Mastering
Mastering is the final stage in the process of preparing your release for distribution by maximizing its sonic potential and ensuring it meets the same industry standards for loudness and dynamic range used by major labels and artists.
Today, the most common destination for independent artists is a streaming platform like Spotify, Tidal, or Apple Music, but popular formats like CD and Vinyl also require special consideration when it comes to encoding and preparation for distribution. I can ensure the proper bit-rates, dithering settings, and data formats are used, regardless of your intended platforms. I can also correct issues with dynamics, equalization, and stereo balancing that may be robbing your song of warmth and presence or causing your listeners to become fatigued and lose interest.
It is a common misconception that mastering is a process that "sweetens" your mix or transforms a it from rough to finished. While it is true that mastering engineers are skilled at improving the sonic quality of a track, there are limits. It's better to have a mix that has been properly balanced before sending it for mastering, as some issues simply cannot be resolved once the mix is printed without adversely affecting other aspects of the recording.
Your mastering engineer can provide feedback and guidance on addressing elements of your mix that need attention so that you achieve the best possible outcome. If you are unsure of how to improve your mix, consider including this service in your project.
Your mix engineer will ensure your project meets professional industry standards for the Loudness (LUFS), Dynamic Range (DRi) and True Peak / RMS levels used by your favorite artists and platforms.
Stereo Masters
Prepare your stereo mix release and distribution; the process for mastering varies depending on the project and quality of your mix. Services include revisions, instrumentals, and alternates.
Stem Masters
Master the individual busses / sub-groups of your track (drums, guitar, vocal) separately for an even more precise outcome. This process can also be helpful with tracks that may have serious recording or sonic issues that cannot be addressed in the overall stereo mastering process.
Multi-Track Mixing
Mixing combines your performance into a well-balanced production that captures the creative and emotional intent of your songs.
Mixing includes volume balancing and effects processing for maximum sonic clarity, dynamics, and proper sense of space. For extra creamy or grungy vibes, hybrid-analog and high-speed tape processing is available.
Song Mixes
Submit your individual tracks for preparation and processing. This service includes gain-staging, equalization, dynamic, and spatial processing of your entire song. If you're stuck, song finishing services are available for certain projects.
Album Mixes
Mixing an entire album is a journey and process that requires a high level of commitment and dedication. The consistency afforded by an album mix is what will help your release sound like a coherent work as opposed to a compilation of songs.
Post-Production Services
The following are a sample of services offered as part of a personalized mixing or mastering package, depending on the needs of your project.Equalization
Dynamically or surgically remove harmful frequencies that may be adding mud or harshness to your mix or causing buildup, or genrally improve the tonal balance to "sweeten" your mix.
Dynamics
Use compression and limiting to control or improve the dynamic range of performances and help them sound more consistent or exciting.
Saturation
Add harmonic coloration or distortion to help certain tracks cut through the mix using tape and various forms of saturation.
Correction
Fix the timing of a rhythm performance, perform phase alignment to add more punch, or adjust the pitch of a vocal performance.
Spatial Processing
Adjust the placement of your performance in the stereo field or adding effects like delay and reverb to provide a sense of depth using authentic modeling from Lexicon, AMS, EMT, Bricasti, and more.
Analog Processing
Pass invidividual tracks or your stereo mix through various types of analog transformers or tape to add grit, warmth, or vibe to a sterile, sparse, or digital-sounding mix.
Reel-to-Reel Tape
Run invidiual tracks and stereo mixes through an Otari MX-5050 1/4-inch mastering tape machine using Ampex 456 Studio Master Tape at 7.5 IPS for vibe or 15 IPS with dbx 150 Type I noise reduction for final mixdowns.
CD & Vinyl
Ensure proper peak levels, sample / bit-rates, dithering, and data formatting for CD releases, as well as separate, low-end phase-aligned masters for vinyl releases.
Instrumentals & Edits
Instrumental mix-downs and masters available as part of your overall package, if needed. Bus Stems for music editors also available.
Revisions & Recalls
Satisfaction is guaranteed. Recalls and revisions are included in all packages, within reason.