OBRA and eMastered at a glance
| OBRA Audio Mastering | eMastered | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 2 songs a day: all three masters, every control, a 24-bit WAV or FLAC download, no watermark | Upload, master and preview unlimited tracks for free; you pay when you are ready to download |
| 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 | Three plans, all with unlimited mastering: €9 a month billed yearly (€108 upfront), €19 a month on a one-year commitment billed monthly, or €29 a month billed monthly. Prices excluded VAT on the day we looked |
| What is bundled | Mastering; album and vocal + beat modes; OBRA PRO adds your artist profile | Mastering plus unlimited distribution (fair usage), stem separation, ATOM and PitchPro plugins and a link-in-bio page |
| Account | None | Sign-up (the page says "Sign up free") |
| Upload formats | WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, M4A or video, up to 20 minutes | MP3, AIFF or WAV |
| Download formats | 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 | WAV or MP3 |
| Where your audio goes | Stays on your device: the engine runs in your browser | You upload the song to eMastered |
| Reference track | Reference mode, included in the song price | Reference mastering, included in the paid plans |
| Refund | Listening is free; pay per song only when you download | 14 days if you downloaded fewer than 4 tracks |
Prices as shown on eMastered's pricing page on 27 October 2026 to a visitor in Spain (euro; the currency can change with your location). Sources at the end.
Where eMastered is the better choice
- You release a lot: its yearly plan is a flat €9 a month with unlimited mastering, and it bundles distribution, which saves you a separate distributor if you were going to pay for one.
- You use stems: stem separation and the ATOM and PitchPro plugins are in the same subscription.
- You like a link-in-bio page from the same account as your masters.
- You want a refund window: eMastered promises 14 days if you downloaded fewer than four tracks.
Where OBRA is the better choice
- You master a handful of songs a year: two downloads a day are free, and an extra song is a one-off $3 / €3 / £3.
- You do not want an account or a subscription to hear and keep a master.
- You want the file to stay on your device while it is processed.
- You want to see and change each processing move in the Studio instead of taking one result.
When does a subscription pay off?
eMastered's cheapest plan is €108 a year. At OBRA's €3 for an extra song that is the price of 36 songs beyond the free two a day, so for most solo artists the free tier alone covers a whole year of releases. If you also use eMastered's distribution, stem separation or plugins, count those too: they are what the subscription is really selling.
OBRA PRO ($10 / €10 / £10 a month) is the same idea as a subscription: unlimited mastering, plus album and vocal + beat modes, plus your artist profile on OBRA. It is not a distributor.
Compare them on your own song
Because eMastered lets you master and preview for free, you can run the same mix through both. Match the loudness before listening, and judge the chorus and the quietest section. Keep the version that serves the song, not the one that is louder.
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 there a free alternative to eMastered?
Yes. OBRA masters two songs a day free with no account or subscription and lets you download a 24-bit WAV or FLAC.
How much does eMastered cost?
On 27 October 2026 its pricing page showed €9 a month billed yearly (€108), €19 a month on a one-year commitment billed monthly, and €29 a month on a monthly plan, all with unlimited mastering and excluding VAT. Previewing is free; you pay to download.
Can I download for free from eMastered?
eMastered says you can master and preview unlimited tracks for free and pay when you are ready to download. With a subscription you download unlimited masters.
Does eMastered include distribution?
Yes, its plans list unlimited distribution (with a fair usage policy), stem separation, two plugins and a link-in-bio tool alongside mastering. OBRA is a mastering and mixing tool and does not distribute music.
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.