Hello. This is my first time in this forum.

I have selfproduced an album of ten tracks and want to have it mastered for both digital and physical distribution. (this is the second album, the first one - currently on iTunes under AWAL distribution - was mastered by myself, but this time i would like to have a professional service done).

After having contacted about 20 mastering studios and received their economic offers for an online mastering service, and before making my decision, i think it's a good point to ask for positive experiences from members of this community.

To be clear, I am not asking for negative feedbacks, as i don't want anyone's reputation to be spoiled by public comments here. Just give me your suggestions for any studio you found delivering a satisfactory and professional service.

(My genre is indie rock and my budget is about 500-600 euros).

Thanks.

PM me if you want recommendations.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Might be worth a look:

http://www.abbeyroadonlinemastering.com/

I don't think there are any problems with online mastering, a lot of mastering studios now work this way.

It may be worth asking for a sample (many do them for free) of your work and then make a decision from there.

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Alex Ivory
http://www.ivorymastering.com

I use Abbey Road online quite a bit. Variable results.

I'm going more and more to "Soundmasters" but not using their online service. Do a "by the hour" thing with them and tell them my budget and they seem to deliver the goods more consistently than AR. Dont get me wrong - Use Abbey Road as a direct booking and there is very little better in the UK - but the online system varies depending on who you get - trainee or seasoned professionals alike.

Any more attended session mastering studios recommendations Narcoman?

there are a few I'd like to try - I've also had good results from Metropolis. But I'm liking the Soundmasters guys as the moment. I don't attend - I just book time over the phone and let them get on with it. Good people so far.

In what way do you feel that's different/better than on-line mastering?

Narcoman, i have no budget to book a mastering service by the hour. I can imagine this can help the ME to work in a more comfortable way, but i must have full control of my low budget...

I have a budget but it's a question of making the right choice...altough I understand your concern Nemo2000. I've been there before.

Quote Nemo2000:

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Narcoman, i have no budget to book a mastering service by the hour. I can imagine this can help the ME to work in a more comfortable way, but i must have full control of my low budget...

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Have you ever bought a car? Did you pay exactly what was being asked?.....

negotiate.

Call up the studio, tell them you have 600 euros for an album and I'm sure they'd take the job..... especially in todays market. Prices have fallen - I used to get £3-5k a mix..... I'm lucky to get £1k nowadays.....

A typical album can be done for that cost - easy. I've done it. Many many times..... at Abbey Road (where I've done nearly all of the soundtrack albums I've produced - they've all come in at around £700.... mostly because I've phoned up specifying the budget) and more recently at Soundmasters.

You dont get anything by not asking. The point I was making is that for many places - booking by the hour costs LESS than online rates. Last album I took their - took a little over hours at £175 an hour. Rather a lot less than 600 euros!

Specify what you've got - people generally try to help.

Quote ::Bruno:::

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In what way do you feel that's different/better than on-line mastering?

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Ten tracks. £90 a track. £900. £175 an hour - AND telling them what I want to do for what money - I get what I asked for. Outside of Abbey Road most of the smaller projects seem to cost me about £400. Now - whether they did it in 2 hours or so - I dont know. But they took the price......

Secondly - Abbey Road online - you don't get to speak to anyone. Call them up. You get more for your money. Fixed price online mastering is good for knowing what you're going to pay for one track - but if you're doing ten tracks? call 'em up.

Let me recommend our own mastering suite.

NO! Please don't. The forum rules which you agreed to to log in here specifically forbid advertising and self-promotion. HR


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Direct Online Music Mastering - 50$ max 48/H Scandinavian Mix Room

Edited by Hugh Robjohns (15/08/10 05:46 PM)

you're gonna get a smacked bottom

i understand the point of Narcoman.
If you want to eat, you must have teeth. But even when you don't have teeth, you can get spoon-fed.
I mean all the comments from Narcoman are wise and reasonable. But this is the first time i'll have a work mastered by a pro and the budget control is a pre-condition.

I agree a personal communication and exchange of ideas is the most important feature in this kind of work. In a market where all studios have almost standard high-end equipment and a well fed reference client list, effective communication is # 1. That's why i automatically set aside all those online services where i couldn't identify the ME and/or have the chance to speak to him. There are glorious studies within this list....

Exactly!

You cannot find any studio these days not having impressing credits or an equipment list that is not least taking your thoughts on bank robbery or so...

..just kiddin´ - (In case any should wonder)

I do hope you find the right one.

Cheers :-)

Mich

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Direct Online Music Mastering - 50$ max 48/H Scandinavian Mix Room

Excellent point Narcoman. Also, I've used a known professional mastering studio before but this time I was planning to be present on the mastering session but by your words that doesn't seem to be an important issue...which would save a lot of money and time.

But working with Abbey Road or Soundmasters with the way you mention is there some reviewing option? I mean do they let you hear the final result and accommodate some minor changes/pointers you might have with no extra cost involved?

in my experience - if you dont attend you seem to get more for your money. Perhaps (like it is with me) - because

a) no one is breathing down your neck
b) things get done throughout the day.... so rather than a by the hour basis - the charge is for (say) two hours but whoever is doing the job just, well, does the job !!

Abbey Road online - communication is virtually none existent BUT they ask for comments before sign off..... Soundmasters - seem happy to do revisions.

Quote ::Bruno:::

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...this time I was planning to be present on the mastering session but by your words that doesn't seem to be an important issue...which would save a lot of money and time.

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It depends on the customer - if you have an existing working relationship with a mastering engineer then working unattended is often quicker and cheaper. If you don't have an existing relationship then an initial attended session could be a good idea for some customers - especially if your sound doesn't quite fit into a typical genre.

I'd agree with Narcoman - rates are flexible and the published rates are only a starting point.

James.

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JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net

Quote narcoman:

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in my experience - if you dont attend you seem to get more for your money. Perhaps (like it is with me) - because

a) no one is breathing down your neck
b) things get done throughout the day.... so rather than a by the hour basis - the charge is for (say) two hours but whoever is doing the job just, well, does the job !!

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Exactly... I much prefer doing online or unattended sessions as it is a fixed price and I can spend as long as is required without having a nervous or confused client standing next to me. I find I work faster (which is why online prices are usually cheaper than attended sessions) and generally get it right first time or after one (free) revision. This is not always the case with attended sessions where clients/artist can get confused by the monitoring/room or side-tracked by the equipment and push the session in a wrong direction.

Communication if often the key (at least when dealing with experienced mastering engineers, whether this is done online or attended).

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http://www.flowmastering.co.uk
http://www.wolfstudios.co.uk

Quote Flow Mastering:

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Quote narcoman:

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in my experience - if you dont attend you seem to get more for your money. Perhaps (like it is with me) - because

a) no one is breathing down your neck
b) things get done throughout the day.... so rather than a by the hour basis - the charge is for (say) two hours but whoever is doing the job just, well, does the job !!

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Exactly... I much prefer doing online or unattended sessions as it is a fixed price and I can spend as long as is required without having a nervous or confused client standing next to me. I find I work faster (which is why online prices are usually cheaper than attended sessions) and generally get it right first time or after one (free) revision. This is not always the case with attended sessions where clients/artist can get confused by the monitoring/room or side-tracked by the equipment and push the session in a wrong direction.

Communication if often the key (at least when dealing with experienced mastering engineers, whether this is done online or attended).

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I actually think it offers the ME a chance to bring something extra to the project. Difficult with all and sundry "in the room".

It's why I say no to attended mixes.....(i can't stand comments when I'm just trying a few things out - "hey that snares too bright"..... "yes - but let me set it first".... ) so I totally get why many MEs prefer I dont attend !!

During my research, i noticed many mastering facilities are owned and run by a single person (the ME). Did anyone experience different performances and approaches (either best ot worse) of one-man-studios vs. large studios with many engineers ? is there any convenience for a low-budget indie project to turn to one-man-studios or to a large and structured studio?

no - but i've noticed a very big difference between those with excellent monitoring chains/environments and those without. Also those with oodles of experience.

well, i agree (how couldn't I?). But, as long as online mastering is concerned and decision is based on email communications and website surfing, it's difficult to evaluate these features. Especially for those not resident in the Uk (or the USA).

Do your research right: clients list and how long the engineers has been working will tell quite a lot. If the info is not on the website, Google the name of the engineer or check sites such as Allmusic.com or Discogs.com for mastering credits of the engineer. It may not give you the total picture, but give you enough information to establish the amount of experience. Forget equipment lists as this doesn't tell you much, unless the equipment/monitoring is very cheap.

Most experienced engineers should be able to achieve the right result for you with the right kind of communication. And if not right first time, you can ask for a revision (first one usually free).

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http://www.flowmastering.co.uk
http://www.wolfstudios.co.uk

Plenty of work comes in via email but it is always useful and pleasant to speak to a client on the phone.

Just try people out first, it's often free of charge.

cheers

Barry

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Mastering online mastering