Distribution · October 22, 2026 · 5 min read
Prepare Your Master for DistroKid, TuneCore and CD Baby: File Format, Bit Depth and Loudness
Quick answer: Most distributors want a lossless stereo file. CD Baby, for example, asks for WAV or FLAC at 44.1 kHz and 16-bit, and discourages MP3. Export your final master in that format, keep the peaks safely below clipping, and check your own distributor's current rules before you upload, because they differ and change.
Desktop recommended · phones work for listening and quick edits, but the full console, meters and fastest renders are on a laptop or computer.
Why the file matters
A distributor passes your file to every streaming service. If it is rejected, or if it was a low-quality export, you lose time and sometimes quality. Exporting once, correctly, is easier than fixing it after a failed upload.
The usual requirements
- Format: lossless stereo, WAV or FLAC.
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz is the common request.
- Bit depth: 16-bit is the common request for the delivered file, even though you may master at 24-bit.
- Avoid MP3 for the master if you can.
These are typical, not universal. CD Baby states stereo WAV or FLAC at 44.1 kHz and 16-bit; other distributors vary, so read yours before you export.
Peaks and loudness
Leave true-peak headroom so conversion on the streaming side does not clip your file, and do not chase maximum loudness: services normalise it. LUFS explained and mastering for Spotify cover the numbers.
Exporting from MixTrackLab
The export screen lets you choose 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz and 16-bit or 24-bit, so you can deliver the file a distributor asks for. Converting a 24-bit master to 16-bit is the last step, and the 16-bit export applies dither to avoid quantisation noise. MixTrackLab lets you mix, master and preview for free, and you pay only to export. A single-song download (WAV and MP3, mix and master included) is $9.99. Studio Pro is $29.99 per month for six songs, and the yearly plan is $249.99 for unlimited exports. Prices are listed in US dollars, so your bank will convert them to your local currency.
A pre-upload checklist
- The file matches your distributor's current format rules.
- It starts and ends cleanly, with no clicks or cut-off tails.
- It does not clip, and the peaks have headroom.
- The file name, title and artwork match what you enter in the upload form.
- You have kept the stems and a 24-bit copy for later.
FAQ
Should I upload 24-bit? Only if your distributor accepts it. Otherwise export 16-bit at 44.1 kHz.
Does the distributor master my song? No. It delivers the file you upload, so the master has to be finished first. What is mastering?
Open the studio and hear your own song before you pay to export.