A few small choices before you upload make a big difference to how your master turns out. You do not need any special skills. Here is what to do, what to skip, and how to save your file.
| Setting | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| File type | WAV | It keeps all of your sound. An MP3 throws some of it away, and we cannot get it back. |
| Quality | 24-bit | More detail in the quiet parts. 32-bit float is fine too. |
| Sample rate | Same as your project | Changing it before you upload does not help. |
| Volume | Loudest part around −6 on the meter | Gives mastering room to work. The final loudness is set during mastering, not in your mix. |
| Main output | No limiter | See the next part. |
| Normalize / dither | Off | These belong at the very end, after mastering. |
A limiter makes your track louder by squeezing it, so the loud parts and the quiet parts end up closer in volume. That is fine as the very last step, which is what mastering does for you. But once it is already built into your file, mastering has nothing left to work with, and the punch is gone for good.
Think of it like a photo. If it is already over-exposed, an editor cannot bring the detail back. Mastering works best on a photo that was taken properly.
It is fine to mix with a limiter on to hear what a loud track will sound like. Just switch it off when you save the file, and keep a loud copy if you want something to compare against.
You can still upload it. If the file looks already loud, flat on top, or like an MP3, we will let you know what we found, then master it anyway with a lighter touch. For the best result, go back to your mixing session, switch off the limiter or loudness tool, and save it again.
We can only judge what we hear in the file, so we cannot tell which tools you used. We just tell you what we notice, and the choice is yours.
Two free tools let you look at your file in your browser before you upload: the loudness checker and the dynamics checker. A mix that is ready for mastering has plenty of room at the top of the meter and a clear difference between its loud and quiet parts.