STARCITY STUDIOS
MUSIC MASTERING IN SUTTON, SOUTH LONDON
YOUR MIX IS FINISHED.
LET'S GET IT READY FOR RELEASE.
Mastering is the final stage of the music production process, taking your completed mix and preparing it for release and distribution.
At Starcity Studios, Sutton, we approach mastering with a balance of technical precision and musical judgement — enhancing the finished mix while respecting the production and creative decisions already made.
Whether you're releasing a single, EP, album or commercial project, we'll help make sure your final master is ready for its next stage.
Professional mastering · Release-ready delivery · Established 2012
WHAT DOES MASTERING ACTUALLY DO?
Mastering is more than simply making a song louder.
It is the final opportunity to assess the finished mix as a complete piece of music and make appropriate adjustments to its overall sound, dynamics and presentation.
Depending on the project, mastering can involve:
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Overall tonal balance
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EQ
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Dynamics processing
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Level optimisation
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Stereo image refinement
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Subtle harmonic processing
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Final quality control
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Track sequencing for EPs and albums
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Preparation of release formats
The goal is to make sure your finished mix translates well beyond the studio and is suitable for the way you intend to release it.
A good master should enhance the record — not change what made the record yours.
TECHNICAL PRECISION. MUSICAL JUDGEMENT.
Mastering isn't about applying the same chain to every song.
Every record is different.
A vocal-heavy R&B track may need a different approach from a dense drill production.
An acoustic singer-songwriter record has different requirements from an EDM track.
We listen to:
The music · The mix · The dynamics · The frequency balance · The genre · The intended impact and make decisions accordingly.
Our aim is not to make your master unnecessarily loud.
It's to create a finished record that feels balanced, controlled and appropriate for its intended use.
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR MIX FOR MASTERING
For the best results, send us your highest-quality final mix.
Ideally:
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Export a high-resolution WAV
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Leave sensible headroom
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Avoid unnecessary limiting on the master bus
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Make sure the mix is genuinely finished
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Check that there are no clipping or export errors
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Include any important mix notes
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Tell us about any reference tracks you're using
Don't worry if you're unsure how to prepare your file. Send us what you have and we can tell you if anything needs changing before mastering begins.
WHAT CAN WE MASTER?
We work with a wide range of music and creative projects, including:
Singles · EPs · Albums · Mixtapes · Demos · Instrumentals · Soundtracks · Commercial music
Genres include:
Afrobeats · R&B · Hip-Hop · Grime · Drill · Pop · Indie · Soul · House · Dance · EDM · Singer-Songwriter
If your project doesn't fit neatly into one of those categories, get in touch.
249 British pounds
READY FOR THE NEXT STAGE
Once the master is complete, your music may be heading towards:
Streaming · Digital distribution · Radio · Playlist pitching · Publishing · Social media · Film & TV · Commercial use
We'll provide the appropriate final files according to your requirements.
Depending on your project, this can include:
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High-resolution WAV
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MP3
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Instrumental
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Acapella
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Clean version
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Other agreed versions
If you need specific delivery formats, let us know before the project begins.
MORE THAN JUST ONE SONG
Mastering becomes particularly important when you're releasing several tracks together.
For EPs and albums, we can consider the relationship between tracks so that the project feels cohesive rather than like a collection of unrelated masters.
We can consider:
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Relative volume
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Tonal consistency
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Track transitions
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Overall sequencing
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Consistency across different productions
Single
For individual releases.
EP
For projects requiring consistency across multiple tracks.
Album
For larger projects where the relationship between tracks becomes particularly important.
WANT THE WHOLE FINISHING PROCESS HANDLED?
If your track needs both mixing and mastering, our Mix & Master service combines both stages.
We'll mix the supplied stems or multitracks, refine the finished mix and then master the completed track.
MASTERING DELIVERABLES
Depending on your project and requirements, your mastering service can include:
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High-resolution master WAV
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MP3
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Instrumental version where supplied/requested
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Clean version where supplied/requested
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Additional delivery formats where agreed
For EPs and albums, we can also provide appropriately sequenced final masters where agreed.
Need a specific format for a distributor, broadcaster or commercial project? Let us know before delivery.
Testimonials
Kim Lee
“Excellent studio and top class engineer! Had an EP mastered here and the end product was superb. We have also had some of our instrumental students come to learn extra production skills. Would highly recommend!”
Jack's Room
“Had such a great experience at Starcity, really well equipped and knowledgeable team!”
Nana Dankwa
“Such an amazing studio. I've been going there for years, and the service, the quality of the music, is outstanding...”
MASTERING FAQ
What is music mastering?
Mastering is the final stage of the production process, where a completed mix is refined and prepared for its intended release and distribution.
Should I mix my song before mastering?
Yes. Mastering works from a completed mix. If your mix still needs significant work, our Mixing service may be more appropriate first.
Can you master a song recorded elsewhere?
Absolutely. You don't need to have recorded or mixed the song at Starcity.
Can you master home recordings?
Yes, provided the final mix is technically suitable for mastering.
What file should I send?
A high-resolution WAV is preferred. If you're unsure how to export your mix, contact us and we'll explain what we need.
Should I put a limiter on my mix before mastering?
Generally, you should avoid unnecessary master-bus limiting unless it's an intentional part of the sound or you've discussed it with the mastering engineer.
Can you master an EP?
Yes. We can master multiple tracks as a cohesive project.
Can you master an album?
Yes. Larger projects can be discussed and quoted according to the number of tracks and requirements.
Do you master for Spotify and Apple Music?
Yes. We prepare masters suitable for digital distribution. The appropriate master depends on the music and intended delivery rather than simply targeting a single loudness number.
Can you fix a bad mix during mastering?
Some issues can be improved, but mastering cannot replace a proper mix. If significant problems are present, we'll let you know and may recommend mixing first.
Can you mix and master my song?
Yes. Our Mix & Master service combines both stages.
Can you master instrumental and clean versions?
Yes, where those versions are supplied or created as part of the agreed project.
