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Mastering
Studio Rate: $80 per hour
(All prices are quoted in US dollars. Please call
or email for Canadian rates)
How
many hours should I budget for?
To
achieve good results in mastering we usually need to spend
approximately one hour of studio time per song. This allows
us enough time to analyze and process that particular track,
and achieve its maximum sonic potential.
For example: if you have a 12 song album you should budget
12 hours of studio time to achieve optimum results.
Is
there a cheaper option?
Yes.
We recognize that many of our clients are on tight budgets
and so we have provided an alternative method of working.
We
allocate four hours of studio time to the project and perform
an "overall" process to the entire album. This method
can yield very good results if all the songs on the album
have a similar "sonic signature". If they were all
recorded in the same studio, by the same engineer during the
same time period, many of the same sonic characteristics will
be present in all of the songs.
The
"overall" processing option addresses many deficiencies
in the sound. We will make it sound louder, wider, punchier,
more engaging, smoother and more balanced.
What
we won't be able to address in the "overall" method
is individual differences between tracks. For instance if
on track has too much bottom end and the next track doesn't
have enough, we will not be able to address that problem within
the context of an "overall" processing job.
One
option which some of our clients take is to treat the entire
album under a four-hour "overall" process, and then
single one or two tracks out for individual "hour-per-track"
attention. Whatever your needs, we will do our best to accommodate
them.
Is
spending a hour per song worth the extra money?
The
record labels and most of the serious artists we work with
spend at least an hour per song in mastering. This is in line
with the amount of time that it usually takes for mastering
in any other world class mastering studio.
This
is the last chance we have to perfect the sound of your recording
project and it does not pay to try and rush things at this
stage.
Spending
one hour per song allows us to individually optimize every
single song, both on it's own, and in the context of the overall
album.
The
result will be an album that is much more fluid, without any
rough edges as you progress from song to song. At the same
time, each song will have a sonic signature of its own and
be sonically strong enough to stand on its own - and not be
a "filler" track on the album.
Are
there any additional costs involved?
You
will need to budget for at least two proof CD-Rs ($20 each).
One will be your safety copy, the other will be the production
master that will be sent to the factory for manufacturing.
You
many need to account for overnight courier charges for us
to send the proof CD-Rs to you for your approval.
If
the project has any special requirements or has noise components
which need to be removed (hiss, clicks, crackles etc.) we
may need to spend a little extra time. However we would discuss
this with you ahead of time.
Do
you provide any guarantees?
Yes.
We are so confident that you will be happy the the results
of the mastering process that we guarantee our work. If the
sound does not meet your expectations in any way, we will
redo the project without incurring any additional charges
for studio time.
The
only additional costs would be $20 for an additional CD-R
proof and any shipping charges which may apply.
What
should I send with my master tape or CD-R?
Send
a complete log sheet with the titles and times of all the
songs. Indicate which mixes you want to use for the final
master and which order you want the songs to appear in.
Jot
down some notes for the mastering engineer, including any
comments you may have about the sound quality or any difficiencies
in the sound that you may have noticed.
Finally,
think of a couple of CDs that we can use as a reference for
the overall sound that you are looking for in this project.
Try to pick critically acclaimed or successful recordings
which have been released by major artists which have the kind
of sound you would like to have for your project.
What
address should I send my package to?
Send
your material to:
SoundMaster
Studios
3691
Revelstoke Drive
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1V
7C2, Canada
Don't
forget to include your name, address, phone number and instructions
for the mastering engineers.
Our phone numbers are: (613) 727-8740 or
Toll Free 1-800-511-7511
Any Questions?
If you have any questions about mastering your
project, we would be happy to answer them for you.
Contact us or email info@soundmasterstudios.com
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