Q1: What is Audio Mastering?

It is the last step making a recording into a final AUDIO product/Media. This includes assembly editing, the use of the best of available audio equipment such as equalizers, compressors and/or limiters if needed. A great monitoring environment is a MUST including the room as well as the audio monitors.

Q2: How does it change the sound of a track?

Balance! It pretty much gives the recording whatever it is lacking of. For example, if it's too much bright, mastering could tame it down, if it's not punchy enough, it could make it thumper. It can change the texture of a track a little or a lot, depending on what's necessary and what is the potential of the mix. Mastering process also adjusts the overall volume of the entire CD project.

Q3: What are the benefits of having an album professionally mastered?

Presentation! It makes it more commercially competitive and more impressive. If the CD is played on the radio, in a club, on tv or in your living room, it will sound as good as possible. One of the goal is to bring the music/sound at its best and creating a Master CD tested and ready for Replication/Duplication.

Q4: What can you do to improve my music?

Nothing. The music is what it is. We can only make the "presentation" more accurate, impressive, best sounding as possible and "commercially ready".

Q5: What should I do to my mixes to get them ready for Mastering?

Have it recorded and mixed the best as you can do / affoard with the peak level hitting about -3db at the most. This will give enough room to proceed to the best Mastering sonic possibilities and LEAVE some headroom to manipulate the dynamic range of the song effectively. Make sure that no clippings occur anywhere on any tracks and on the final mix as well. Again, do everything you can to make your Mix sound best WITHOUT worrying about the final volume.

Q6: What I should NOT do to my Mix to get it ready for mastering?

Do not use any compression for sake of volume, limiting or maximizing the mix bus. This really limits the mastering available techniques and the dynamic range of the music. Do not try to pre-Master your final mixes by using some processing on the Stereo bus to obtain more volume, we will take care of this.

Q7: What is the best resolution and format my stereo mix tracks should be at?

A minimum of 16bit / 44Khz stereo Wav or Aiff or higher bit and sample rates (ex.:24bit/96kHz). The best resolution is to get your stereo mixes at the same rates as your original tracking. Do not use dithering if the wordlenght has not changed (ex.: 24bit ---->to 24bit).

Q8: How long is a Mastering session?

It depends, it could take 6 to 8 hours to complete a Full Length (LP) with an average of 10-12 songs (40 minutes approx). More songs takes more time even if the total length is the same. As an average, a song could take between 20 minutes to 45 minutes each. This does not includes the time to finalize the project (song alignments and order, fades, CD-Text, ISRC and UPC codes) and QC'ing the Master CD.

Q9: Do you charge by the hour, per tracks?

For a Full length CD, the cost is per hour, if you attend the session. For unattended session, after we hear one or two tracks of your projects and having some details (number of tracks etc.) a fixed price is decided before. This way, it makes it easier for unattended clients, you know what is the total cost before we start working on your project. See our RATES.

Q10: When and How do I pay?

If you are not attending the session (Online Mastering): Payment is usually done after the session and before getting the Mastered tracks or Master Audio CD (after your approbation from the samples) or getting the Master CD. We prefer Paypal for unattended sessions, it is fast and safe. Here how it works:

1- You upload your files/mixes.

2- Mastered samples are made and uploaded for you to listen and approve (email containing a link sent to you).

3- After your approval, a Paypal invoice is sent to you.

4- When payment is received, you receive an email with a link to download your Mastered files or the Master is shipped to you or to your preferred Duplication or Replication company the very next day.

If you are attending the session : Payment is due at the end of the Mastering session when leaving with the Master tracks or the Audio Master CD.