TERMS &
CONDITIONS.

THE AGREEMENT.

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of distinctmastering.com and any services provided by Distinct Mastering ("we," "us," "our"). By booking a service, submitting files, or using this website, you agree to these Terms.

If you don't agree, don't use the site or book a project. These Terms apply alongside our Privacy Policy.

WHAT WE DO.

Distinct Mastering provides professional audio services including:

• MASTERING
  Stereo mastering, stem mastering, vinyl mastering, and Apple Digital Masters certification.
• MIXING
  Full mixing services from tracked stems through pre-master delivery.
• PRODUCTION
  Composition, production, and arrangement services on a project-by-project basis.

HOW IT WORKS.

Projects begin once payment is received and files are delivered to us. Pricing is quoted per project and confirmed in writing (email or invoice) before work starts.

• All payments are processed securely through Stripe
• Prices are in USD unless otherwise specified
• Full payment is required before masters are released
• Invoices are issued at project kickoff or upon delivery, depending on project type
• Late payments may delay delivery and incur additional fees

Free sample consultations (including our 15-minute call offer) are subject to availability and scheduling. The $50 first-master discount offered during the call is valid for 30 days from the call date and applies to your first mastering project with us.

TIMELINES.

Standard turnaround is 1–2 business days for most mastering projects. If we're out of the studio or booked at capacity, timelines may extend — you'll be notified in advance at booking and any revised delivery window will be confirmed in writing before work begins.

Deliverables are provided in the format agreed at booking (e.g., 24-bit WAV, 16-bit WAV, DDP for vinyl, Apple Digital Masters–compliant files). Files are sent via secure download link.

We retain project files for a reasonable backup window after delivery but do not guarantee long-term archival. Clients are responsible for storing their final deliverables.

GETTING IT RIGHT.

Each project includes reasonable revisions to ensure you're happy with the final result. Revisions must be requested within 14 days of initial delivery.

Major changes — re-mastering from new source files, substantial creative direction changes, or revisions requested after the 14-day window — may be billed as a new project at our current rates.

A project is considered approved and finalized if no revision requests are received within 14 days of delivery.

REFUNDS.

Because mastering is a custom creative service, refunds are handled case-by-case. We'll always work with you to resolve concerns through revisions first.

• Before work begins: Full refund, minus any payment processing fees
• After work begins but before delivery: Partial refund based on work completed
• After delivery: Refunds are not typically offered once final masters have been delivered, but we'll work with you on revisions to make it right

To request a refund or cancel a project, email [email protected].

WHO OWNS WHAT.

You own your music. Upon full payment, you retain all rights to your compositions, recordings, and delivered masters. We claim no ownership of your creative work.

We reserve the right to reference completed projects — titles, artist names, and short audio excerpts — in our portfolio, marketing materials, and social channels unless you specifically request confidentiality at booking.

You warrant that you own or have licensed all rights to the material you submit for processing and that our work on it will not infringe any third-party rights.

YOUR PART.

To get the best results, you agree to:

• Submit files that meet our technical requirements — WAV or AIFF, 16/24/32-bit, -3 to -6 dB headroom, no master bus limiting
• Provide clear revision notes and creative direction when requested
• Confirm that you own or have rights to the material you submit
• Respond to delivery notifications and revision requests in a timely manner
• Pay invoices on time per the agreed schedule

LIMITS.

Our services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. While we take every reasonable precaution to protect files and deliver high-quality work, we are not liable for:

• Loss or corruption of files due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control
• Delays caused by client-side issues (late file delivery, unclear direction, payment delays)
• Commercial performance of released tracks (streams, sales, chart position, etc.)
• Issues arising from source material defects
• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages of any kind

Our total liability for any claim related to our services is limited to the amount paid by you for that specific project.

USING THE SITE.

All content on distinctmastering.com — including text, logos, graphics, audio excerpts, photography, and code — is owned by Distinct Mastering or used with permission. You may not copy, redistribute, or use site content for commercial purposes without written permission.

You agree not to use the site to transmit malicious code, attempt unauthorized access, scrape content, or interfere with its operation.

UPDATES.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects any revisions. Significant changes will be communicated via email or a notice on the site. Continued use of our services after changes means you accept the revised Terms.

JURISDICTION.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. Any disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or our services will be resolved first through good-faith negotiation, and if necessary, in the state or federal courts located in California, and you consent to that jurisdiction.

If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions stay in effect.

QUESTIONS?