Codec Mastering Explained

Encoding

Service Details

Rates

Supported Formats

Ordering

Services: Mastering for Digital Distribution - Details

Mastering for Digital Distribution is broken-down by the following processes:

Defining Formats

Analysis/Measurement

Tuning

Encoding

Verification

Tagging

Delivery

Defining Formats:
What outlets are you targeting?

  - Online music store sales?
  - Ringtones?
  - Direct sales from your website/webstore?

Different uses call for different approaches to encoding, different bitrates, targeted filesizes, and fidelity.

Analysis/Measurement:
Files must be analyzed for frequency/channel content, and measured for potential errors during encoding. For example, encoding at different bitrates can introduce clipping depending on the source material and choice of codec used.

Tuning:
Various codecs have tuning options, and may be applicable to the encoding depending on input parameters such as target bitrate, file size, usage, and delivery platform.

Encoding:
Once the files have been analyzed, and codecs/parameters chosen, the encoding occurs and the digital assets are created.

Verification:
Upon completion of encoding, verification of results such as file size constraints, fidelity, and clipping are performed.

Tagging:
After verification, all assets are tagged (Artist, Track Name, ISRC codes, etc...).

Delivery:
Delivery of the encoded assets can be done via FTP, Data CD-R media, or included as a custom E-CD solution along with CD Masters.