Skills & Gears was built by a team of mastering engineers and developers with one goal: give every artist access to the same audio quality as major label releases.
We work directly with Apple Music through the Apple Digital Masters protocol, one of the most demanding audio quality programs in the industry. For all other major platforms including Spotify, Deezer and Tidal, our EC.Pro4 algorithm delivers lossless encoding compatible across the board.
Our Goal
The gap between a professional release and an independent one should not come down to budget or technical knowledge. Our mission is simple: give every artist the tools to be heard the way they intended. Clearer. Louder. More powerful.
Official Apple Digital Masters Encoding House
Recognized by Apple Music
Skills & Gears is officially recognized by Apple as an Apple Digital Masters encoding house. This is not a label or a badge you buy. It is a technical certification granted by Apple to studios and platforms that meet their strict audio quality standards.
The badge that appears on Apple Music
What This Means for Your Music
Every release processed through AM.Pro2 is encoded to Apple Digital Masters standards. Your track gets the Apple Digital Master badge on Apple Music, a visible signal to listeners, curators and distributors that your music was delivered at the highest level of quality.
Distributor Compatibility
The badge appears automatically on Apple Music when your distributor is part of the Apple Digital Masters program. Compatible partners include DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Amuse and others. Contact your distributor to confirm eligibility before releasing.
Playlist Submission to Apple Music Curators
As part of our Apple Digital Masters certification, releases encoded through AM.Pro2 are automatically submitted to Apple Music curators for playlist consideration. More reach, no extra steps.
Analytical mastering co-guided by Artificial Intelligence
Mastering must be performed before encoding, not after
How It Works
EM.Pro2 analyzes your audio across more than 40 wavData layers and optimizes it for maximum impact on streaming platforms. The result is a master with more depth, more clarity and more perceived loudness, without sacrificing the original feel of your mix.
Three modes are available: Soft, Medium and Hard. Each is calibrated for different musical styles and energy levels. You choose, the algorithm adapts.
Output format: WAV 32-bit float. We recommend following EM.Pro2 with EC.Pro4 or AM.Pro2 encoding for optimal delivery on streaming platforms.
Encoding optimized for the Apple Digital Masters program
Delivers the Apple Digital Master badge on Apple Music
How It Works
AM.Pro2 encodes your audio to the Apple Digital Masters standard, preserving every detail of your master in the format Apple Music requires for high-resolution delivery. The primary objective is to protect the musicality and artistic intent of your recording.
Beyond the badge, AM.Pro2 gives your release access to the full set of Apple Digital Masters privileges, including curator submission and priority consideration on Apple Music.
Badge & Distributor Approval
The badge is granted through your distributor once the Apple Digital Masters encoding is confirmed. Compatible distributors include DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Amuse and others in the program.
Compatible with all major platforms: Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Napster, Amazon Music, Apple Music and more
Does not deliver an Apple Digital Masters badge
Not optimized for mobile playback
How It Works
Standard compression destroys audio data by eliminating frequencies and flattening dynamics. EC.Pro4 works differently. Compressed data is not lost, it is reorganized so the file takes less space without sacrificing quality. The result is lossless audio that survives the streaming pipeline intact.
Your music stays clear, powerful and faithful to your original mix, on every platform your listeners use.
Important Notice
What Our Tools Do and Do Not Do
Our tools enhance audio resolution: depth, clarity and loudness. They are designed to complement a professional mix, not correct one. If your mix has issues, encoding and mastering will not fix them.
Our algorithms do not alter the musical content, timing or arrangement of your tracks. They work within the bounds of your existing audio to maximize its quality for online delivery.
Standards Compliance
All our tools are built in accordance with music distribution standards and platform requirements, ensuring professional delivery across all major streaming services.
