Help & reference
Studio Guide
Everything you need to know to upload, publish, and earn on Baba Box — from your first track to your first payout.
In this guide
1 · How Baba Box works
The model in plain language
🎵
Track
A single piece of audio you create and upload. A story, a song, a lullaby, a breathwork session. Tracks are your raw content — they sit in your library until you use them.
🃏
Card
A curated bundle of tracks — your signature collection. A Signature Card needs at least 4 tracks and 20 minutes of audio. This is what families see and buy. You build it once; it earns indefinitely.
📦
Illustrated Card
The physical NFC card families receive in the post. Tap it → phone opens → your audio plays. No app to install, no subscription. Families own it forever.
Baba Box is not a streaming platform. Families don't browse individual tracks — they browse curated cards and buy them as a one-time purchase, the same way they'd buy a book. You earn at the point of purchase, not per stream. A great card sells again and again without you doing anything more.
2 · Audio requirements
What to prepare before you upload
File format
Preferred format
WAV (24-bit, 48kHz) — uncompressed, exactly as you mixed it
Also accepted
MP3 at 320kbps minimum · AIFF · FLAC
Not accepted
MP3 below 320kbps · M4A · OGG · voice memos from phone
Channels
Stereo (preferred) or mono
Max file size
200 MB per track
Track length
3 min minimum · 45 min maximum · no silent padding at start or end
File naming
Use a clear descriptive name — this is for your own reference only; families never see the filename.
the-rainbow-fox-v3-master.wav
sleepy-stars-lullaby-final.wav
breathing-with-the-trees.mp3
sleepy-stars-lullaby-final.wav
breathing-with-the-trees.mp3
✓ Use hyphens, not spaces or underscores
✓ Include a version number if you might re-upload
✗ Avoid “FINAL_FINAL_v2_USE THIS.wav”
Mastering tips
Loudness target
–14 LUFS integrated (streaming standard). We normalise on delivery — don't brick-wall your master.
–14 LUFS integrated (streaming standard). We normalise on delivery — don't brick-wall your master.
True peak
Keep true peak below –1 dBTP to avoid clipping on playback.
Keep true peak below –1 dBTP to avoid clipping on playback.
Silence
Start and end cleanly — trim any dead air before your first word and after your last. 0.5 s of natural room tone at the end is fine.
Start and end cleanly — trim any dead air before your first word and after your last. 0.5 s of natural room tone at the end is fine.
Editing
Remove mouth clicks, excessive breath sounds, and any background noise before uploading. We don't do post-production — what you send is what families hear.
Remove mouth clicks, excessive breath sounds, and any background noise before uploading. We don't do post-production — what you send is what families hear.
SEND-supportive content
If you're flagging a track as SEND-supportive (suitable for children with additional needs), avoid sudden loud sounds, unexpected changes in pace, or jarring transitions. Our editorial team reviews all SEND flags before publishing.
3 · Upload walkthrough
Step by step from file to published track
1
Upload your audio file
Drag your WAV or MP3 into the upload zone, or click to browse. The file uploads immediately — you can continue filling in details while it processes.
WAV · AIFF · FLAC · MP3 320kbps+ · Max 200 MB
2
Add track details
Fill in the title, description, type, language, age range, and themes. This is what families see on your card page — write it for a parent who's never heard of you.
✓Title: plain language, what families search for. "The Rainbow Fox" not "RF v3 master".
✓Description: 120–250 words. Lead with a feeling or an idea, not a list of features.
✓Themes: pick at most 5. Over-tagging hurts discovery.
✓Age range: be honest — we surface your track to the right parents.
🏷
Framework tags (Step 2 addition): You'll also be asked to tag each track with a developmental pillar (e.g. Emotional regulation, Sleep & rest), an energy level (Calm / Moderate / Active), and a vocal style (Narrated / Sung / Guided / Instrumental). These are internal Baba Box tags — families never see them. They let us curate themed and blended collections across multiple creators, so please tag as accurately as you can.
3
Pair with materials (optional)
If your track pairs naturally with a physical activity, book, or printed resource, you can link it here. Paired tracks are featured differently in the catalogue — families see what to do while listening.
Example: a breathwork track paired with a colouring sheet; a story paired with a planting kit.
4
Submit for review
Once you're happy, click Submit. The track goes into our review queue. You'll get an email within 5 working days — either a green light, or specific feedback on what needs adjusting.
↓See Section 4 — Review process for exactly what we check.
5
Allocate to a card
Approved tracks move to your library. Go to Create Card to bundle approved tracks into a card — your publishable collection. Once a card is approved, it goes live in the Baba Box shop.
4 · Review process
What happens after you hit Submit
What we check
A
Audio quality
No background noise, clipping, or distortion. Volume is consistent throughout. Silence trimmed from start and end.
B
Content suitability
Age-appropriate for the ages you've selected. No scary content, nothing that could distress a young child unexpectedly.
C
Rights & originals
You own or control all rights to the content. No unlicensed music, backing tracks, or third-party recordings. Traditional songs and folk material must be clearly noted.
D
Metadata completeness
Title, description, type, language, and age range all filled in. Description is 120+ words.
E
SEND flag (if used)
SEND-flagged tracks are reviewed by our advisory board. This adds up to 5 extra working days.
Timeline
Standard review
5 working days
SEND flag
Up to 10 days
Revision requested
Restarts on resubmit
If we request changes, you'll get specific notes by email. Make the edits, re-upload the file if needed, and resubmit — no need to start from scratch.
5 · Building a card
Turning approved tracks into a product families can buy
Card types & requirements
Signature Card
Most common
Your main creator collection. Minimum 4 approved tracks, minimum 20 minutes of combined audio. This is the card families buy — it comes as a physical NFC card in the post.
✓ Min 4 tracks
✓ Min 20 min audio
✓ Single language or bilingual
Bilingual Pair
Coming soon
Two Signature Cards sold together at a bundle price — one language each. Available once both individual cards are published.
How to build a card
1.Make sure you have at least 4 approved tracks (shown as Approved in My Content).
2.Go to Create Card in the sidebar.
3.Give the card a name, write a card-level description (this appears on the shop listing), and set the track order.
4.Upload card artwork (see Section 6 below).
5.Submit the card for review. We review the card as a complete collection — this is a separate review from individual tracks.
6.Once approved, the card goes live in the shop and is available to purchase.
Good to know
You can add more tracks to an existing card later — the card simply updates in the shop.
Track order matters. Think about how families will experience the card from beginning to end. A good arc: high energy → calmer → sleep-ready.
A card description should describe the collection, not individual tracks. Tell parents what mood, age, or moment the whole card is designed for.
6 · Card artwork
The illustration that appears on the physical card and in the shop
Artwork specification
Canvas size
3500 × 3500 px (square, 1:1)
Resolution
300 dpi minimum (for print quality on the physical card)
Format
PNG (preferred) · TIFF · JPG at 95%+ quality
Colour mode
RGB (we handle print colour conversion)
Safe zone
Keep main subjects within the inner 2800 × 2800 px — 350 px bleed on all sides
Style
Illustration-led. Flat or textured. Warm, calm, child-appropriate palette. No photos, no stock art.
Not an illustrator? That's fine — we can pair you with one of our resident illustrators. Message us at hello@baba-box.com before submitting your card.
What makes a great card image
✓Instantly readable as a thumbnail at 200 px wide
✓Conveys the mood of the collection (calm, playful, dreamy…)
✓A character or scene children find inviting
✓Minimal or no text in the art (card name is added by us)
✗AI-generated imagery (will be rejected at review)
✗Photographs or photo-realistic renders
✗Busy, high-contrast designs that don't read at small sizes
7 · Payouts
How and when you get paid
How it works
Every time a family buys a card that contains your tracks, you earn a percentage of the sale price. Your revenue share rate is set in your creator agreement.
Earnings accumulate in your Studio account in real time. You can see your balance, per-card breakdown, and sales history in the Payouts section.
Payouts are processed on the 1st of each month for earnings from the previous month. You need to reach a minimum threshold before a payout is issued — this is set out in your creator agreement.
Setting up bank details
Before your first payout, you'll need to add your bank details in the Payouts section. UK bank accounts and international transfers via SWIFT/IBAN are both supported.
International creators: payouts are made in GBP. Exchange rates and any bank charges are outside our control.
Questions about your agreement?
Revenue share %, exclusivity terms, and minimum thresholds are in your individual creator agreement. If you need a copy or have a question, email hello@baba-box.com.
Tax & invoicing
Baba Box does not deduct tax at source. You're responsible for declaring income in your own country. We provide monthly earnings statements — download them from Payouts for your records.
8 · Frequently asked questions
Can I upload content in more than one language?
Yes. You can upload tracks in any language — each track has its own language tag. When you build a card, you can create a bilingual card (EN + IT, for example) by selecting tracks from two languages. Bilingual cards are especially popular and earn well.
Can I update a track after it's been approved?
Yes — go to My Content, find the track, and click Edit. If you change the audio file, the track goes back into review. If you only update the metadata (title, description, tags), it updates immediately.
Can I remove a track or card from the shop?
Yes. You can unpublish a card at any time from Create Card. Families who have already purchased the card will keep access to the tracks they bought — you can't retroactively remove content from existing purchases. If you need to remove a track for rights reasons, contact us directly.
Can I use backing music or sound effects from a library?
Only if you have a licence that explicitly allows commercial use and distribution. Royalty-free doesn't always mean this — check your licence terms. We recommend Artlist, Musicbed, or Soundsnap for licensed assets. If in doubt, email us before uploading.
What if my track is rejected?
You'll receive specific written feedback by email. Common reasons include audio quality (background noise, clipping), insufficient metadata, or content that doesn't meet our age-appropriateness guidelines. Make the changes, re-upload, and resubmit — rejected tracks don't count against you.
Do families download the audio?
No. Audio streams securely from our servers when a family taps their card. Families can't download or share the files — they can only play them via their NFC card. This protects your content.
What if I need help with an illustration for my card?
Email hello@baba-box.com and tell us what your card is about. We have a small pool of resident illustrators we can introduce you to, and can advise on style, brief, and pricing.
How do I reach the Baba Box team?
The fastest route is hello@baba-box.com. You can also use the Messages tab in the sidebar — we check it daily on working days.
Ready to upload your first track?
It takes about 10 minutes. We'll do the rest.