FAQs
Booking
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Head to archivemastering.com/booking. Build your mastering session by adding the number of main mixes and alternate mixes you’d like to master. The site will show dates the mastering can be completed. Pick a date that works for your project timeline, then enter your info and payment details to confirm.
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Use our online booking system to see our current availability - we always aim to post masters for review by the end of your session day. Occasionally things come up that require some discussion or a bit more time, and we'll keep you updated if this is the case.
You can talk to us anytime to discuss your project and deadlines.
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Alternate mixes are versions of the main mix that use the same mastering treatment. Examples include instrumentals, clean versions, and radio edits.
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No problem, we understand that schedules are fluid! The best way to proceed is to book a date that you think will work for you, and we can always adjust if needed.
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As of May 15, 2026 we will no longer be offering attended sessions.
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We offer onsite accommodations in our waterfront cabin, The Boathouse. Please contact us for rates and availability.
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Currently we accept credit cards and etransfer. For some projects booked online you may also be able to use Apple Pay, or Affirm to make monthly payments.
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Yes! Clients from China may book by sending a message with this form. We can provide payment options with Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay.
Source Files
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the final mixes
any alternate mixes you need mastered, such as instrumentals, clean versions, and radio edits
any final mix reference copies that include additional processing NOT on the final mixes (extra limiting for increased level, for example). These can sometimes sound quite different than the mixes delivered for mastering so it is essential to know what you have been hearing
a list of final song titles in the proper running order, and the artist name and album title exactly as they should appear on the metadata
ISRC codes (optional at the mastering stage, but we can encode them in your masters if you have them)
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After booking you’ll receive a confirmation email with access to our Client Area to upload your mixes and project info.
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24 bit WAV files at the sample rates of your project (ie. don’t make any unnecessary sample rate conversions, we’ll handle any conversions to the destination formats).
We also regularly work with DSD and analog tape:
DSD 11.2 MHz (DSD256), DSD 5.6 MHz (DSD128) and DSD 2.8 MHz (DSD64) delivered as DSDIFF / DSF files (dff or dsf file extensions).
We are big proponents of DSD as a mixdown format, and are one of only a handful of mastering studios anywhere in the world equipped to playback DSD files directly into the analog mastering chain.
Analog:
Analog 2-track stereo (1/2 inch or 1/4 inch tape), at 30, 15, or 7.5 ips.
Please provide alignment tones (ideally 1kHz, 10kHz, 15kHz, 100Hz, 50Hz minimum, 40Hz and 30Hz are helpful too), and label with eq type, tape speed and reference fluxivity (for example: NAB EQ, 15ips, 355nWb/m)
Other Formats:
We can transfer DAT, cassette, vinyl, and many other oddball formats for cases where the original mix no longer exists for some reason (archival transfers, re-releases, live recordings, etc). Please contact us for details.
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An ISRC is a unique and permanent 12 character alpha-numeric code assigned to each song on an album (or single). Encoded ISRCs provide the means to automatically identify recordings for royalty payments. Although it is not a requirement to encode ISRCs on your master files, they will be needed to place your songs with streaming services.
ISRCs are assigned by the master rights owner of the recording, usually the record label or independent artist. You will need to supply your ISRCs to us during the mastering process if you wish to have them encoded on your masters.
Independent artists in Canada may apply online to administer their own ISRCs (it's fast and free).
Masters
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Once you’ve signed off on your project we provide you with final master files (aka production masters) in all the formats required for streaming release and physical manufacturing.
Your production masters are delivered as zip files, with a filename suffix indicating the release format. For example, a filename ending in “_DIGITAL” is the digital master files for streaming release.
The standard set of deliverables is detailed below. If you require additional formats you can request them during booking.
DIGITAL MASTER FILES (_DIGITAL)
BWF_44k16b
These are the standard streaming masters. Use these files for all online outlets.*
* if you are doing a hi-resolution release see the two 96k24b options below.
BWF_96k24b
Hi-resolution files suitable for Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless, Amazon Music, TIDAL, and other hi-res download and streaming services.
FLAC_96k24b_APPLE
Hi-resolution files specifically for releases requiring both Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless and Apple Digital Masters branding. Don’t use these files for anything else.
MP3
MP3 versions are intended for promo and in-house use, they cannot be used as a release format or transcoded into other formats.
VINYL MASTERS (_VINYL)
Hi-res WAV files formatted for lacquer cutting. Separate files are provided for each side, with cue sheets indicating the timings for the spreads between tracks and total running time of each side. This should stay zipped until it gets to the manufacturer.
DDP MASTER FOR CD MANUFACTURING (_DDP)
This should remain zipped and be delivered exactly as-is to the manufacturer. Note that this is not a playable audio file, it is a disc image format that is for manufacturing purposes only.
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Masters will be delivered via secure download links.
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Absolutely, your input is an essential part of the mastering process.
When we’ve completed your mastering we’ll invite you to review the masters in our secure online collaboration space.
This allows you to listen on any mobile device or computer and ensures you will hear the whole sequence in the intended sound quality, with proper spacing and transitions.
You can also download a set of WAV files from this link in order to listen offline.
Whether your favourite system is your car stereo, headphones, your studio monitors, whatever - we understand the importance of checking your master in that setting.
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Yes, all revisions are included, always!
Technical Questions
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Yes! We work with a loyal contingent of analog tape enthusiasts, so we still receive mixes on tape frequently. In fact we would go so far as to say that there are few mastering engineers remaining that share our depth of knowledge and experience in this field.
Analog tape playback is via a custom ATR Services ATR-102, with both 1/2” and 1/4” capabilities.
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Yes, regularly!
We are big fans of DSD as a mixdown format, and with our Merging Technologies HAPI converters and Pyramix system we can handle all DSD variants.
General Questions
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J. LaPointe does mastering exclusively.
However, JUNO Award winning producer and mixing engineer Graeme Campbell works in our studio on a regular basis and can be booked to mix your project here.
And we also offer visiting engineers the opportunity to stay and work here on their own projects.
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99.9% of our work is new releases.
The name Archive dates back to the dark ages of the internet (2001 or so) when we purchased shared server space with a group of other creative friends, as a place to store and share our work in our various fields. That server, aptly titled thearchive.ca, hosted our first web presence, and the name stuck.
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We make no guarantees that we can store your master files or working files once your project is complete.
That said, we do maintain a server of our past work and there is a very good chance we have your files. In fact we’ve helped clients do many, many vinyl reissues in recent years, and saved the day in numerous cases where people thought their work was lost forever (theft, house fires, and so on).
So please do get in touch if you’re looking for older masters or project files and we’ll do our best to help out.