VINYL MASTERING COST FOR A 45-MINUTE ALBUM
Mastering a 45-minute heavy album for vinyl at Enormous Door costs $500 for a vinyl-only master (Heavy Mastering, Single-Format), $600 for the Full Release Package with masters for every format you're releasing, or $850 for Beyond Heavy, the collaboration between Jack Control and Maor Appelbaum with all required release formats included. Prices are fixed by running time, in USD, and listed on the pricing page.
What does a 45-minute LP cost to master?
A 45-minute album sits in the "LP, up to 45 min" row of the price table:
- Heavy Mastering, Single-Format Master: $500
- Heavy Mastering, Full Release Package: $600
- Beyond Heavy, all release formats included: $850
Running time decides the row. An album that runs over 45 minutes moves to "LP, up to 60 min": $600 single-format, $700 for the Full Release Package, $950 for Beyond Heavy. If you're close to the line, check the total running time before you budget.
Single-Format or Full Release Package?
A Single-Format Master covers one confirmed release format. If the record is coming out on vinyl and nothing else, that's the one.
Most heavy records don't stop at vinyl. They also go to streaming, Bandcamp, CD or cassette. Every format needs its own master, because each medium needs its own treatment and formatting, and a vinyl master is never suitable as a streaming master. The Full Release Package covers all the standard masters for the formats you confirm, so for a 45-minute LP that's going to vinyl and digital, it's $600 rather than $500.
What is Beyond Heavy, and when is it worth it?
Beyond Heavy is the flagship: a collaboration, not a handoff. Jack shapes the direction, genre feel, sequencing, impact and format decisions, and Maor Appelbaum brings an elite mastering chain and a second high-level perspective. It's one fixed price per length with every required release format included, so there are no tiers to choose between.
It's for release-ready mixes only: high-resolution 24-bit WAV, balanced, not over-limited. Slots are limited, and fit is confirmed in 24–48 hours before anything is scheduled. Selected Beyond Heavy credits include Darkthrone, Aura Noir, Mork, Discharge and Fear. More on the Beyond Heavy page.
Will 45 minutes fit on one LP?
It fits, but it's long. On a 12-inch at 33⅓ RPM the optimal side length is 16–20 minutes and the maximum is 25. Split evenly, 45 minutes is about 22 and a half minutes a side: past the optimal range, inside the maximum.
That matters for a heavy record. Shorter sides allow more level, stronger low end, cleaner highs and more reliable playback. Longer sides give up some of that. Sequencing helps: put the loudest and heaviest tracks earlier on each side, because the inner grooves are more sensitive to distortion, sibilance and harsh cymbals, and avoid ending a long side with the harshest song. Balance the two sides as closely as the track order allows. The full table is on the vinyl side length page, and how vinyl masters are prepared is on the vinyl mastering page.
What do I get for vinyl?
Vinyl masters are delivered as a Side A WAV file and a Side B WAV file at high resolution, prepared with attention to side length, level, low end, sequencing and pressing-plant requirements. When you start the project, include your side A/B splits, the RPM and any timing concerns.
How should I prepare my mixes?
Send stereo-interleaved WAV or AIFF files exported directly from the mix session, at the session's native sample rate and bit depth. No MP3s or other lossy files as the source. Leave headroom, avoid clipping, and don't normalize. Usually leave the limiter off the mix bus; if it's part of the approved sound, print both versions and say which was approved. The full checklist is on the mix prep page.
Does Enormous Door press the records?
No. Most projects are pressed at the plant of the client's choosing. If you need a plant, Enormous Door can point you to its partner, Helios Pressing. See the vinyl pressing page.
How do I pay and get started?
Payment is by PayPal, Venmo, Wise or bank transfer, and international clients can pay in native currencies where available. Details come once the project is confirmed.
Start your project with the basics: what you're releasing, which service you need and which formats are involved. You don't need every detail finalized. Jack reviews the request and replies personally with the right path, price range, file readiness, schedule and next steps. A mastered sample is sent for approval before final masters are delivered, and reasonable revisions are part of the process. Enormous Door has 5000+ mastering credits since 2008; see the clients page for credits and press.