File Formats and Delivery

1. Recommended Audio Formats

To prevent quality degradation, the studio adopts the uncompressed WAV format as the primary standard. Compressed formats such as MP3 are used only for final confirmation purposes; for archiving and mixing stages, WAV files are mandatory.

Specifically, we recommend settings of 24-bit / 48kHz or 96kHz. Recording at 24-bit ensures a wide dynamic range, which helps suppress noise during gain adjustments in the subsequent mixing process. Following the standards of many commercial studios in Yokohama, we strictly adhere to these criteria in our daily operations.

2. Selecting Sampling Rates and Bit Depth

Please select the most suitable sampling rate based on the objectives of your project. While 48kHz is the standard for general music production and podcasts, we suggest 96kHz for high-resolution audio or projects involving significant pitch-shifting processes.

Regarding bit depth, we strongly advise selecting 24-bit over 16-bit. This allows for a sufficient level of resolution even when recording levels are set conservatively, significantly reducing the risk of clipping (digital distortion).

3. Multi-track (Stem) Delivery Structure

When requesting external mixing or planning for future re-edits, we perform "stem exports." This involves exporting grouped instruments or vocals as separate files.

4. File Naming Conventions and Organization

Due to the large volume of files involved, we apply a consistent naming convention. Unclear file names can lead to confusion during the mixing stage, resulting in increased production time.

Example: [SongName]_[Instrument]_[Version]_[Date].wav
(e.g., SummerSong_LeadVocal_v01_20260510.wav)

This management style simplifies the tracking of revisions (standard studio policy allows up to 3 rounds of revisions) and makes it clear which take is the most recent.

5. Delivery Methods and Storage Handling

Because audio files are large, we provide delivery through the following methods:

• Cloud Storage: We provide download links via high-speed transfer services.
• Physical Media: Direct copying to an external HDD or USB drive provided by the client.
• Studio Archive: Recording data is kept on the studio server for 12 months after completion.

Utilizing the network infrastructure of the Minatomirai district in Yokohama, we support the rapid upload of large files, though we recommend maintaining a physical backup.

6. Transition to Mixing and Mastering

To bring recorded data to a professional release level, the Mixing & Mastering process is essential. Data delivered in the correct format provides the foundation for engineers to efficiently adjust tone and spatial design.

During the mastering stage, files are converted to match the requirements of specific distribution platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, CD, etc.). Here, we typically set the peak level to -1.0dBTP to prevent digital clipping during lossy conversion.

7. Pre-Delivery Checklist

Before finalizing the data transfer, please verify the following items:

8. Troubleshooting and Support

If you encounter issues such as files that will not open or unexpected noise, please contact us immediately. The studio responds promptly to re-export files in the event of technical errors.

To prevent configuration errors during the recording phase, it is important to review our Preparation Guide for Recording and agree on detailed specifications with the engineer in advance.