MASTERING COST FOR VINYL, STREAMING AND CASSETTE
Mastering one release for vinyl, streaming and cassette at Enormous Door is covered by the Heavy Mastering Full Release Package: one price, set by the release's running time, for all the standard masters the confirmed formats need. A 45-minute album is $600, a 60-minute album $700. Beyond Heavy, the collaboration between Jack Control and Maor Appelbaum, also includes every required release format in one fixed price per length: $850 for 45 minutes, $950 for 60. All prices are in USD and listed on the pricing page.
What does it cost to master a release for every format?
Running time picks the row. The Single-Format Master is shown for comparison and covers one format only. The Full Release Package covers all the formats you confirm, and so does Beyond Heavy.
- Single, 0–5 min: $150 single-format · $200 Full Release Package
- EP, up to 15 min: $300 · $400 · Beyond Heavy $650
- EP, up to 30 min: $400 · $500 · Beyond Heavy $750
- LP, up to 45 min: $500 · $600 · Beyond Heavy $850
- LP, up to 60 min: $600 · $700 · Beyond Heavy $950
- Double LP, up to 80 min: $700 · $800 · Beyond Heavy $1200
- Double LP, up to 120 min: $800 · $900 · Beyond Heavy $1500
Each line reads single-format, then Full Release Package, then Beyond Heavy. No Beyond Heavy price is listed for singles.
A record that runs just past a line moves to the next row, so check the total running time before you budget.
Why can't one master cover vinyl, streaming and cassette?
Because each medium needs its own treatment and formatting. Every release format gets its own master, and a release on several formats needs a separate master for each. That isn't an upsell. It's how the formats work:
- Vinyl is delivered as a Side A WAV file and a Side B WAV file at high resolution, prepared with attention to side length, level, high-frequency and low-end energy, sequencing and pressing-plant requirements. Because they are side files, a vinyl master is never suitable as a streaming master.
- Streaming masters are individual WAV files from the approved master, formatted correctly for the intended platform. Digital masters for Bandcamp and download sales get a high-quality WAV suitable for sale and platform conversion.
- Cassette gets cassette-specific masters, prepared when the release needs them.
CD is delivered as a DDP image with PQ info, plus ISRC, UPC and CD-Text if you provide them.
Single-Format Master or Full Release Package?
A Single-Format Master covers one confirmed release format. If the record is only coming out on streaming, or only on vinyl, that's the one.
The moment a release goes to more than one format, the Full Release Package is the path: it covers all the standard masters needed for the confirmed formats. For a 45-minute album going to vinyl, streaming and cassette, that's $600 instead of $500 for one format.
What does Beyond Heavy add?
Beyond Heavy is the flagship, and it's a collaboration, not a handoff. Jack shapes the direction, genre feel, sequencing, impact and format decisions; Maor Appelbaum brings an elite mastering chain and a second high-level perspective. There are no single-format or full-package tiers: one fixed price per length, all required release formats included.
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.
How long can each vinyl side be?
On a 12-inch at 33⅓ RPM the optimal side length is 16–20 minutes, with a maximum of 25. At 45 RPM it's 6–12 minutes optimal, 15 maximum. Shorter sides allow more level, stronger low end, cleaner highs and more reliable playback. When you start the project, include your side A/B splits, the RPM and any timing concerns. The full table is on the vinyl side length page, and how vinyl masters are prepared is on the vinyl mastering page.
How should I prepare my mixes?
One set of mixes feeds every format. Send stereo-interleaved WAV or AIFF files exported directly from the mix session, at the session's native sample rate and bit depth, with no lossy files as the source. 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 vinyl?
No. Enormous Door does not press records. 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. Payment 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 for the paid formats, and reasonable revisions are part of the process. Enormous Door has 5000+ mastering credits since 2008; see the clients page for credits and press.