Audio Mastering in Major Label Quality
Mixing
Mixing is the process of merging all the individually recorded sound tracks and giving the song the desired structure. Volume and panorama are adjusted to create a homogeneous sound and you get the feeling you are listening to the musicians live on stage.
Thanks to powerful computers and excellent software musicians can easily realize their creative ideas in their own project studios. But if you are looking for a professional sound the next step will be mixing the song. To make the most out of your material it is best to leave the mixing to a neutral professional. Apart from technical requirements – such as analog and digital equipment, optimized rooms and professional speakers – it takes a lot of experience, skill and musical intuition to perfectly support the character of each project and to get a “royal” sound.
Mixing is a more complex task than mastering. It is thus essential to discuss the details and all your personal wishes beforehand, either by phone or email, in order to obtain the best possible result. Here, having a reference mix, i.e. a sample track of some other artist, that meets your expectations is very helpful.
In addition to the separate sound tracks we also need a roughmix. This roughmix is not about sound quality, but it is meant to give us a general idea of your expectations. You might also send an additional demo song to serve as a benchmark.
Our primary goal is your satisfaction. Therefore, a first correction is always included in the price. Please listen to your mix carefully, on different sound systems and kindly send us a detailed list of any corrections you would like us to make.
Preparing the data:
• All sound tracks need to start at the same point
• All sound tracks need to be clearly labeled
• All recorded instruments need to be sent as separate tracks
• Special EFX effects can be pre-mixed and sent as a stereo track.
• Please do not apply any Dynamic, Eq’s or Effect processors to your tracks – unless they represent a stylistic device of your choice
• The maximum level should be between -6 dB and -3 dB
• Please make sure that there is no clipping (i.e. overdrive) in your material
• A roughmix of your material
• Please deliver your data in WAV, AIFF or SD II format
• Your data should have at least 24 bit and a sample rate between 44.1 kHz and 192 kHz
• Please feel free to tell us about your wishes and desires personally
Please send your data via Dropbox, WeTransfer or, if you prefer, by mail.
After mixing, the next step on your way to a release is mastering.
For further information please see Details / Procedure.
Mastering
Mastering is the final process of editing your audio record before putting it on a sound carrier or its release. Whether you are recording in a professional studio or in your home, a professional mastering will give your audio production the final touch.
After an in-depth analysis we will edit your material in order to exploit its full potential and to arrive at a dynamic and homogeneous sound over the full range extent of your production. We will make sure that your mastered song sounds perfect on any audio equipment or storage medium – be it a CD, DVD, radio, TV or iTunes – and we guarantee a state-of-the-art industry standard.
A mastered track is generally expected to sound “warmer”, “wider”, “louder” and more “natural”. It’s all about the perfect balance to fulfill your personal ideas and wishes, ensuring a competitive loudness and leaving room for musical dynamics at the same time. In the end, all the tracks of your project will have a highly detailed sound quality. They will sound as if they were made out of one piece, so that your listeners will not feel the need to change the volume between the tracks.
To do so, our most important tools are trained ears in combination with great sensitivity, experience and passion for music. Moreover, we work in an acoustically optimized room with highclass equipment, where all technical components are aligned to find the best solution for musical composition.
Apart from Stereo Mastering we also offer Stem Mastering (up to 6 sub groups). The advantage of Stem Mastering is that individual sub groups (vocals, bass, drums etc.) can be delivered and edited separately. This allows for higher degrees of transparency and detail.
The preconditions for Stem Mastering are:
• All subgroups need to start at the same point.
• The relative volume levels of the sub groups should be the same as in the mix.
• The format needs to have at least 24 bit / 44.1 kHz (up to 192 kHz).
• The higher the quality of your raw material, the better the final result.
• A rough mix of best possible quality.
If you would like to sell your music via iTunes with a maximum of sound quality, we also offer “Mastered for iTunes”.
For further information please see Details / Procedure.
Mastering Online Studio
Music speaks for itself. If we give it a chance. Y.Menuhin
