Mastering Prices: Charge per Track, per Album or Monthly?
Published · by Loopin
Charge per track for one-offs, a per-album rate with a track cap for projects, and a monthly retainer for repeat clients. Here is the rule for each, with the sums for an 8-track EP.
Charge per track when the client is new
A single or a first job is simplest per track. The client sees one number, you know what you’re delivering, and a rework is easy to scope. Example: $25 a track, one revision included, so a single is $25.
It stops working when the project grows. At 12 tracks the client sees $300 and starts negotiating, and you start doing the discount in your head. That’s the signal to move to a project rate. If you haven’t set a base rate yet, start with how much to charge for mastering. Whatever you quote, write the number of revisions beside the price, because a vague revision policy costs more than a low rate.
Quote albums as a rate with a track cap
For an EP or album, quote a flat project price that covers up to N tracks and a fixed number of revision rounds. Example for 8 tracks at a 20 percent project discount: 8 × $25 = $200, less $40 = $160, with two revision rounds. Over 8 tracks, add $20 each. The cap stops scope creep.
A project price also lets you do the consistency pass that clients value: listening to the whole record in order and fixing the track that jumps. Put it in the quote. Our post on mastering an album consistently shows the checks.
Offer a monthly retainer to repeat clients
A label, a collective or a producer with a steady release schedule wants a predictable cost. Offer a monthly fee for up to N tracks, say 4 tracks for $80, with unused tracks not rolling over. You get steady income and they get a fixed bill.
Add a response time and a revision allowance to the retainer, and review it every quarter. If a client regularly exceeds the cap, move them up a tier rather than adding invoices. A simple rule helps: if a client books three months in a row, offer the retainer at a small discount, and put the next quarter's start date in the quote.
Check each model against your costs
Your tool cost is small whichever model you use. Loopin Mastering Unlimited is $10 a month or $59 a year (check the pricing page for your region), and free downloads are capped at one per rolling 24 hours with no account or two with a free account, so volume work needs the plan. Per-download tools charge by the file: at the time of writing (October 2026), Ditto lists $5 a download, so a 12-track project costs $60 in downloads alone.
That changes which model is safe. With a per-download tool, a revision costs you another $5, so cap revisions hard. With a flat plan, revisions cost only your time, so you can offer a second round more generously. Audition with free online mastering first, because previews are unlimited.
Write the terms in three lines
Put this at the bottom of every quote: what is included (tracks, revision rounds, file format), what isn’t (mix fixes, stems, creative direction), and the turnaround. State that the masters are an automatic first pass and offer a human-engineer referral for vinyl or label work.
Then master the track free and send the client a loudness-matched A/B with the quote. A preview that sounds good closes more jobs than a rate card.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge per track or per album for mastering?
Per track for singles and new clients, a flat project rate with a track cap and two revision rounds for EPs and albums, and a monthly retainer for repeat clients.
How much discount should I give on an album?
Around 20 percent is a common starting point: 8 tracks at $25 becomes $160 instead of $200. Adjust to your rate and keep revisions capped.
Is a monthly mastering retainer worth it?
It suits repeat clients: for example 4 tracks for $80 a month with no rollover gives you steady income and them a fixed bill.
What does my software cost per master?
Loopin Mastering Unlimited is $10 a month or $59 a year, so volume work costs cents per track. Per-download tools like Ditto list $5 a download at the time of writing (October 2026).
What should I say about automatic mastering to clients?
Say it is a fast, consistent first pass and offer a human-engineer referral for vinyl, label work or mixes with problems.