do you send your cd's out for mastering

[vtx]

the cd's that you offer for sale,are they sent out for mastering or do you do it yourself?
how much would it cost, the place I used to hang out doesn't bother with it,so I'm looking around.
most articles I read say this is something that should be done to get that independent opinion or just for the hardware used but I'm curious how many actually do.
if you have,were you satisfied, did it sound so much better?

thanx

[dystonia_ek]

Cost depends - some mastering studios will deal. Many have package deals, some charge an hourly rate. For a decent job at a decent studio with a good engineer (and the operator is just as important, if not moreso, than the hardware), expect to pay a minimum of $1000-$1500, though there are probably many cheaper deals to be had depending on your needs.

Two relatively affordable studios I can recommend are Malignant Sound Technologies (via http://www.malignantrecords.com ) and Numerix ( http://www.colba.net/~numeri/ ); the latter in particular will deal on price and can turn out spectacular results (see the Alien8 Recordings back catalogue, for example).

[vtx]

Cost depends - some mastering studios will deal. Many have package deals, some charge an hourly rate. For a decent job at a decent studio with a good engineer (and the operator is just as important, if not moreso, than the hardware), expect to pay a minimum of $1000-$1500, though there are probably many cheaper deals to be had depending on your needs.

Two relatively affordable studios I can recommend are Malignant Sound Technologies (via http://www.malignantrecords.com ) and Numerix ( http://www.colba.net/~numeri/ ); the latter in particular will deal on price and can turn out spectacular results (see the Alien8 Recordings back catalogue, for example).

thanks for that checking it out now.
do you usually send the multitracks to be mixed down or is it worth just sending the finished songs for post work.

[dystonia_ek]

Cost depends - some mastering studios will deal. Many have package deals, some charge an hourly rate. For a decent job at a decent studio with a good engineer (and the operator is just as important, if not moreso, than the hardware), expect to pay a minimum of $1000-$1500, though there are probably many cheaper deals to be had depending on your needs.

Two relatively affordable studios I can recommend are Malignant Sound Technologies (via http://www.malignantrecords.com ) and Numerix ( http://www.colba.net/~numeri/ ); the latter in particular will deal on price and can turn out spectacular results (see the Alien8 Recordings back catalogue, for example).

thanks for that checking it out now.
do you usually send the multitracks to be mixed down or is it worth just sending the finished songs..

The finished songs - unless you're paying them to remix your tracks as well.

[intel]

http://www.mixandmaster.com

the site isn't much to look at, but the mastering is top notch. I've used this guy in the past and he's top notch. satisfaction guaranteed, very open with communication, quick turn-around, etc etc.

[vtx]

http://www.mixandmaster.com

the site isn't much to look at, but the mastering is top notch. I've used this guy in the past and he's top notch. satisfaction guaranteed, very open with communication, quick turn-around, etc etc.

seems cool and thanx but didn't see an equipment list
did you send him a whole cd of songs?

[intel]

yes I did. what I sent was a compilation cd of various songs and the results were spectacular. I wasn't expecting much, given the wide variety of sources and pre-mastered quality. I think he must have invoked some sort of voodoo magic on it, cos the finished product sounded uniform.

I'm sure he'd be willing to provide an equipment list for you if you asked.

[cptgone]

seems cool and thanx but didn't see an equipment list

I wouldn't worry so much about the equipment used, it's the skills that matter.

[vtx]

seems cool and thanx but didn't see an equipment list

I wouldn't worry so much about the equipment used, it's the skills that matter.

thats definately a big part of it

[Forever Sun]

seems cool and thanx but didn't see an equipment list

I wouldn't worry so much about the equipment used, it's the skills that matter.

thats definately a big part of it

In 1996 I had an album mastered for about £500. The guy had all the right toys but, BUT... he wasn't really experienced enough ( despite his mature age).
I had to go back to correct some terrible mistakes on his part. Waste of my time. This was suppose to be a relaxing pleasurable time, however, the stress of having to come back explain, anticipate the additional charges ( none were incurred) was not worth the inexpensive price.

Recently I used the in-house mastering services of the CD plant and, again, they had the necessary equipment, but a dodgy 'engineer'.

I do it myself now. However, I used to be a sound engineer myself, so it helps.

[vtx]

seems cool and thanx but didn't see an equipment list

I wouldn't worry so much about the equipment used, it's the skills that matter.

thats definately a big part of it

In 1996 I had an album mastered for about £500. The guy had all the right toys but, BUT... he wasn't really experienced enough ( despite his mature age).
I had to go back to correct some terrible mistakes on his part. Waste of my time. This was suppose to be a relaxing pleasurable time, however, the stress of having to come back explain, anticipate the additional charges ( none were incurred) was not worth the inexpensive price.

Recently I used the in-house mastering services of the CD plant and, again, they had the necessary equipment, but a dodgy 'engineer'.

I do it myself now. However, I used to be a sound engineer myself, so it helps.

thats unfortunate
so your getting the results you want yourself great
I won't bug you for any hits unless you offer, I know theres plenty info here somewhere, I'll search it
if you could tell whether you master with hardware or can it be done strictly with software toys

Ed

[Forever Sun]

I do get the results myself. All done in software ( all the mastering places I've been to used software too).However, I do have a somewhat haphazard attitude to mastering. I'm not that precious about some issues.
The current obsession for compressing/limiting everything to death is off putting, for example.

You get the usual lists of what process should go where etc. But, since I record and mix myself, mastering for me doesn't involve much processing as most is accomplished in the mix. Get the track levels correct, set fades, maybe use some EQ and compression, set the PQ codes etc. ( get in touch with MCPS, ehm... ).

I would struggle if i were to master a band CD recorded at different locations, but for my own (or my friends)use I will approach the job, hopefully , not making too many blunders.

However it's difficult to explain to my music collagues when they complain that the CD isn't as loud as their favourite CD. It happened to me once, which meant I had to go back to the kitchen and cook some more.

I won't bug you for any hits unless you offer

Do you mean hints ? I can't offer you a hit, you know. But I wish your CD to become a hit though ! Or do you mean a mastering job ?

[vtx]

Do you mean hints ? I can't offer you a hit, you know. But I wish your CD to become a hit though ! Or do you mean a mastering job ?

aaa silly type errors
great insight there,I'm getting material ready for my cd,
I've been looking at some waveforms in Wavelab of commercial cd's, theres a big difference
Crash Test Dummies have waveforms that are like a solid block whereas Sylvain has very fluid waves, which I like better
I like some of the songs of the Crash Test cd but the mix gets grating after while, like it was all normalised.

[Forever Sun]

VTX,
I'm listening to your music now and I have to say that I like it a lot. It's rather beautiful, I have to say. You are the guy who did that 'string theory' ditty ?
If you want, appologies if the proposition is too forward , I'll master your CD for free. No strings attached. Oh allright, I get a signed copy of your first release ?

Electronica is my spiritual home. If you like what you hear, you keep the master and I get to see if the nerves will allow me to do a good job. Just, trying to inspire confidence , you know.
If you don't, you still can go pro and spend £££.

If you want to know my cridentials, I tell you privately, as I'd like to keep my presence here separate from the audio work I do.

Anyway. No worries if you'd rather not .
Cheers !

[Kriminal]

I do it myself in Soundforge, BBE is my secret weapon

no complaints, and i think it sounds good, using the ref material i do.