CD Mastering the final step in recording

Although there are many definitions of what “mastering” is, we refer to “mastering” as the process of taking a mix and preparing it for manufacturing. In general, this involves the following steps and goals.

The “Commercial Sound”
The goal of this step is to take a good mix (usually in the form of a stereo file) and put the final touches on it. This can involve adjusting levels and in general “sweetening” the mix. Think of it as the final coat of polish, or the difference between a good sounding mix and a professional sounding master. This process can involve adding broad equalization, multi band compression, harmonic excitation, loudness maximization, etc. This process is often actually referred to as “premastering” but we’re going to refer to it as mastering for simplicity.

Consistency across the CD
Consideration has to be made for how the individual tracks of a CD work together when played one after another. Is there a consistent sound? Are the levels matched? Does the CD have a common “character”? This process is generally the same as the previous step, with the additional consideration of how individual tracks sound in sequence. The goal is to minimize the differences between tracks, which will most likely mean different settings for different tracks.

Preparation for Duplication
The final step usually involves preparing the song or sequence of songs for manufacturing and duplication. This step varies depending on the intended delivery format. In the case of a CD it can mean converting to 16 bit/44.1 kHz audio through resampling and dithering, and setting track indexes, track gaps, PQ codes, and other CD specific markings.

Mastering Rates
Mastering Individual Songs Most Songs $30.00 this means a song that are mixed well.
Songs that require extreme cleanup or surgery $30.00 an hr.
Complete CD Mastering to include PQ Code for Manufacturing $40.00 an hour.

View Samples of Work Below
Coming Soon

Contact Roland for more information
210-393-7364 or 512-996-9259