Audio Requirements

Audio quality is fundamental to professional distribution. Platforms expect high-quality masters that meet industry technical standards. Here are our requirements and recommendations.

Accepted Format

• Format: WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
• Bit depth: 16-bit or 24-bit
• Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
• Channels: Stereo (2 channels)

Why WAV?

WAV is an uncompressed audio format that preserves the full quality of your master recording. Platforms encode your audio into their own streaming formats (AAC, Ogg Vorbis, etc.). Starting from an uncompressed source ensures the best possible quality after encoding.

We do not accept MP3 or other lossy formats for distribution. Lossy compression removes audio data permanently, and re-encoding a lossy file creates additional quality loss.

Bit Depth Recommendation

24-bit audio is preferred when available. It provides greater dynamic range and headroom compared to 16-bit. If your master was created at 24-bit, submit it at 24-bit. Do not down-convert to 16-bit.

16-bit audio at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) is also acceptable if that is the format of your final master.

Quality Expectations

Beyond format specifications, we review audio for common quality issues:

• Clipping or digital distortion (unless intentional as an artistic choice)
• Excessive silence at the beginning or end of the track
• Audible artifacts from poor encoding or editing
• Extremely low volume levels that suggest an unmastered file
• Mono audio submitted as a stereo file

File Information We Display

After you upload your audio file, we display the following information for your verification:

• Filename
• Format (WAV)
• Duration
• Sample rate
• Bit depth
• File size

Common Issues

• MP3 uploaded instead of WAV: Please provide the uncompressed master
• Incorrect sample rate: Ensure the file matches your original session rate
• Clipped audio: Check your master for peaks above 0 dBFS
• Wrong file: Verify you are uploading the final mastered version