Precision analogue mastering Studio in the South West, UK

Question 1

What is audio mastering?

Answer

Mastering is the final stage of audio production before a record or single is released into the world. I take your finished mixes and use some of the best analogue / digital equipment available to bring their overall sound in-line with music that is already released. If I am mastering an album or EP, I will also sequence each track with the perfect gaps of silence and with balanced tone and loudness. As a result, the overarching character of your project will be enhanced, finessed and polished. I will also make sure that your music sounds amazing on all systems, from full-range ATC studio monitors to cinemas to laptop and phone speakers. Mastering is a crutial time for you to view your project in the exact way that it will be heard once it is released. You will hear if any corrections are needed and we can work out the most effiecient way to make these either in the mastering domain or by revising the mix. Once the masters are approved, I can create a myriad of master files for every audio platform, from online distribution (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc.) to vinyl and cassette. If you're still unsure, go to my Instagram page @ middlemastering to listen to before & after mastering examples.

Question 2

How quickly will I receive my masters after I have booked a session and sent you the files?

Answer

The average turn around for most mastering projects is approximately 1 - 3 working days from the time you upload the mix files. However, this timeline is subject to change depending on how much work I have on. To make sure that your project is sent back to you in time, please contact me at least 1 week before your release date / production deadline.

Question 3

In what format should I send you the mix files?

Answer

Sample Frequency: Always keep the sample frequency at the rate that the audio was recorded / mixed. Because all of my work is done in the analogue domain, I can 'pitch' a mix at any sample rate (up to 96kHz) and then capture the master at the delivery sample rate (up to 96kHz) without using any sample rate conversion. This avoids all of the unwanted artifacts that SRC introduces, which ultimately change the tone and impact of your music. Bit-Rate: Keep the bit-rate as high as you can. If possible it should be no lower than 24-bit, however, 32-bit floating / fixed point files are even better. Try to avoid sending 16-bit files if possible. All files must be sent as lossless .WAV / .WAVE / .AIFF files with no file compression. Do not send compressed lossy or lossless files such as .MP3 / .MPEG-4 / .FLAC / .AAC etc...

Question 4

In what format will I receive my master files?

Answer

Once your payment has been processed, the masters will be delivered as stereo WAV or AIFF files at any sample rate up to 96kHz / 16-bit or 24-bit. High quality MP3s can also be delivered up to 320kbps. Any number of file formats can be authored at no additional cost. If you do not request specific file formats prior to booking, the masters will be delivered at the CD and online distribution standard as 44.1kHz 16-bit WAVs. If you are releasing CDs, you will also receive an 'unlocked' DDP image that can be sent directly to the CD duplication factory. All files are delivered via Google Drive unless requested otherwise. If you require additional masters that are tailored to specific platforms, such as vinyl, cassette and radio, please see prices above or contact me via email or phone to discuss. I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

Question 5

Should I apply dithering to my mix?

Answer

If you are sending me 24-bit mix files please use dithering when rendering in order to avoid truncation distortion as you move from the internal resolution of your DAW (most likely 32-bit floating point or higher) to 24-bit. Dithering is not needed if you are sending me 32-bit floating point files.

Question 6

How much headroom should my mix have?

Answer

My only request regarding headroom is that there are no peaks at 0dBFS (no clipping). Send me the mix that you love the most regardless of how much headroom it has. As long as I am working with the mix that sounds the best to you then I am happy. Ultimately, do what serves your music the best. For those who would like a general rule of thumb, mixes should aim to have peaks between -6dBFS and -3dBFS and should never clip at 0dBFS. This leaves a healthy amount of headroom for any processing that may be needed in the mastering domain.

Question 7

How do I pay for your mastering services?

Answer

Once I have finished mastering your project, I will send you the masters as a DDP image that you can audition using a secure DDP player. The player allows you to listen to the mastered album as it will be played back from a CD. You will hear exactly what I hear in my mastering studio with the correct legnths of silence between each track. If you are happy with the way that it all sounds, then you will receive an invoice which you can pay via bank transfer. Once you have paid, I will then send you an upload link to the full resolution master files which are yours to release and distribute. The DDP player only allows you to audition the masters. You will not be able to use the masters in any other way until I have received payment and sent you the final master files. Just as a side note, the DDP file that you will listen to is fully encrypted and can only be played using the DDP player that I will supply. This is to protect your music from falling into the wrong hands and ending up somewhere you didn't expect.

Question 8

What if I need changes to the masters?

Answer

Sometimes revisions are required. If so, I am more than happy to make these to the best of my ability within reason free of charge. However, if you need to make revisions / tweaks to the mix you originally sent me then a charge of £15 for each new mix sent will be added to your overall bill. To avoid any unexpected additional charges, please make sure that the final mixes you send are the best that you can achieve. Also please be certain that all mixes have been approved by everyone involved before sending. If you are unsure whether your mix is ready for mastering then feel free to send it over prior to booking a session. I'll gladly have a listen and, if necessary, be able to offer any advice on how it could be improved before we move onto the mastering stage.

Question 9

Do you offer free test masters?

Answer

Yes, of course! I totally understand that handing your creation over to a stranger is a pretty daunting prospect… So, as a courtesy to all my new clients, I will master ONE track of any length totally free of charge. This is for you determine whether my style / approach to mastering your project is what you want. If you like my master, then we can discuss moving on to the next steps in the process. And if you don’t like my master, then no harm done! If you do decide to hire me to master the rest of your project then this first test master will always remain free. All you have to do is fill in the form below and upload your track via the link provided. I will typically get a test master back to you within 3 working days.

Question 10

How do I send you mix files to master?

Answer

You can securely upload mix files via the upload link I provide here (there is no size limit). Your mixes are then automatically downloaded to my studio computer and I receive an email notification to let me know. Alternatively, you can use a file sharing service such as Google Drive, WeTransfer or Dropbox.

Question 11

Can you review my mixes for free?

Answer

Yes. If you are unsure whether your mixes are ready for mastering then feel free to send them over prior to booking a session. I'll gladly have a listen and, if necessary, be able to give you some suggestions on how they could be improved before we move onto the mastering stage.

Question 12

What about international payments (currencies other than GBP)?

Answer

I use TransferWise for all international payments. Any major currency can be used and all associated conversion fees are much lower than a standard international wire transfer. Please add roughly 1% to your total to cover fees.

Precision analogue mastering Studio in the South West, UK

Artistic Analogue mastering

Putting artists first

Mastering

Studio Tools

Digital

Analogue