Terms of Service

Welcome to Gary Katz Mastering. By submitting your audio files, paying an invoice, or participating in our promotional offers, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. Scope of Work & Deliverables

  • Stereo Mastering: Covers the processing of one (1) stereo mixdown file per track. Final deliverables are provided as high-resolution, uncompressed 24-bit WAV files.

  • Mixing & Production: Scope of work will be explicitly detailed in your custom project quote.

  • Client Requirements: The client must provide files according to my technical specifications (uncompressed WAV, native sample rates, minimum -3dB to -6dB of headroom, and no brickwall limiters or heavy compression on the master output). The studio is not responsible for sonic artifacts or distortion caused by clipped or poorly engineered source files.

2. Revision Policy

  • Paid Projects: Standard paid Stereo Mastering projects include up to two (2) free rounds of minor mix-tweak revisions. All revision requests must be submitted in writing within fourteen (14) days of file delivery. Revision requests submitted after 14 days will be considered a new project and billed at standard rates.

  • New Mix Files: If a revision is requested because the client has modified their own mix layout (e.g., changing vocal volumes or fixing an arrangement mistake) and uploads a new file, this requires a fresh analog processing pass and is subject to a re-upload fee.

  • Free Promotional Masters: Tracks mastered under our Free Mastering Promo are a promotional demonstration of our hardware capabilities. No free revisions are included for promotional tracks. If adjustments or changes are required, the project must transition to our standard paid rates.

3. Payments, Billing, & Currencies

  • Payment Processor: All invoices and credit card transactions are processed securely through Hnry, my native financial gateway [Hnry NZ Invoicing App].

  • Payment Schedule: Single-track mastering projects require 100% upfront payment before work commences. Full EPs, albums, mixing, or bespoke production projects require a 50% non-refundable deposit to secure studio time, with the remaining 50% balance due upon project completion.

  • Currency: To serve my global client base, standard website rates and international invoices are processed securely in United States Dollars (USD). Local New Zealand clients will be invoiced in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) plus GST [IRD NZ exporting services GST tax rules].

  • Refunds: Due to the custom, time-intensive nature of audio engineering, all fees and deposits are strictly non-refundable once studio work has officially commenced.

4. Intellectual Property, Ownership, & File Release

  • File Release: Full-resolution, unwatermarked master files are released to the client only after full payment has cleared through our billing system.

  • Copyright Ownership: The client retains 100% ownership of their underlying musical works, compositions, and copyright. I claim no ownership over your art. However, full legal rights to the physical audio files engineered by the studio are only transferred to the client upon receipt of full payment. Unpaid or unapproved draft files may not be commercially released or distributed.

5. Technical Liability & Sign-Off

  • Client Sign-Off: The client is solely responsible for listening to, verifying, and signing off on all final master files across multiple playback systems before sending them to digital distribution, streaming platforms, or a vinyl pressing plant.

  • Limitation of Liability: The studio holds no liability or financial responsibility for manufacturing, distribution, marketing, or streaming costs incurred due to unverified or faulty files.

6. Confidentiality & Promotional Rights

  • Confidentiality Standard: I hold a strict privacy standard. Your unreleased music, rough mixes, sessions, multi-tracks, and personal details will never be leaked, shared, sold, or distributed [IRD NZ home page].

  • Promotional Use: By utilizing my services (including the Free Mastering Promo), you grant the studio permission to use a short, 30-second "Before/After" snippet of the mastered audio on our website portfolio or social media to showcase our studio hardware capabilities. If your track is unreleased and you require us to hold off on promotion until your official release date, you must notify the studio in writing upon submission.