AES Fall Online Convention

The relationship between Audio Mastering and Streaming Distribution is still in its infancy. This workshop aims to clear up misconceptions, open up a dialogue between Mastering and Distribution and help bring this relationship to a new level of maturity.

Topics will include:

1. Acceptable formats for delivery to distributors: WAV, FLAC, ALAC? Wordlengths? Sample rates? What about MQA? Now that more streamers have begun to stream high resolution audio, these concerns become even more important.
2. Metadata. Is it necessary or desirable to encode source files with metadata, including ISRC, catalogue number, artist, date, loudness?
3. Sample rate conversion. Who should perform it? What source sample rates are being stored and how are they streamed? What are streamers doing about multiple sources: Lossy, lossless, and multiple sample rates?
4. Streaming levels: What happens to our master files when they are streamed, played back and loudness normalized?
5. File Names: Is there a recommended or standardized format for naming master files?

The panel will consist of mastering engineers and representatives of streaming firms and distributors. We expect a lively discussion.

Please note: The discussion will continue in Discord following the session! You can join the server HERE.