Mixing or Mastering Shops

[wetland10]

My band is in the process of recording a CD at the home of one of the guys. The last time we went to an actual studio, but this time we are using his basement with our own mics and a ZOOM 16 track digital recorder. We just started this process. Basically we just want to get the music "into the system" clean and to our liking.

Once we have everything recorded we want a "professional" to mix and master it for us so that it sounds as good as it can.

Has anyone worked with a shop over the internet to either mix or master? I think we have someone to mix for us but we are looking for a place to have it mastered for a fair price. I've seen mastering in all sorts of price ranges.

Any help is appreciated.

Wayne

[Martin R]

For what its worth, we used DiscMakers to master. Our levels were pretty much right before we sent it up so not much difference there. I could hear a little EQ difference but not a lot. Don't know if it was better. It was $490 for 12 songs.

It did give us peace of mind, though next time we'll probably have it mastered locally so somebody can A/B the cuts for me.

Hope this helps,
Martin
E. Christina Herr & Wild Frontier

[wetland10]

Originally Posted by Martin R

For what its worth, we used DiscMakers to master. Our levels were pretty much right before we sent it up so not much difference there. I could hear a little EQ difference but not a lot. Don't know if it was better. It was $490 for 12 songs.

It did give us peace of mind, though next time we'll probably have it mastered locally so somebody can A/B the cuts for me.

Hope this helps,
Martin
E. Christina Herr & Wild Frontier

I was thinking about Discmakers since they do our duplication, but I would prefer someone I could go back and forth with, locally would be ideal, for the same reason you mention. I don't know anything about the process aside from what I hear.

Wayne

[woodman]

my former band Lunatic Fringe got a 12-song album mastered locally for $500. i was able to sit in on the mastering session and the engineer would bounce different approaches off of me, which i see as a huge advantage to going local. there are a huge number of variable parameters, and since it's your record, you need to be part of the process. it was like going to the eye doctor for glasses — "which is better, this or that?" ... as a result, we were 100% pleased with the outcome.

[wetland10]

Originally Posted by woodman

my former band Lunatic Fringe got a 12-song album mastered locally for $500. i was able to sit in on the mastering session and the engineer would bounce different approaches off of me, which i see as a huge advantage to going local. there are a huge number of variable parameters, and since it's your record, you need to be part of the process. it was like going to the eye doctor for glasses — "which is better, this or that?" ... as a result, we were 100% pleased with the outcome.

That makes a lot of sense, better one or better two? LOL

Good thoughts. Mastering, though I know nothing about the technical aspects, make a world of difference to recordings and I want it to really come out well.

Wayne

[Old Cane]

Try the gearslutz forum. Lots of info there and lots of mastering guys to contact. Some are highly regarded and about the same money.

[Tim Armstrong]

Next time I have a project to be mastered, I'm gonna use a legend: Bob Olhsson in Nashville. You might have heard his work before, he was the mastering engineer at Motown during their glory years.

Bob's still profoundly good, and his rates are surprisingly reasonable...

Tim

[wetland10]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Next time I have a project to be mastered, I'm gonna use a legend: Bob Olhsson in Nashville. You might have heard his work before, he was the mastering engineer at Motown during their glory years.

Bob's still profoundly good, and his rates are surprisingly reasonable...

Tim

Any idea what his rates are?

Wayne