The Importance of a Good Premaster and the Right Format for Mastering Delivery

A well-prepared premaster is the foundation of successful mastering. While many focus on the creative aspects of mixing, the premaster and especially the right format are often overlooked. However, getting the correct format, bit rate, sample rate, and avoiding true peak overs are crucial to ensuring the highest quality mastering process and optimal playback on all platforms.

1. Why the Right Format Matters

Before handing your mix over to the mastering engineer, make sure you've taken all the technical requirements into account. Incorrect formats or poor deliveries can not only delay the mastering process but also lead to loss of quality.

Key Factors for the Right Format

Bitrate and Sample Rate:

Standard:
At least 24-bit, preferably 32-bit floating point for the premaster.

Why?
A higher bit depth ensures your mix has enough dynamic range without compromising sound quality. 32-bit floating point offers a huge dynamic range and any potential true peak overs can be dialled back.

Sample Rate:
Common sample rates are 44.1 kHz and 88.2 kHz

True Peak:
True Peak Overs (values exceeding digital headroom) should be avoided at all costs. Even if the peak in the mix doesn’t visually exceed 0 dBFS, inter-sample peaks can cause distortion and clipping in the master.

Solution:
If you want to use the full spectrum, make sure to use a safety limiter that removes true peak overs and prevents so-called “dumb peaks” (even when peaks visually stay under 0 dBFS).

2. Premastering: Fine-Tuning Before Mastering

Premastering is not just about handing off your mix to the engineer – it’s about providing the mastering engineer with the best possible starting point. Keep these points in mind:

Fading & Headroom

There are two approaches:

-6 dBFS headroom:
You can leave a headroom of -6 dBFS, which gives the engineer plenty of room for final processing.

Full Spectrum:
Alternatively, you can use the full spectrum, but in this case, a safety limiter should be used to prevent true peak overs.

No Plugins on the Master Bus:
Remove any mastering plugins like limiters or maximizers from the premaster. Your mastering engineer needs an uncompressed mix.

3. The Right Format for Delivery

WAV or AIFF: These lossless formats are ideal. They ensure that no data is lost through compression.

Frequency:
Deliver the premaster with a 44.1 kHz or 88.2 kHz sample rate and 24-bit or 32-bit floating point.

Avoid lossy formats like MP3, which already introduce data compression and degrade the sound.

Conclusion

The quality of the premaster is essential for the final result.
Only when the mix is delivered in the correct format and free of technical errors like true peak overs can the mastering engineer bring out its full potential. Always remember: A well-prepared premaster leads to a faster, better, and error-free mastering process.

FAQ

What is a premaster?
A premaster is the final stereo mix prepared for mastering, delivered in the correct technical format without mastering plugins.

What bit depth should I use for a premaster?
At least 24-bit, ideally 32-bit floating point to preserve dynamic range and headroom.

What sample rate should I deliver?
44.1 kHz or 88.2 kHz are the most common choices for premaster delivery.

Should I leave headroom on the premaster?
Yes. Either leave -6 dBFS of headroom, or if using the full spectrum, apply a safety limiter to prevent true peak overs.

Which file format is best for premaster delivery?
WAV or AIFF (lossless). Avoid lossy formats like MP3.

Can I keep limiters or maximizers on my premaster?
No. Remove mastering plugins from the master bus. The mastering engineer needs an uncompressed, clean mix.

About the Co-Author

CB MASTERING – partner in crime at NexaTunes Blog
📧 cbmastering@gmx.de · 🔗 linktr.ee/cb.mastering