Free DDP Player in your browser

A DDP player is software that opens, plays, and verifies a DDP image – the master format of an audio CD ready for pressing. Peak-Studios' free DDP player runs directly in the browser: It displays track listing, ISRC codes, CD text, and pauses, verifies MD5 checksums, and plays the master gaplessly – without installation or uploading.

Are you looking for a suitable streaming master for your release in addition to the CD? Then our Online mastering That's included too – one master, all formats, from the pressing plant to Spotify.

🔒 100% local: Your audio data remains on your device, because the DDP Player does not upload anything to a server – your unpublished master remains private.

Here's how to check your DDP image before the pressing plant

  1. Load DDP: Simply drag the DDP folder or ZIP file into the player – no unpacking, no installation required. The player will automatically read the DDPID, PQ data, and CD-Text.
  2. Check metadata: Check tracklist, order, breaks, ISRC codesCheck UPC/EAN and CD-Text for typos – this is exactly the data that will be pressed later. Also, run the MD5 check to confirm that the data transfer was error-free.
  3. Listen: Play the master track gapless – the transitions will sound exactly like on the finished CD. Then, use the transition preview mode to jump directly from track to track.

Is everything in order? Then your DDP image is ready to be handed over to the pressing plant – ideally together with the PQ sheet, which you can export directly as a PDF here.

All functions at a glance

  • Play: Gapless, sample-accurate playback of the complete master including pauses
  • Track list: all PQ markers with CD times, track durations, pauses and sub-indices
  • Metadata: ISRC per track, UPC/EAN, complete CD text (title, artist, songwriter, etc.)
  • MD5 check: verifies each file of the image against the supplied checksums.
  • Loudness: Measurement after EBU R 128 (Momentary, Short-term, Integrated, LRA) per track and album
  • Metering: Peak meter with max hold and goniometer for stereo width
  • Transition test mode: automatically plays the last and first seconds of each track change.
  • Waveform: Overview with track markers, click to jump
  • export: Individual tracks or the entire album as WAV files, PQ sheet as PDF.
  • ZIP support: Open zipped DDPs directly without unpacking first.

DDP Player comparison: Browser instead of desktop software

DDP Player by Peak-StudiosHOFA DDP PlayerSonoris DDP PlayerSteinberg DDP Player
Pricefreechargeablechargeableset
Installationnone – runs in the browserDesktop installationDesktop installationDownload no longer offered
PlatformWindows, macOS, Linux, MobileWindows, macOSWindows, macOS
Play DDP (gapless)✅✅✅✅
Track listing, ISRC, CD text✅✅✅✅
MD5 check✅✅✅
EBU-R128-Loudness✅✅
Transition test mode✅✅
Track export as WAV✅✅✅
PQ sheet export✅ (PDF)✅✅
Burn CD– (not possible in the browser)✅
Privacy Policy100% local, no uploadlocallocallocal

Steinberg's former free classic (from WaveLab) is no longer offered and receives no support. While HOFA and Sonoris are proven desktop programs for the mastering studio, those who simply want to listen to and monitor their DDP image no longer need to install or purchase anything.

Information on third-party programs: As of September 2026, without guarantee.

What is a DDP image – and why is it an entire folder?

A DDP (Disc Description Protocol) image describes a complete audio CD according to the Red Book standard – including track order, pauses, PQ codes, ISRC, UPC/EAN, and CD-Text. It always consists of several related files: DDPID and DDPMS describe the image, the PQ descriptor contains the markers, IMAGE.DAT the audio, and CDTEXT.BIN the text data. Therefore, a DDP is sent as a folder or ZIP file – and you can open it here in exactly the same way.

Pressing plants accept DDP as the standard because checksums ensure error-free transfer and leave nothing to chance.

No master ready for pressing yet?

From the finished mix to the CD pressing: We create your DDP master ready for pressing – including CD text, ISRC codes and checksum, at a fixed price with personal consultation.

Have a professional create the DDP master.

Or start with a professional Mastering your songs.

Frequently Asked Questions about the DDP Player

With the free DDP Player on this page: simply drag the DDP folder or ZIP file into the player, and you're done. No installation, registration, or studio software is required – just a modern browser.

There is no single ".ddp file": A DDP image always consists of several files (including DDPID, DDPMS, PQ descriptor, audio image, and CD-Text) that belong together. That's why you receive it from the mastering studio as a folder or ZIP file – both of which you can open directly here.

No, Steinberg no longer offers the DDP Player from WaveLab for download and lists it as unsupported software. Instead, you can open and test your DDP image directly in your browser – without installation.

No – a browser cannot access burning hardware. You need desktop software like the HOFA DDP Player to burn a disc. However, burning is not necessary for quality control before the pressing plant: listening, metadata, and MD5 verification are sufficient.

Start the MD5 check in the player: Each file of the image is verified against the supplied checksum file. As soon as a checksum is incorrect or a file is missing, the player immediately displays this as an error – in that case, it's best to request the DDP again.

No. The player works entirely locally in your browser – your files never leave your device. This ensures that your master remains completely private, especially for unreleased albums.

Yes. You can export each track individually as a WAV file (16-bit/44,1 kHz) via the tracklist, or alternatively, the entire album as a single file. This allows you to compare the master with your references, for example.