mastering for $400 possible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter deluci
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deluci

New member
cave audio
stereophonic
pappa e
inpulse
..................these are the companies that im thinking of using to master my cd. there all within the $250-$400 range. i know they wont be the best, considering the pricerange, but thats what im working with. if anyone has any experience with these people, or have heard good/bad things about them, please let me know. i dont want to get screwed.
thanks, you guys are the best :)
 
Without looking, I'll relay the opinion voiced by those with more experience and skill than me: less than $100 per song mastering isn't worth anything. The equipment and ability to effectively master command a high price. If someone is offering the service for a price that doesn't support the investment required, you're pretty much guaranteed they won't do any better than you would.

Would you let somebody paint your car for $50?
 
I'll do it for $300. :)



























Disclaimer: I'm not a mastering engineer.
 
I'll do it for $200. :)























Disclaimer: I'm not a mastering engineer
I'm just a hack with a few plugins :eek: :eek: .
 
I'd do it for free. I just want the practice :)

But I'll tell you... if something sounds like shit in the mix, I will tell you it sounds like shit in the mix and won't even try to fix it... either you fix your mix, or pay someone who'd do it. :p
 
Just based on a quick look at their web sites, Stereophonic Mastering is the only one out of your list that I would even consider. Pappa e doesn't have a gear list on their site, something I do like to see as it shows you if they are just using a bunch of plugins or not. Cave Audio seems more like a project recording studio than a mastering house, and the others I'm assuming are pretty much plugin based.

What about our own Massive Mastering? There's another guy who posts here called masteringhouse. I personally think they check out a little better than those guys you linked to, and I think their prices are close. Maybe you could negotiate.
 
One of them has a price list that compares to rate sheets of other facilities... I don't know what to think about that for some reason... I'm glad I'm not on his list. But if I were to wind up on it, I'd want a link. I wouldn't want someone thinking that price was the most important factor - They should konw *what* and *who* they're dealing with - Not just how much they cost.

One of them is basically warning you that other facilties use "older models" of gear or doesn't tell the truth about the equipment they use -

Then they list a whole bunch of gear - Most or none of which belongs anywhere near a mastering facility. No, just looked at it again - *nothing* - save perhaps an Avalon EQ/comp (that isn't really something you'd normally see in a mastering room, but at least it's a stereo unit). And then outright (allegedly) BS'es about their speakers being used at "cutting edge" studios, where they are really only the same *brand* and not even in the same ballpark as the same *model* being used.

And then, the same place, with the "non-gear" list and the warnings goes on to say this...
Beware of mastering scams and fake studios. No one can really match or go lower than our price without compromising your sound. Do you really want someone that makes $5 an hour and next to no experience, mastering your material?

Our competition does just that, or they pay absolutely no attention to your music and just run it through a preset.
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They are alleging that *everyone* else is out to get you...?

Don't get me wrong here - I actually have a (rather disturbing to some - especially the scammers) article on mastering scams on the MM site. I point a lot of fingers (without mentioning any particular names) at what to look for. But that paragraph is totally unsubstantiated in this case.

One has a fairly decent gear selection, but questionable methods using very odd gear. Not that it's illegal - But it's very odd.

One I wouldn't go near with a recording of my enemy.

Heh - One calls themselves the "world's 1st leading online mixing and mastering studio." (sic). :eek: :rolleyes:

Two of them are in the "eh?" category. Two of them I'd be quite wary of.
 
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Massive Master said:
One I wouldn't go near with a recording of my enemy.
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Since when did we become enemies? ;) :)

deluci, I very HIGHLY recommend Massive for your mastering, sir. Not only is he incredible at what he does, he's fair in price and a damned nice guy to boot.

Back in your good graces, my friend? hahahaha

Sorry... couldn't resist...
 
I certainly appreciate the "props" (word to the peeps in the house and all), but if he's looking at "full-length" (60 minutes or more) my rates are almost double what's in his budget.

I've got a "special" going on, but I don't know if it's "special" enough! :D
 
Massive Master said:
I certainly appreciate the "props" (word to the peeps in the house and all), but if he's looking at "full-length" (60 minutes or more) my rates are almost double what's in his budget.

I've got a "special" going on, but I don't know if it's "special" enough! :D
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Hey John, How about if he offered to bring the coffee? ;) :D

G.
 
Well, it'd depend on the coffee... But you've got me thinking... :cool:

Hey - I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but I was browsing a couple of those sites again and found this...
We are the industry professionals. We have worked with many of top professionals in the music business today and you can expect the same extraordinary service.
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If that's the case, why don't they tell us their names?

Is it some sort of secret? Do they (if there is even a "they") not have names like everyone else? If I were a "big industry professional that has worked with many of the top professionals in the music business" I'd certainly try to sell myself perhaps *on my name alone* - Yet I don't see anyone's name listed there...

Just an observation... :confused:
 
.

thanx everyone for looking at these companies. it has definetly got me thinking (and reconsidering).
i have checked out massive mastering before, and i wish to God that i could afford their services. they seem like a high quality company, offering great results for a very fair price. iknow that price should not be what attracts me to a mastering company, but i have to work with what i have. i had to save my pennies and dimes to even get the money i have now. :(
i could be patient, i guess, and save more. i suppose its just that ive spent about two and a half years on this album (its been a learning experience), and im ready to have it finished, and move on to something else.
...anyway, my cd is a 16 track triphop/chill style album. possibly close to a team sleep/ portishead/ radiohead sound, but you know how genre's go.
again, if there are any more suggestions on where to turn, plese post them. and thanks for the info so far. *respect.
 
We are the industry professionals. We have worked in Starbucks, and poured coffe for many of top professionals in the music business today and you can expect the same extraordinary service.
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Deluci, why don't you release an EP of the best (most potential for commercial success) songs, say 4-5, and have it properly mastered? Not to impugne your songwriting (unheard), but out of 16 tracks, there are definately going to be some strong points and weak points.
 
Where do you live, Deluci? If I were you I'd start by trying to find a place locally. Or at least within a reasonable driving distance.
 
If nothing else - At that price range, you can definitely go to a good studio and have it done.

Figure 5-6X the program running time for processing and throw on an hour for the burn. You can work backwards from your budget to find out the "top scale" that you can invest.

But no matter what, don't be afraid to ask questions...
 
SonicAlbert said:
There's another guy who posts here called masteringhouse. I personally think they check out a little better than those guys you linked to, and I think their prices are close. Maybe you could negotiate.
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Thanks Al, I'm the "other guy". :)

My current rate is $500 for a full length CD so it's pretty close to your current budget. I think that you'll find the additional $100 well worth it over less experienced offererings.

See my link below for more info ...
 
Check out my site myspace.com/crystalmixing for samples of my mastering.
PM me if you are interested. I charge around $15 a song to b mastered. Dont be scared by the cheap price, I am just getting a name for myself by doing it this cheap, so it wont be this cheap for ever!

Eck
 
And did you get a load of those paint jobs?!? :eek:
Check out my site myspace.com/crystalmixing for samples of my mastering.
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I don't want to break this to you the wrong way, but no one is going to be able to establish anything about sound quality using MySpace. I'm not saying your work is bad - I'm not saying your work is good. I'm saying that the sound quality of the samples on MySpace's hoffiric sounding player is worthless is someone is trying to assess anything about quality. If you want to post samples somewhere (which is a fine idea - especially if there is some sort of "before-and-after" approach), get a website somewhere. It's pennies per day and *you* control the sound quality.
 
While we are all constrained financially to various degrees, you have to determine what your priorities are for mastering.

Is your goal to get the cheapest price, or the best job possible for a given budget. If the later it's best to first set the maximum realistic price that you can afford, and then approach various places in that range and ask if they offer an evaluation. Some may charge for this, others like myself offer this as part of developing a relationship with their clients.

After you hear the results you can make an intelligent decision regarding who you suits your needs the best, making a determination solely on price is not a good idea if you want the most for your music.
 
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