Mastering for metal & gothic record labels
Independent labels with 4 or more releases a year get fixed mastering rates at Polished: €63 per single, €103 per stem single, €279 per EP and €499 per album, incl. VAT. Every track gets a written audio audit and unlimited revisions. Each release is prepaid or invoiced after delivery.
Label mastering rates: fixed per release
| Release | Label partner rate | Regular price | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single · stereo | €63 | €79 | 48–72 h |
| Single · stems (up to 6) | €103 | €129 | 48–72 h |
| EP · up to 5 tracks | €279 (€55.80 per track) | €349 | 5–7 days |
| Album · up to 10 tracks | €499 (€49.90 per track) | €629 | 7–14 days |
All prices are final prices incl. 19% German VAT. Partner rates apply from 4 releases per year. There is no subscription: you pay per release, up front or on invoice after delivery. Full package details are on the pricing overview, and a market comparison is in the mastering cost guide.
What your label and your bands get
- A written audio audit per track: frequency balance against Black, Death, Doom and Gothic references, dynamics and loudness, stereo image and phase. Your bands see why each decision was made.
- One consistent sound across your catalog: loudness and tone stay comparable from release to release, so a label sampler or playlist does not jump in level.
- Album consistency: EPs and albums get loudness balance across tracks and optimized sequencing and transitions.
- Every format: 24-bit WAV, 16-bit AIFF and 320 kbps MP3, with exports for Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Vinyl-ready master on request for albums.
- Unlimited revisions: no extra cost, no time limit, on every release.
How label mastering works
- Tell us your release schedule. A short email with your label, genres and how many releases you plan per year is enough to unlock partner rates.
- Send the mixes per release. Stereo mixdowns or stems, plus one or two reference tracks from the band's subgenre.
- Audit, then master. Each track is analysed first; the written report and the master are delivered together.
- Revise until it fits. The band or the label gives specific feedback, and the master is reworked until it is right.
- Pay per release. Prepaid or on invoice after delivery.
Genres for label releases
Polished masters heavy and dark music only. Each genre has its own guide with typical mastering problems and loudness ranges:
How loud metal masters should be for streaming and Bandcamp is covered in the loudness guide; when stems make sense is in the stem mastering guide.