Fresh, expert ears
A final, objective listen can reveal details that are almost impossible to notice when you have lived with the mix for weeks.
Online and in-person music mastering in London, UK
Professional music mastering by a real human.
Not an AI shortcut.
You have put everything into your music. I’ll listen properly, make tasteful decisions to elevate your music, and prepare it for release - with the care your work deserves.
- Your engineer
- Dax Liniere
- Experience
- 25+ years
- From
- £79 per track
A selection of releases Dax has worked on
The important question
Why do I need mastering?
Because releasing a song without mastering is like sending artwork to print without checking the final proof.
After weeks or months of writing, recording, and mixing, it is difficult to hear your music with fresh ears. Mastering gives you an experienced, independent listener who can catch problems, improve the final presentation, and create the files you need before the public hears it.
The aim is not to make your music sound generic. It is to help your finished mix feel confident, complete, and ready to stand beside other professionally released music.
A finished record
Careful adjustments bring clarity, impact, and cohesion without flattening the personality out of your music.
Ready for release
You receive properly prepared masters for streaming, download, or the physical formats like vinyl or CD.
A simple explanation
What is mastering?
Mastering is the last creative and technical stage between your finished mix and its release.
I listen to the whole record - not just isolated frequencies or numbers - and only make the changes it genuinely needs. That can include tonal balance, dynamics, level, sequencing, and overall quality control. Sometimes the most important decision is knowing what not to change.
Your music is not data
Mastered by Dax.
Not by an algorithm.
Every track is personally listened to and mastered by Dax Liniere at Puzzle Factory Sound Studios, London.
With 25+ years working as a producer and recording, mixing & mastering engineer, Dax understands that the right master depends on the artist, the arrangement, and the emotion of the song - not a preset.
I have worked across many genres, from pop, rock, and metal to electronic, jazz, and country, and I enjoy listening to just about everything. You can hear examples showing the range of my work on the Puzzle Factory Sound Studios website.
You can explain what you want, ask questions, and deal with the person doing the work. No anonymous processing. No instant generic result dressed up as expertise.
Meet Dax and see the studiosBefore mastering
Is your mix ready?
If you are mixing the track yourself, MixDirection gives you experienced, detailed, one-to-one guidance before mastering begins.
Dax puts on his engineer and producer hats to review your mix, giving technical and creative feedback in a series of iterative exchanges. You send a mix, Dax sends you clear notes, you make changes, and Dax listens again. The mix is ready to move onto mastering when all the important issues are addressed.
MixDirection£79 per track
MixDirection + mastering£99 per track
No VAT to pay. No hidden charges.
Tell Dax about your mixOnline mastering, step by step
How does online mastering work?
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01
Tell Dax about your release
Send an enquiry with a little info about the music, the number of tracks, and where you plan to release it.
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02
Upload your finished mixes
You’ll receive clear guidance on preparing and sending your files. If something looks wrong, Dax will tell you before mastering begins.
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03
Dax masters your music
“I will listen and draw on my 25+ years of experience to make the right decisions and quality-check the result before it leaves the studio.”
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04
Review and release
You review your master and receive the final files, ready for the next stage of your release.
A room built for listening
Professional decisions need a trustworthy room.
Your music is mastered at Puzzle Factory Sound Studios in London, using a carefully designed monitoring environment where small details and meaningful differences can be heard clearly.
Explore Control Room One Part of
Useful answers
Mastering questions
Is this AI or automated mastering?
No. Every song is listened to and mastered personally by Dax. An algorithm is not making those decisions.
Is mastering just making my track louder?
Volume is only one consideration. Tonal balance, dynamics, clarity, sequencing, translation, and quality control can all matter. The goal is a better finished record, not simply a louder file.
How loud will my master be?
The right loudness depends on the music and your preference. I can make a master louder when it serves the track, but streaming services may turn louder masters down during playback. Spotify uses -14 LUFS for its Normal setting, but services and playback settings vary, so -14 LUFS is not a universal mastering target.
I master for the best balance of impact, clarity, and dynamics, and we can discuss how loud you want the release to feel. This two-minute video about mastering loudness explains it clearly.
Should I master a single, EP or whole album?
All three can and should be mastered. For an EP or album, mastering can help the songs work together as one coherent release, even when they were recorded or mixed at different times.
What if I also want other formats such as vinyl?
Additional deliverables for formats such as vinyl can be prepared for £39 each, in addition to your standard master. Tell Dax which formats you need when requesting a quotation so everything can be prepared correctly.
Can you master music that was mixed somewhere else?
Absolutely. Your music can be submitted regardless of where - or by whom - it was recorded and mixed.
What files should I send for mastering?
Send a stereo WAV or AIFF file exported at the original source sample rate of your mixing session.
- Use at least 24-bit resolution and ensure there is no clipping (digital overs).
- 32-bit floating-point or 64-bit is preferred where your software supports it.
- Do not change the sample rate just for mastering.
If you are unsure, send the highest-resolution export available and ask before converting anything.
Do you offer stem mastering?
Yes. Stem mastering works from grouped elements of your mix, such as drums, vocals, and music, rather than only a stereo mix. It can provide extra control when a project needs it, but it is often not needed. Please ask us before preparing or sending stems so Dax can confirm whether it is the right approach, which files are required, and the price for this additional work.
What if I'm unsure about my own mix?
That is exactly what MixDirection is for. I review your mix and provide technical and creative feedback, you make revisions, and I listen again. We continue iteratively until nothing stands out and then we move onto mastering your mix.
MixDirection costs £79 per track as a standalone service, or £99 per track when booked together with mastering.
How much does mastering cost?
Professional mastering costs £79 per track. The full pricing details are:
- DDP for CD replication: included
- Additional deliverables: £39 each for vinyl masters and other format-specific versions
- MixDirection: £79 per track as a standalone service, or £99 per track when booked together with mastering
- Replacement mix after mastering has begun: £25
No VAT to pay. No hidden charges.
Your final step should not be an afterthought
Let’s finish your record properly.
Tell Dax what you are making and where you want to take it.
Include the number of tracks, style of music, and intended release formats if you know them. If you are unsure about anything, just ask.
Professional mastering from £79 per track.
MixDirection + mastering: £99 per track.