Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you have any other questions please reach out using your preferred contact method available here.
Mastering is the finalization process where everything gets baked together. This is where the mix is perfected, and the track as a whole is worked on to give it shine, sparkle, volume, depth, punch and loudness.
During the mastering process, as an audio engineer, I will typically utilize different tools like compression, stereo width tools, limiters, maximizers, EQ, automation and more to ensure that the final master achieves the right levels to meet industry standards and the proper tone for your style of music.
You can learn more about what is mastering and why it is necessary at all here.
If you plan to release your music to the public, the benefits that come along with a professionally mastered track can be immense.
Today’s listeners have become accustomed to a certain sound in modern recorded music. Without mastering, you’re going to have a hard time convincing people that you’re a serious artist if your own tracks don’t measure up. Even the best songs can fall flat without mastering, so this part of the process is integral in representing your music how it was meant to be heard.
My first goal in mastering is to make something sound great and not exceed its loudness potential. Its loudness potential is the point above which the sound gets worse, anything louder is by definition a compromise.
I aim to get a sound for the master that the artist and/or label are happy with in terms of their vision for the track, and that is technically correct, and this can sometimes be an iterative process.
Online mastering services such as emastered.com; landr.com; ariamastering.com; cloudbounce.com and more use an algorithm to master tracks – meaning your music will typically not be heard by human ears – instead, your track is run through some software that automatically makes adjustments to volume, compression and EQ based on a formula the algorithm applies.
Algorithm-based mastering can come in handy when you want to get a glimpse at your track's potential or when you want to check a mix against standardized processing. You may have a quick demo mix that you think sounds good, and perhaps you want to add some overall compression and limiting to get that “radio sound” through a volume boost.
However, these mastering services do tend to work by applying a rubber stamp to each track because no one is actually listening. When you use my services, you are partnering with a professional mastering engineer and will receive the personal attention your music deserves, as well as the experience and specialized equipment that come along with a mastering engineer’s touch.
Additionally, a mastering engineer will be far more likely to offer the ability to make changes to a master after the first pass, giving you more freedom in getting the sound you’re after. You can read more about algorithm-based online mastering services here.
If you’re unsure, you’re more than welcome to request a free mastering sample, and compare the services yourself.
Depending on the complexity, mastering projects' turnaround time is generally less than 72 hrs for singles and 3 to 7 days for EP/Albums after project confirmation.
If you are working to a deadline and need a faster turnaround time, please let me know when booking your project.
Mastering revisions based on client feedback are free of charge. We can work together as necessary to make sure we get the sound you’re looking for.
If you need to remix a song to fix a problem or adjust something in the original mix, yes you can resubmit your mix and a small fee of $25 apply to remaster/re-print the new mix.
If you are not happy with my work, you can contact me for free revisions within 30 days. I will do whatever it takes to meet your requirements during our revisions process.
If we decide that I am not the right person for your project after the revision process, contact me for a refund. My only requirement is that my mixes/masters are not released for sale or promotion and that refunds are requested within 30 days of receiving mixes or masters.
Yes, I do offer Stem mastering on a case by case basis. Stem mastering is not part of my standard services and is only to be requested when there are some technical issues with the mix that can be better addressed by working with stems.
Stem mastering projects start at $120 per track with up to 6 stems. If you have more than 6 stems then add $15 per extra stem.
For stem mastering please contact me directly using the contact form here to tell me more about your project.
Yes, you can. I understand, hiring a stranger (who might be on the other side of the world!) to master your music can be daunting, so I’m happy to offer a free test master. You’ll be able to see how your mastered track sounds and we’ll both know whether my mastering style is right for you.
If you like what hear, you’ll then have the option to buy the release-ready final masters.
To request a free test master, please upload your track using this form, and you’ll get a sample within 72 hours.
Short answer, please submit WAV file at project’s original sample rate (e.g., 44.1khz) and 24bit.
For more information, please see my guide on how to prepare your files for mastering here.
All deliverable files will be prepared as per your project-specific requirements. Standard delivery files included in all projects are:
