Free Test Master

Hear how your music could sound after mastering before placing an order. Send us a track and we’ll master a section for you, completely free and with no obligation.

If you’re not sure whether your mix is ready for mastering, you can also request a free mix evaluation and we’ll let you know if we hear anything that may benefit from attention first.

Submit your mix >

Get a Free Test Master or Mix Evaluation

Choose a free test master and we’ll master a section of your track so you can hear the result before placing an order.

Alternatively, choose a free mix evaluation and we’ll check your track for anything that may benefit from attention before mastering.

IMPORTANT

On the next page, upload your audio files (WAV or AIFF only; please do not send compressed files such as MP3) and enter your own email address.

Smash will email you a verification code.
Enter this code in Smash to complete your upload.

Your files will then be sent directly to Orange Polygon.

Why we offer Free Test Masters

A test master gives you the opportunity to hear how your mix responds to professional mastering before placing an order.

We master a section of your track using the same approach and equipment we would use for a full master, so you can judge the result for yourself.

It also gives us an opportunity to identify anything in the mix that may benefit from attention before mastering begins.

Not sure your mix is ready?

Choose a free mix evaluation and we’ll listen for anything that may benefit from attention before mastering. If we hear a problem, we’ll explain what we’d recommend changing.

We’ll give you honest feedback to help you adjust the mix before committing it to mastering.

How to Prepare Your Mix for a Free Test Master

Make sure you are happy with the sound of your mix and the balance of the different elements (drums, bass, vocals, etc.).

Then follow these simple steps to prepare your mix for a free test master:

  • Leave some headroom – aim for audio peaks to be around -3dB to -6dB (this is rule of thumb so don’t worry about being too precise with this).
  • Make sure your mix is not clipping – if you’ve left some headroom then clipping is usually avoided, but it might be that individual instruments caused clipping at the recording stage if the signal was too hot, so listen carefully for potential problems throughout the recording and mixing).
  • Leave any mix-bus processing in place if it is an intentional part of your sound. Avoid heavy limiting or clipping purely to make the mix louder, and leave enough headroom for mastering.
  • Listen carefully for sibilance in the vocals. This relates to harsh ‘s’, ‘sh’ or ‘th’ sounds in the upper-mid and high-frequency range. Mixing engineers use a de-esser (hardware or software) to reduce sibilance. This is much easier to address on the vocal tracks during mixing than at the mastering stage.
  • Leave a second to two at the start and end of each mix so fades can be added at the mastering stage.
  • Export your files from your DAW as WAV or AIFF using the same bit depth (e.g. 24-bit) and sample rate as your mix session.
  • Tell us about any specific goals you’d like to achieve, such as matching the general character of a reference track or aiming for particular qualities such as heavier bass or a more vintage, tape-like sound.
Focal headphones and mastering equipment
Frequently Asked Questions

Free Test Mastering

Will the free test master sound the same as a fully finished master?

Yes, we will produce the test master in the same way as if you purchased one of our services. You will receive a fully mastered section of your track to hear the difference between your mix and the test master.

Is there a way to compare the test master with the submitted mix due to differences in loudness?

Yes. Level-matching the test master and your original mix allows you to compare them at a similar perceived loudness, making it easier to judge changes in tonal balance, dynamics, stereo image and overall character without being influenced simply by the mastered version being louder.

Will my track(s) be shared with anyone else?

Whether you submit a track to get a free test master, a free appraisal, or through purchasing one of our services, we will never share your work with anyone else without your approval – occasionally we make requests to artists/managers to feature tracks in promotional material.