Many online services now offer a fixed price for mastering each song and market it as a "convenience" to the artist. While this may seem appealing, they are really stating they offer a fixed method of mastering each and every track no matter what needs to be done to them. Like likely use their favorite mastering plug in or rackmount hardware with a "Wide CD" setting and consider it "Mastered". In reality, this couldn't be farther from the truth.

First and foremost, you must start with a good mix. While a good engineer can work magic at times, the quality of the final mix will dictate the quality of the mastered version. That is, you can put lipstick on a pig … but it will still only be a pig with lipstick.

The experienced mastering engineer is typically working with a limited set of very specific tools and effects. Some of the more common tools include:

• Equalization – In a lot of ways, a studio equalizer is a lot like a high end version of the ‘tone controls' you may have seen on your car stereo or a guitar amplifier. Unfortunately, the standard type of EQ with faders used to boost or cut specific predetermined frequencies is ill suited for mastering since it does not let you shape the sound. The best types of equalizers for mastering are known as parametric EQs. This type of EQ is made up of several filters that can hone in on a specific frequency and boost or cut it accordingly. Higher end parametric EQs also have a "Q" setting that allows the engineer to change the width of the band that is impacted.
  
  PRO TIP: Having to boost or cut any frequencies by more than 3 or 4 decibels may be a sign that your final mix, instrumentation or arrangement is inadequate.

• Reverb, if used properly, can add a finishing sheen to the final mix. However, it can quickly muddy the final result and must be used sparingly. If your mix engineer has done a good with reverb on individual tracks during the final mix stage, you may not need any additional reverb applied at the mastering stage. In some cases, however, a little mastering reverb can add an overall finish to the sound by fattening it up and adding a sense of space and ambience.
  
  PRO TIP: Many times a better approach is to use a delay effect on individual instrument tracks rather than reverb to avoid the muddying effects reverb can bring to your mix altogether.

• Compressors, limiters, gates and expanders are all used to modify the dynamics of a mix. If used properly, adjusting the dynamics over specific frequency ranges can improve the tonal qualities of the overall mix or individual track. For example, the punchiness of a bass line can be enhanced or a vocal performance can be warmed up.
  
  PRO TIP: A little bit of compression can go a long way in fattening and warming the sound, too much will absolutely mutilate the dynamics and squash the life out of the mix.

• Harmonic Exciters are used to presence and sparcle to the mix. While exciters were used to the extreme in the 80s and early 90s they are still quite common today, to a lesser degree. If used properly, exciters can help bring clarity to the mix.
  
  PRO TIP: Do not try to duplicate the effect produced with an EQ. It will not work and will only add harshness and brashness to the higher frequencies.

It should be clear that we will take your music very seriously. We are customer focused and your personal satisfaction is our primary goal. We treat each track as an individual piece and do not use a "mastering preset" from a one stop mastering hardware unit nor a quick-fix-do-everything software plug in. We can certainly make it sound REALLY LOUD if that's what you are looking for, but we prefer to make it sound REALLY GOOD.

Please contact us for additional information.