PRODUCTION MASTERS

_DIGITAL

Every project includes our standard digital delivery package, organized into five folders:

01 DISTRIBUTION

_RQMSTR-XX24: 24-bit WAV files at the native sample rate of the original mix. These are the files to upload to a distributor (DistroKid or similar) for release on every major platform, including the lossless and hi-res tiers of Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music. Other sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 352.8 kHz are available upon request at no additional charge.

02 VIDEO + SYNC

_RQMSTR-4824: 24-bit 48kHz WAV files for music videos, film, TV, advertising, and sync licensing where 48 kHz is standard.

03 MP3 PREVIEW

_RQMSTR-MP3 : 320 kbps MP3 files for sharing, pitching, and promo. Not for distribution.

04 STANDARD RESOLUTION

_RQMSTR-4424 + _RQMSTR-4416: 24-bit 44,1 kHz and dithered 16-bit 44.1 kHz WAV files for distributors, libraries, and outlets that require these formats or do not accept high-resolution files.

05 ARCHIVE

_RQMSTR-XX32FP: undithered 32-bit floating point WAV files at the native sample rate of the original mix. For archiving, future reissues, and any further processing. Not for distribution.

Available on request:

  • _RQMSTR-ADM: 24-bit WAV files (44.1 kHz–96 kHz) optimized for Apple's AAC encoder per Apple Digital Masters guidelines, making your release eligible for the Apple Digital Master badge on Apple Music.


    Sam Kumar Tandon and Rose Quartz Mastering are approved Apple Digital Masters providers.

  • _RQMSTR-DDP: a DDP image of your release, ready for CD replication, with sequencing, track spacing, ISRCs, UPC/EAN, and CD-Text embedded. Final track order, titles, and codes should be provided to us prior to project completion.

  • RQMSTR-DSF: Ridiculously high resolution DSF files at DSD256 (11.2MHz), DSD128 (5.6MHz), or DSD64 (2.8MHz), for archival and audiophile-grade distribution.

    Classical and jazz recordings are occasionally recorded in or more often, mixed down to DSD. Digital processing can't typically be applied in native DSD, so when we receive DSF or DSDIFF sources, we convert them once to DXD (352.8kHz PCM), run them through our analog chain, and capture the result back at DXD. Every deliverable, DSD and PCM alike, is then derived from that single DXD master, so nothing is converted more than necessary.

_VINYL

Includes delivery of native sample rate 32-bit floating point WAV files for sides A and B and a PDF cue sheet for vinyl manufacturing, packaged as a single .zip. Keep it zipped until it reaches the manufacturer.

Final track sequencing, side breaks, and titles should be provided to us prior to project completion.

_IMMERSIVE

Includes delivery of a 24-bit 48kHz Dolby Atmos master (ADM BWF) for Apple Music Spatial Audio, Amazon Music, and other Atmos-enabled platforms along with an MP4 reference file and a binaural headphone render for review and approval.

Atmos mixes are created in-house from stems printed from the final stereo mix, provided by the project's mix engineer. Every Atmos master is referenced against the approved stereo master, so both presentations feel like the same record.

_ALT

Many commercial placements require alternate versions for various media applications (instrumental, a cappella, radio edit, clean version, etc.). Alternate mixes should be provided by the project's mix engineer.

Each alternate is mastered to match the main version and delivered as 24-bit native-rate and 24-bit 48kHz .wav files.