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Mastering hardstyle is its own thing
Hardstyle asks a lot from a master. The kick and the bass share the same low end, the leads want to be loud, and the whole track has to hold up at a level where most music falls apart.
I’ve been making and finishing hard dance music since 2000, with over 100 releases on labels like Kontor, Rebl and Q-dance. I know what a hardstyle track needs because I’m a producer first.
You don’t have to know exactly what mastering does before you send a track. Most producers don’t. Send it over and I’ll tell you honestly what it needs.
★★★★★
Loved by 50+ artists.
Releases since 2000 incl. labels like
Kontor | Rebl | Q-dance
Years of experience
(hard)dance industry
Happy customers
Charly Lownoise | T-Spoon | Otto Wunderbar
You don’t need to know exactly what mastering does before you send a track. Most producers don’t, and that’s completely fine. Send it over and I’ll tell you honestly what it needs.
What I listen for
What I check in every hardstyle master
Kick and bass
Do they work together or fight? This decides whether your drop hits or just gets loud.
Loud without the damage
Hardstyle needs to be loud, but a crushed master loses its punch. I push for volume and keep the impact.
Leads and top end
Screeches and leads can sound great in the studio and tiring on a big system. I keep them sharp without making them harsh.
The drop
The jump from breakdown to drop should feel like a jump.
Every speaker
Your track still has to work on headphones, in the car and on a club system.
I master euphoric, classic, raw, zaag, microwave and jump styles.
Pricing
Pick what your track needs
Stereo Mastering
Start from- Release-ready master
- Streaming optimized sound
- Turnaround in 4 working days
- 3 revisions included
Stem Mastering
Start from- Up to 6 stems included
- Greater control over balance
- Turnaround in 4 working days
- 3 revisions included
Stem mastering is not mixing. I can balance and level your stems, but if something needs to change beyond that, it’s a mixing job. Check the mixing service.
Not sure which one? Choose stereo if your mix already feels right. Choose stem if one part still fights the rest, like a kick that’s slightly too dominant or a bass that’s a bit off. Still unsure? Send me the track and I’ll tell you.
How it works
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Tell me what you want
Send a few reference tracks and a short note on what to pay attention to.
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Send your files
Your final mix, or your stems for stem mastering. WAV, 44.1 kHz, 24-bit or higher.
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I get to work
I handle your track personally and don't pass it on. You get a status update halfway.
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Delivery
Your master comes back in about 4 working days, with 3 revisions included.
How it works
From mix to finished master
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Tell me what you want
As loud as the genre needs, but not louder than your kick can take. I match the level to your reference tracks, then check that the kick still hits. If chasing volume flattens the punch, I back off a little. A master that is half a dB quieter and hits harder wins on a big system every time.
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Send your files
Send your final mix, or your stems for stem mastering. WAV, 44.1kHz 24-bit or higher.
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Work begins
Handled personally, not passed on to anyone else. The master comes back in about 4 working days. Progress update included. You'll receive a status check midway through, before final delivery.
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Delivery
Delivered in 44kHz 24-bit unless agreed otherwise, with revisions included.
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Stem mastering is customizable
The mentioned price is for 6 stems. It's possible to adjust the service to fit what you need.
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Stem mastering is not mixing
I can't control everything in a stem master. If things need to change beyond balance and level, that's a mixing job, head to the mixing page for that service.
Frequently asked
Why does my kick lose punch when I make the track louder?
Because the limiter reacts to the kick. When the kick and the bass peak together, pushing the level squashes both, and the punch is the first thing to go. The fix is usually in how the low end is balanced before the limiter, not in a different plugin. That's what I work on, and with stem mastering I can do it per part.
How much headroom should I leave in my mix?
A clean, unclipped mix matters more than an exact number. Peaks somewhere around 3 to 6 dB below zero is a practical target. If your mix is already clipping, tell me. I'll say honestly whether it can be saved.
Should I leave my master limiter on?
If you can, take off any limiter that only adds volume. If your sound depends on it, send two versions, one with and one without, and tell me why it's there.
What if my mix isn't ready for mastering?
I'll tell you before I start. If the problem is something a master can't fix, I'll say so and point you to what will help, so you don't pay for a master that was never going to work.
Stereo or stem mastering, which one do I need?
If your mix feels right, go stereo. If one part fights the rest, like a kick that's too dominant or a bass that sits slightly off, go stem. Stem mastering gives me up to 6 groups to balance, but it can't fix everything. If sounds need real editing, that's mixing.
Will you change the sound of my track?
No. Your sound and your choices stay yours. I make the track hold up next to your references. I don't rebuild it.
Can I send reference tracks?
Yes, please. Send two or three tracks you want to stand next to and tell me what you like about them. It saves time and keeps us on the same page.
Will my track be too loud for Spotify and other platforms?
Streaming services turn loud tracks down to their own level. Hardstyle is made to be loud, so I make sure the master holds up after that and still hits on a big system. It won't sound crushed on a phone, and it still works on a festival stage.
How many revisions do I get?
Three, for both stereo and stem mastering. A revision is feedback on the master, like "a bit less top end" or "more kick". If you change the mix itself, send me the new file and tell me what changed.
Do you do the work yourself?
Yes. Every track is handled by me personally and isn't passed on to anyone else. You also get a status update halfway through, so you're never left waiting in the dark.
How long does it take and what do I get back?
About 4 working days. Your master comes back as a 24-bit WAV unless we agree otherwise.
Ready when you are
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