Supported file formats and specifications

To ensure the highest quality distribution of your music, SeemDistro has specific requirements for file formats and specifications. This guide provides detailed information on all accepted formats and technical requirements.

Primary Format: WAV

Specifications:

• Format: WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
• Bit Depth: 16-bit or 24-bit
• Sample Rate: 44.1kHz
• Channels: Stereo (Left and Right)
• File Extension: .wav

Technical Details:

• PCM encoding (uncompressed)

• No DRM or copy protection

• No embedded metadata required (we'll add this during processing)

• Maximum file size: 2GB per audio file

• Maximum track length: 3 hours

  Quality Guidelines:

  • No clipping (keep peaks below -1dB)
  • Recommended integrated loudness: -14 LUFS for streaming optimization
  • Clean starts and ends (no unwanted noise, clicks, or silence)
  • No audible defects or artifacts

  Alternative Format: AIFF

  Only accepted in specific circumstances or for certain distribution partners.

  Specifications:

  • Format: Audio Interchange File Format
  • Bit Depth: 16-bit or 24-bit
  • Sample Rate: 44.1kHz
  • Channels: Stereo
  • File Extension: .aif or .aiff

  Limitations:

  • Only accepted for specific distribution partners
  • May require additional processing time
  • Same quality guidelines as WAV files apply

  Unaccepted Audio Formats

  The following formats are not accepted for distribution:

  • MP3 (.mp3)
  • AAC (.m4a, .aac)
  • OGG Vorbis (.ogg)
  • FLAC (.flac)
  • WMA (.wma)
  • Any compressed audio format
  • Any lossy audio format

  Why We Don't Accept These Formats:

  • Lossy compression reduces audio quality
  • We need the highest quality source to create optimized files for platforms
  • Each platform has specific encoding requirements that we handle

  Artwork Requirements

  Primary Format: JPEG/JPG

  Specifications:

  • Format: JPEG/JPG
  • Dimensions: 3000 x 3000 pixels (exact 1:1 square ratio)
  • Resolution: 300 DPI minimum
  • Color Space: RGB (not CMYK)
  • File Extension: .jpg or .jpeg

  Quality Guidelines:

  • File size between 1.5MB and 25MB
  • High-quality, professional appearance
  • No visible compression artifacts
  • Sharp, clear image

  Alternative Format: PNG

  Specifications:

  • Format: PNG
  • Dimensions: 3000 x 3000 pixels (exact 1:1 square ratio)
  • Color Space: RGB
  • File Extension: .png

  Limitations:

  • No transparency allowed
  • Maximum file size: 25MB
  • Same quality guidelines as JPEG apply

  Unaccepted Artwork Formats

  The following formats are not accepted for cover artwork:

  • GIF (.gif)
  • BMP (.bmp)
  • TIFF (.tiff)
  • WebP (.webp)
  • PDF (.pdf)
  • PSD (.psd) or AI (.ai)
  • Any vector format
  • Any format with layers or transparency

  Additional File Types

  Lyrics Files

  Accepted Format:

  • Plain Text (.txt)
  • UTF-8 encoding
  • One file per track

  Format Guidelines:

  • Include timestamps for synchronized lyrics (optional)
  • Format timestamps as [MM:SS.ms]
  • Include translations in separate sections if available

  Booklet/Liner Notes

  For album releases that include digital booklets:

  Accepted Format:

  • PDF (.pdf)
  • Maximum size: 50MB
  • Maximum pages: 30

  Specifications:

  • Resolution: 300 DPI minimum
  • Dimensions: 1500 x 1500 pixels minimum for square format
  • Alternative dimensions for rectangular format: 1500 x 1200 pixels

  Music Videos

  For distribution packages that include music videos:

  Accepted Formats:

  • MP4 with H.264 codec (.mp4)
  • ProRes 422 (.mov)

  Specifications:

  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) minimum
  • 4K (3840 x 2160) supported and recommended
  • Frame rate: 24, 25, or 30 fps
  • Bit rate: 25 Mbps minimum
  • Audio: AAC or PCM, 48kHz, stereo

  Guidelines:

  • Use leading zeros for track numbers (01, 02, etc.)
  • Avoid special characters (!, @, #, $, %, etc.)
  • Keep filenames under 100 characters
  • Use hyphens or underscores instead of spaces if preferred

  Artwork Files

  Recommended naming format:
  [Artist Name] - [Release Title] Cover.jpg

  Example:
  John Smith - Summer Album Cover.jpg

  Guidelines:

  • Same character restrictions as audio files
  • Include "Cover" in the filename
  • Alternative versions should be clearly labeled (e.g., "Alternative Cover")

  Technical Specifications by Distribution Platform

  Different platforms have specific technical requirements. SeemDistro handles the conversion process for you, but it's helpful to understand these variations:

  Spotify

  • Audio Format: OGG Vorbis
  • Bitrate: 96–320 kbps (variable)
  • Artwork: 640 x 640 pixels minimum

  Apple Music

  • Audio Format: AAC
  • Bitrate: 256 kbps
  • Artwork: 3000 x 3000 pixels

  Amazon Music

  • Audio Format: MP3
  • Bitrate: 320 kbps
  • Artwork: 1600 x 1600 pixels minimum

  TIDAL

  • Audio Format: FLAC
  • Bitrate: Lossless
  • Artwork: 1600 x 1600 pixels minimum

  YouTube Music

  • Audio Format: AAC
  • Bitrate: 128 kbps
  • Artwork: 1500 x 1500 pixels minimum

  Best Practices for File Preparation

  Audio Mastering for Digital Distribution

  • Target integrated loudness of -14 LUFS for streaming
  • Maximum true peak of -1 dB to prevent clipping
  • Apply dithering when reducing from 24-bit to 16-bit
  • Consider platform-specific normalization
  • Maintain consistent loudness across all tracks in an album

  Image Optimization

  • Design with small displays in mind
  • Ensure text is legible at smaller sizes
  • Test artwork at various sizes to verify clarity
  • Consider how artwork appears in both light and dark modes
  • Avoid placing crucial elements near the edges

  File Verification Before Upload

  • Play audio files completely to check for issues
  • Verify artwork appears correctly on different devices
  • Check file properties to confirm correct specifications
  • Use dedicated audio analysis tools to identify potential problems
  • Test files on multiple players/viewers

  For specific questions about file formats or technical specifications, contact our technical support team at support@seemdistro.com.