# Mastering for CD Baby > CD Baby's dual heritage -- physical CDs and digital distribution -- shapes a couple of real differences worth knowing before you submit. [All guides](/blog) # Mastering for CD Baby Published 24 September 2026, 16:00 UTC · updated 31 August 2026, 13:06 UTC · by Loopin CD Baby's roots in physical CD distribution, alongside its modern digital distribution service, shape a couple of real considerations worth knowing if you're releasing through the platform. ## Digital distribution follows standard conventions For digital release through CD Baby to streaming platforms, the same standard mastering targets apply — roughly −14 LUFS integrated with a −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling, delivered as the highest quality WAV file available. Nothing about CD Baby's digital pipeline requires different mastering conventions than any other distributor. Treat this side of a CD Baby release exactly as you would a DistroKid or TuneCore submission — the underlying streaming platforms and their normalisation behavior don't change based on which distributor delivered the file. ## Physical CD manufacturing has its own specification If you're also producing physical CDs through CD Baby, Red Book CD audio standard requires 16-bit, 44.1 kHz audio specifically — different from the 24-bit files you'd typically deliver for digital distribution. Check current specific requirements before finalizing a physical run. This is a case where you genuinely may need two different final export formats from your mastering session — a high-resolution file for digital, and a CD-spec file for physical manufacturing. ## CD mastering loudness conventions can differ slightly Physical CDs aren't subject to streaming platform loudness normalisation, similar to Bandcamp downloads — whatever loudness you master to is what a listener hears directly. Consider whether your mastering approach should account for this if physical CD is a meaningful part of your release plan. In practice, a well-executed master around the standard −14 LUFS-ish range still generally translates fine to CD without normalisation, but it's worth being aware that this context lacks the safety net streaming platforms provide. ## Album sequencing and consistency matter for CD specifically A physical CD is inherently a full-album listening experience in a way individual streaming tracks aren't always treated — cross-track consistency in loudness and tone matters even more here, since a listener is more likely to experience the whole thing as one continuous session. This reinforces the general album mastering consistency principles, but with extra weight given the format's inherently sequential, full-album listening context. ## Confirm current requirements before finalizing anything Distribution and manufacturing specifications can change, so check CD Baby's current stated requirements for both digital and physical delivery before finalizing your masters, rather than relying on general assumptions that may be outdated. This is good practice with any distributor, but especially relevant here given the platform's dual physical-and-digital nature, which adds more surface area for requirements to differ from a purely digital-only distributor. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does CD Baby require different mastering for digital vs physical CD releases? Yes, potentially. Digital distribution follows standard streaming conventions (-14 LUFS, 24-bit WAV), while physical CD manufacturing requires the Red Book standard of 16-bit, 44.1 kHz -- you may need two different final exports. ### Does loudness normalisation apply to physical CDs? No. Similar to Bandcamp downloads, physical CDs aren't subject to streaming platform normalisation -- whatever loudness you master to is what a listener hears directly, without a normalisation safety net. ### Why does album consistency matter more for CD Baby releases? A physical CD is inherently more of a full-album listening experience than individual streaming tracks often are, so cross-track consistency in loudness and tone carries extra weight given that more continuous listening context. ## Related reads - [Master your track free](/mastering) - [Bit depth explained: 16-bit vs 24-bit](/blog/bit-depth-explained-16-vs-24) - [How to master an album so it sounds consistent](/blog/how-to-master-an-album-consistently) --- Source: https://onloopin.com/blog/mastering-for-cd-baby