01
Tape changes the shape of the sound
Analog tape rounds off the sharpest transients, thickens the low mids and gently compresses peaks. It is a sound, not a setting, and it is why records from the tape era still feel the way they do.
Analog tape mastering
Your master,
through tape.
A Mara Machines two-track, half-inch tape and one continuous pass. Nothing between your mix and the medium it was made for.
2-track
Mara Machines
30 / 15
Inches per second
1/2"
Analog tape
24-bit
Playback transfer
The machine
One machine, two tracks, no shortcuts.
Our mastering machine is a Mara Machines two-track: a modern, hand-built transport with the electronics and head assembly of the classic American tape recorders. Two tracks on half-inch tape, which is exactly what a stereo master needs and nothing more.
We run it at 30 or 15 inches per second. Every order starts with an MRL alignment, a bias check and a clean tape path, because an uncalibrated machine is just a very expensive EQ curve.
- Machine
- Mara Machines 2-track
- Tape
- 1/2" SM900, SM911 or your stock
- Speeds
- 30 IPS and 15 IPS
- Calibration
- MRL tape and bias check before every run
What we do
Analog mastering, explained without the mystique.
Tape is a physical process: magnetic particles on a moving ribbon, arranged by a head, read back by another. That process adds the tone, the compression and the small imperfections that make a record feel finished.
02
We calibrate before we print
Every session starts with an MRL alignment and a bias check against the exact tape stock we run. Levels are set so your master hits the tape where it sounds best, not where the meters look impressive.
03
You get the tape and the files
You receive a playback transfer back to 24-bit WAV, so you can use the tape sound for streaming. Add the physical reel option and the reel itself comes home with you as your archive copy.
Three ways to work with us
Pick the pass that fits your record.
Priced per song · tape reel optional · files delivered in 24-bit WAV
0130 IPS Tape Print
30 inches per second
Maximum headroom. Maximum detail.
Your finished master printed to half-inch tape at the highest speed the machine will run. Wide, open top end, tight low end, and the least print-through of any speed.
- Printed to 1/2" tape at 30 IPS, one pass, no compression
- MRL-calibrated and bias-checked
- Playback transfer back to 24-bit WAV included
- Optional physical reel: 1/2" SM900, up to 5 minutes
€29
per song
0215 IPS Tape Print
15 inches per second
The classic glue. The familiar weight.
The speed that made rock records sound like rock records. Richer low-mid weight, a gentler top end, and that familiar roundness on the transients.
- Printed to 1/2" tape at 15 IPS, the classic studio speed
- Weight and glue in the low mids, softer top end
- Playback transfer back to 24-bit WAV included
- Optional physical reel: 1/2" SM900, up to 5 minutes
€25
per song
03Full Analog Mastering
Complete analog chain
The whole chain, start to finish.
We master your mix by ear through the analog chain, then print the result to tape. Tone, balance and loudness decisions made on the machine, not by numbers on a screen.
- Analog EQ, compression and saturation, tuned by ear
- Printed to tape at 30 or 15 IPS, your choice
- Two revision rounds included
- Streaming-ready masters
- Optional physical reel: 1/2" SM900, up to 5 minutes
€100
per song
The process
From your folder to a reel on the shelf.
01
Send your mixes
Upload 24-bit WAV or AIFF mixes with headroom left. One folder, one link, no stems needed.
02
We choose the pass
We confirm the speed and the level for your material, then align the machine to the tape stock.
03
The tape run
Your master goes through the machine in one continuous pass. We log levels and spot-check both sides.
04
Files, and the reel if you want it
You get the playback transfer and a short note on what we did and why. Add the physical reel option and it arrives labelled, with up to 5 minutes on 1/2" SM900 tape.
“A tape print is not a plugin. It is a decision you can hold in your hand.”
Studio Picardie · analog mastering
Questions
Before you send anything.
Still unsure which speed or service fits? Put your question in the notes of your order request and we answer it together with the confirmation.
What do I send in?
A 24-bit WAV or AIFF of your finished mix, with peaks around -3 dBFS so the tape has room. No stems, no session files. A shared folder link is fine.
Will tape make my master louder?
No. Tape adds tone and gentle compression, not level. We deliver the playback transfer at the same loudness you sent, and for the full mastering option we set the final loudness with you.
Should I pick 30 IPS or 15 IPS?
30 IPS is cleaner and wider, with the tightest low end. 15 IPS has more weight and a softer top end. If you are unsure, tell us the genre and reference tracks and we will recommend one.
Can I get the tape shipped?
The physical reel is optional on every product. It holds up to 5 minutes of program on 1/2" SM900 tape and is priced separately. Tick the reel option in your order request, add a shipping address in the notes, and we quote shipping with your confirmation.
How many revisions are included?
Tape prints are a single pass and do not include revisions. Full analog mastering includes two revision rounds on the analog master before we print.
Ready when your mixes are
Put your record on tape.
Choose a service, tell us how many songs and where the mixes live. We reply with a confirmation and a scheduled tape date.