Mastering is the final step before release — but prices online range from €5 “AI masters” to hundreds per track at premium studios. What you pay for should be clear: loudness, tone, translation, revisions, and delivery formats.
Here is how GigTunes structures mastering pricing so you know what to expect.
Short answer: mastering starts at €69
Professional mastering at GigTunes starts at €69 (Starter) and scales with tier, enhancements, and delivery options.
| Tier | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | €69 | One stereo mix, 1 revision, streaming-ready levels |
| Studio | €119 | Up to 2 mixes, 2 revisions, fuller polish |
| Pro | €199 | Multiple versions, 3 revisions, priority handling |
Your exact total is shown in the order builder before you pay. See pricing for all services.
What is mastering (and what you send)?
You send a finished stereo mix — one WAV file with headroom, not stems. Mastering adjusts:
- Overall loudness (streaming-friendly, without crushing dynamics)
- Tonal balance (brightness, warmth, weight)
- Stereo image and depth where appropriate
- Format prep for Spotify, Apple Music, download, etc.
If your mix still needs balance work, start with mixing or read Mixing vs Mastering.
What is included?
Every mastering tier includes:
- Work by a real mastering engineer (not a one-click limiter preset)
- Revision rounds per tier (1, 2 or 3)
- Streaming-oriented loudness targeting
- Project communication in your GigTunes workspace
Higher tiers add more revision flexibility, multiple mix versions, and priority queue on Pro.
What affects your mastering cost?
1. Tier level
Starter (€69) suits a single release with one stereo mix and straightforward material.
Studio (€119) is the most common choice — two mixes (e.g. explicit + clean), deeper dynamics and EQ work, two revisions.
Pro (€199) fits albums, multiple versions, or releases that need extra care and faster priority.
2. Enhancements
Common mastering enhancements (optional, visible at checkout):
- Instrumental / clean / alt version — extra mastered files from the same session
- Vinyl or club master — separate loudness/EQ goals from streaming
- Extra revision round — one more pass after your notes
- Multiple formats — WAV, MP3, AAC, etc. delivered for you
- Express / priority delivery — 48h or 24h when timing is tight
3. Mix quality going in
Mastering cannot fix a broken mix. If vocals are buried or the low end is messy, you may need mixing first — which changes your total project cost but saves revision frustration.
4. Number of songs
Pricing is per service tier per project scope in the order flow. EPs and multiple tracks may need Pro or multiple line items — the builder shows the full picture.
Mastering vs mixing + mastering
| Path | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Mastering only | You already have a strong approved mix |
| Mixing + mastering | You have stems and want one team through both stages |
Booking mixing and mastering together applies a bundle discount on tier pricing (10% off when both services are in the same order). Details in our guide on mixing and mastering cost.
How to prepare files (save money on revisions)
- Export 24-bit WAV, same sample rate as your session
- Leave headroom — avoid heavy limiting on the mix bus
- Do not normalize to 0 dBFS
- Note your reference tracks and target platform
Cleaner files mean fewer surprises and faster approval.
Is cheap mastering worth it?
Very low prices often mean automated processing with no revisions and no engineer context. For a public release, you usually want:
- A/B comparison on multiple speakers
- Revision rounds if loudness or tone is off
- Correct formats for upload
GigTunes pricing is built around that workflow.
Get your exact price
- Start your order
- Select Mastering only (or add mixing if needed)
- Choose tier and enhancements
- Confirm total before payment