OBRA and BandLab at a glance
| OBRA Audio Mastering | BandLab Mastering | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 2 songs a day: all three masters, every control, a 24-bit WAV or FLAC download, no watermark | Free song mastering with four presets, according to its page (the page shows eight preset styles) |
| Paid | $3 / €3 / £3 per extra song (30 days of downloads of that song, 88.2 / 96 kHz and 32-bit float included); OBRA PRO, $10 / €10 / £10 a month: unlimited mastering, album and vocal + beat mixes | Membership: customize your sound and master as many tracks as you want |
| Account | None | A BandLab account (the page offers Log in and Sign up) |
| How you control the sound | Three masters per song; volume, punch, warmth, brightness, width and bass; the full Studio rack | Choose a preset style |
| Files you download | WAV or FLAC, 16 or 24-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz free; 88.2 / 96 kHz and 32-bit float with a paid song or OBRA PRO | Not mentioned on the mastering page |
| Where your audio goes | Stays on your device: the engine runs in your browser | You work inside BandLab, a cloud service |
| Loudness readout | Integrated LUFS (ITU-R BS.1770-4) and true peak on the file you download | Not mentioned on the mastering page |
| A full DAW attached | No: OBRA masters a finished mix | Yes: BandLab is also a free online DAW with collaboration and mobile apps |
As published on BandLab's mastering page and by OBRA on 27 October 2026. BandLab's help center blocked automated reading on that day, so no help-article details are used here.
Where BandLab is the better choice
- You already make the song in BandLab: mastering lives in the same place as the project, with nothing to export.
- You want a free, quick, preset master with no decisions to make.
- You work on a phone: BandLab's mastering is available in its mobile app, including video export.
- You collaborate with other people inside the project.
Where OBRA is the better choice
- You do not want to create or log into an account to master one song.
- You want a number for the result: LUFS, true peak and how Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube will play it.
- You want to hear three masters side by side at the same loudness and then adjust volume, punch, warmth, brightness, width and bass.
- You want a WAV or FLAC at a known bit depth and sample rate (24-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz free).
Use both
Nothing stops you from mastering the same mix with BandLab's presets and with OBRA, then comparing the two at matched loudness. Presets are fast; OBRA shows its reasoning and its numbers. Either way, export the mix before mastering with enough headroom (peaks around −6 to −3 dBFS) and without a limiter on the master bus.
If you want a person to do it
Every service on this page is automatic. If the mix itself is the problem (a muddy low end, a vocal that sits wrong), a master cannot fix it, and a person can. OBRA ULTRA sends your tracks to an OBRA engineer who mixes and masters your song and sends back a WAV and a written note, $19 / €19 / £19 per round, back within 72 hours. Spots are limited each week.
Frequently asked questions
Is BandLab Mastering really free?
BandLab's mastering page says free song mastering is included with four presets, and that Membership lets you customize your sound and master as many tracks as you want. It runs inside a BandLab account.
Do I need an account for BandLab Mastering?
BandLab's page shows Log in and Sign up, so you work inside a BandLab account. OBRA Audio Mastering needs no account.
What is a free BandLab Mastering alternative with no sign-up?
OBRA Audio Mastering: two songs a day with all three masters, every control and a 24-bit WAV or FLAC download, with no account and no upload.
Can I master a BandLab project with OBRA?
Yes. Export the finished mix from BandLab as a WAV (or MP3 or M4A if that is what you have), drop it into OBRA, listen to the three masters and download.
How do I compare two masters fairly?
Match their loudness first (louder always sounds better for a few seconds), then listen to the chorus and the quietest part on headphones and on a phone speaker. Check the true peak of the files you download: −1 dBTP or lower for streaming. OBRA matches the loudness for you when you compare its three masters with your original.