Mastering Revisions: How to Handle Them Without Losing Your Week
Published · by Loopin
Revisions only eat your week when the notes are vague and the rounds are unlimited. Cap them at two, force specific feedback, and make each round a ten-minute job.
Write the revision terms before the first master
Put two numbers in your quote, and put them before the work starts: rounds included (two is standard) and turnaround per round (24 hours works for most). Define a revision as a change to level or tone on the same mix, which is the only thing a master can change. Write the turnaround next to it, because a revision with no deadline becomes a reason to keep messaging you. A new mix, a new song order or a new reference is a new job, billed as one.
Say it in the same email as the first delivery, not in a contract nobody reads. Reply to the first round within a day and you set the pace for the rest. One sentence is enough: “Two revision rounds are included; changes to the mix itself are quoted separately.”
Turn vague notes into one measurable change
“Make it punchier” is not a note. Ask for one of three things: louder or quieter, brighter or darker, tighter or wider. Then ask for a time stamp, such as “0:48, the chorus feels small”. A time stamp turns a feeling into a place you can listen to.
Reply with a choice, not a question: “I can push the chorus about 1 dB louder or lift the top end a little. Which do you want?” Clients answer a choice in minutes and a question in days. Keep a short note of every change you make in each round (“+1 dB chorus, top end up a touch”), so you can undo it without guessing.
Level-match before you send, every time
Most “it sounds better louder” revisions are really “it is louder”. Before you send round two, match the new version to the old one by ear or with a loudness meter, so the client hears the change you made, not the level you moved.
If you use an automatic first pass, master the track free and use its loudness-matched Original vs Mastered switch to check the change. Previews and A/B are unlimited, so you can audition a different feel for a revision without using a download; the free download cap is 1 per rolling 24 hours with no account and 2 with a free account.
Version everything, and never overwrite
Name every round: Title - Master v2 - 2026-10-15.wav. Keep v1 in the folder. Clients regularly ask to go back to the first one, and a clean version trail turns that into a 30-second reply instead of a rebuild.
If a revision needs a different overall feel, start from the free online mastering page and audition the other feels in preview before you decide what to change. Send the previous and the new version together, labelled A and B, with a one-line note on what changed. If the client can switch between them in one player, the decision is made in one listen.
Know when a revision is really a mix problem
If round two asks for more bass and less harshness at once, it is probably the mix: an overloaded low end or a bright vocal that no mastering move can fix cleanly. Say so, and offer to take a revised mix instead of stacking more processing on a flawed one.
Automatic mastering takes no creative direction, so for a client who wants detailed, repeated tonal control, hand the track to a human engineer. See free vs paid mastering for where the line sits.
Frequently asked questions
How many revisions should mastering include?
Two rounds is the usual standard. Define a revision as a level or tone change on the same mix, and quote new mixes separately.
What counts as a mastering revision?
A change in loudness, tone or width on the same mix. A new mix, new order or new reference is a new job.
How do I handle vague client feedback?
Ask for one of louder/quieter, brighter/darker or tighter/wider, plus a time stamp. Then offer two options so they choose instead of describing.
How fast should I turn around a revision?
24 hours is a common promise. With a ready first pass, each round can take about ten minutes.
Should I charge for extra revisions?
Yes. After the included rounds, charge a flat fee per round so the limit is respected.
Can I use an automatic master for revisions?
Yes, as a fast first pass and for auditioning feels. It takes no creative direction, so send demanding clients to a human engineer.