Audio Mastering FAQ
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Audio mastering is the final step in the music creation process.
Starting with a finished mix, mastering engineers smooth dynamics, increase presence, heighten clarity, and improve listenability, while sweetening the sound of your music.
When working with a musical album, we make sure each track flows together in the manner you intend.
Mastering engineers often perform any file conversions or special masters necessary for physical media distribution.
Mastering is an essential step in making your music sound professional and competitive when compared to other artists, and should be performed on any musical work being released to the public.
The differences in quality between a final mix and a finished master recording can be significant.
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If you’re shopping a project around, test masters from me are always free.
Once your project is booked:
I offer 30 days of unlimited revisions and your money back, after I deliver your finished masters.
After those 30 days, I’m available for additional revisions on a paid basis.
Any mistakes on my end are always corrected free of charge, at any time.
The only time I charge any extra fees are for rush jobs where you’d need guaranteed delivery from me in under 7 days, and that’s typically double the quoted price.
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Check out my mixing guidelines for mixing tips and tricks, and more info on project preparation.
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Sure! Check out my Vinyl Test Pressing Guide for more info.
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I use a variety of specialized, mastering-specific equipment in my studio, in a combination of analog and digital styles. Everything from custom built analog compressors and equalizers, to reference quality digital-to-analog converters.
I encourage you to judge my work based on how it sounds, rather than on the tools used to make it. Contacting me for a free test master is a great way to do this!
Each project requires a unique touch, and doing a test master together is a much more accurate way for you to evaluate what I can do for your music, than a gear list would be.
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Details on my rates can be found on my pricing page.
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While algorithmic mastering has its place and can be a cheaper option, most of the artists I work with don’t want their music to sound cheap, and they also prefer collaborating with a fellow creative to make something handmade and very special.
I think handmade and special is what your music deserves, given the time and effort put into making it.
I encourage you to judge the differences for yourself. Contact me for a free test master, and compare my results to an algorithmic service’s offerings, to see which you prefer.
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I’m glad you asked! I maintain a free online resource for artists to learn more about music production and independent music-making. We talk about a wide variety of music and arts-related topics over there.
It’s called DIY Music Guide.
Audio Restoration & Noise Reduction FAQ
Hum Mitigation
Hiss Mitigation
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Many situations!
A perfect take being ruined by noise common to home recording settings.
Touching up demo recordings before release.
Restoring old master tapes, saving recordings with historical or archival value, touching up low-quality cell phone recordings, and more.
In film audio, reducing differences between location and studio quality recordings.
Reducing hiss, noise, and hum from individual audio tracks prior to mixing.
Fixing digital clipping and removing clicks , pops, and ‘plosives for a more polished and professional sound.
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That depends on your goals, release plans, and budget.
Particularly when working with home recordings, doing a noise reduction pass at the beginning of mixing or mastering can result in a more polished-sounding end product, if that’s the musical style you’re going for.
Noise reduction can be added onto any mastering project on a per-song basis.
A noise reduction/repair project can also be standalone, independent of mastering. This works well for film audio, during the mixing process, or for archival audio restoration/digitization projects.
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Because each project has unique needs, I quote projects of this type individually.
First, submit a booking form, then we’ll discuss the details and go from there.