Audit →Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know.
What exactly is the audio audit?
An audio audit is a full technical and perceptual analysis of your mix, carried out before any mastering decision is made. Before every mastering session I run this analysis across your track — frequency spectrum, dynamics, loudness profile, stereo image, phase coherence, mono compatibility, and a sonic assessment in genre context, meaning what a competitive Black Metal or Death Metal master needs to sound like versus a Doom or Gothic one. You get a written analysis report with concretely identified weaknesses — for example a resonant frequency buildup, an overly narrow stereo image, or a loudness level that won't translate to streaming platforms — and a documented mastering strategy explaining exactly which moves will be made and why. The audit is included in every mastering package at no extra cost, and it's the reason mastering here starts with data instead of guesswork.
What does professional audio mastering cost?
Stereo mastering starts at €79 per track, which includes the full audio audit — you're never charged separately for the analysis step. Stem mastering, which gives more precise control by working with grouped stems instead of a single stereo file, starts at €129 per track. For a full release, the EP package covers up to 5 tracks for €349 (€46 less than five singles), and the Album package covers up to 10 tracks for €629 (€161 less than ten single masters), both including per-track audits plus a consistency pass across the whole release. All prices are final prices including 19% German VAT. There's no subscription, no recurring fee, and no hidden add-on costs — the price you see is the price you pay, and every package already includes unlimited revisions until the master is right. For a market comparison, see how much mastering costs.
Do you offer label rates or bundles?
Yes. Labels with a release schedule (from 4 releases per year) get fixed partner rates: €63 per stereo single, €103 per stem single, €279 per EP and €499 per album. Artists releasing several singles can book a Single Series: 3 singles at €73 each, mastered as they come out over up to 12 months. The Stem EP covers up to 5 tracks from stems for €549. You can pay up front or on invoice after delivery, whichever you prefer. All prices are final prices including 19% German VAT, and the audit and unlimited revisions are always included.
How long does mastering take?
Standard delivery for a single track is 48–72 hours, and that already includes the full audio audit — you're not waiting longer because the audit happens first. EPs, which involve consistency-checking across up to 5 tracks, typically take 5–7 days. Full albums, covering up to 10 tracks with a whole-release loudness and tonal consistency pass, typically take 7–14 days. If you need something faster, rush delivery in 24 hours is available on request. If a release date is locked in — a label deadline, a scheduled release — say so upfront and the schedule will be planned around it rather than around a generic queue.
What's the difference between stereo and stem mastering?
Stereo mastering processes your finished stereo mixdown — a single file, a single stereo track, exactly as you bounced it. Stem mastering works differently: instead of one file, you send grouped stems, for example drums, bass, guitars and vocals as separate stereo files, and each group can be treated individually before everything is combined into the final master. That separation gives significantly more control — a guitar wall that's masking the vocals, or a kick that needs more headroom than the rest of the mix, can be addressed directly instead of compromised around. The audio audit will tell you which approach actually makes sense for your specific mix. More in the stem mastering guide.
What genres do you master?
Polished is fully specialized in Metal & Gothic — no pop, no hip-hop, no generic all-genre template. Black Metal mastering means preserving raw, tremolo-picked atmosphere and cold high end without losing low-end control. Death Metal mastering means giving palm-mutes real weight and keeping blast beats readable instead of collapsing into noise. Doom and Gothic mastering means protecting dynamic range and space for slow builds while keeping the low end thick without swallowing the rest of the mix. Metalcore and Djent mastering means precise, controlled low end for syncopated riffs and clarity through breakdowns. That focus means every audio audit and every reference comparison is built specifically around what matters in this scene, not a generic template borrowed from pop or hip-hop production.
What file formats do you need?
Send 24-bit or 32-bit WAV or AIFF files at your session's original sample rate — 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz all work. Leave 3–6 dB of headroom on your mixdown, and avoid putting a limiter or compressor on the master bus before sending, since that removes the dynamic range needed for accurate mastering decisions. The same applies to loudness maximizing in the mix itself — a track that's already been pushed to streaming loudness before mastering limits what the audit and the mastering process can actually improve. If you're unsure whether your mix meets these requirements, send it anyway; the audit will flag anything that needs attention before mastering begins.
What happens if I'm not happy with the master?
You get unlimited revisions on every package — no extra cost, no time limit, no argument about whether a revision is reasonable. If a master doesn't fit, say so specifically: too harsh in the highs, not enough low-end weight for the genre, vocals sitting too far back, whatever it is. I'll listen closely, ask what's off compared to your reference expectations, and rework the master until it matches your vision rather than my interpretation of it. This applies to every package tier equally, from a single €79 track to a full album.
Is Polished an AI mastering service like LANDR?
No. Every track sent to Polished is mastered personally, and more importantly, every track is individually analyzed first through the audio audit. AI mastering services are cheap because they're generic: an algorithm can apply loudness and EQ curves, but it can't produce a written audit explaining what's actually wrong with your specific mix, can't understand what you're trying to achieve creatively, and can't develop a mastering strategy tailored to Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom or Gothic conventions specifically. Polished is the analytical, personal alternative to that — data-driven rather than algorithmic, at a fair price.
Do you also offer mixing?
Polished specializes in mastering — not mixing — and that specialization is intentional rather than a limitation. Mixing and mastering require different skill sets and different listening approaches, and trying to offer both often means neither is done as well as it could be. If the audio audit reveals that your mix itself needs work before mastering can do its job, that will be communicated honestly upfront, along with a recommendation for a mixing engineer from within my network rather than attempting a mastering fix that won't actually solve the underlying problem.
Where is the Polished studio located?
Polished is an online mastering studio based in Lower Saxony, Germany, operating under Heart Warrior UG in Kirchlinteln. There's no physical studio visit involved in the process — audio files are exchanged entirely online through secure transfer services like WeTransfer, Dropbox or Google Drive, and the audit report and final masters are delivered the same way. That remote setup means location isn't a barrier: clients are served across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as internationally, with all communication handled by email or Instagram DM regardless of time zone.
How loud should a metal master be?
There's no single correct number. Spotify, YouTube and Tidal normalize playback to around -14 LUFS integrated and Apple Music to around -16 LUFS, so a louder master is simply turned down on those platforms. Many commercial metal releases still land somewhere around -10 to -7 LUFS integrated because the genre's density and saturation are part of the sound. The real question is how loud your specific mix can get before blast beats, cymbals and low end start to collapse. The audio audit measures exactly that, and the loudness target is set per track and genre rather than pushed to the maximum by default. For louder masters, true peak is kept at or below -1 dBTP (Spotify recommends -2 dBTP above -14 LUFS) so lossy streaming encodes don't distort. More detail in the metal mastering loudness guide.
Can you master for vinyl and Bandcamp?
Yes. Bandcamp does not normalize loudness, so the Bandcamp master is the version listeners hear exactly as delivered, and it's planned accordingly. A separate vinyl-ready master is available on request for album projects: vinyl cutting benefits from more dynamic range, controlled sibilance and a mono-compatible low end, which the audit's phase and stereo analysis already checks. Mention the formats you plan to release on when you get in touch, and the deliverables will be set up for each of them.
How does invoicing work?
No upfront payment is required: you can pay on invoice after delivery, or up front if you prefer. Every invoice includes a full VAT statement as required under German business law. Payment is by bank transfer, with other arrangements available on request for labels or agencies with specific procurement requirements. B2B terms are available for labels and agencies working across multiple releases, and regular clients — bands or labels sending tracks on an ongoing basis — can arrange a framework agreement with preferred pricing rather than negotiating each project individually.
Contact
Talk directly with Tim.
No bots, no ticket systems, no waiting. Message me directly — I reply personally, usually within 24 hours.
What happens next
Ready for your master?
Your track. Polished.
Send me your mix — the audio audit is always included before mastering, no extra request needed. You'll know exactly what's going to happen, and why.
Replies within 24h · Pay after delivery · Limited slots per week