Mastering
is the process of optimizing your recording for its final medium.
Mastering will bring out the detail of your music for the final
CD master by skillfully applying equalization, compression,
and limiting. Mastering can take a group of songs and transform
them into a cohesive flow of music that plays well in a variety
of formats and sounds consistent on any playback system.
You
may have noticed that certain records just plain sound better
on the radio than others. The mastering of the music can
make the difference between an OK sound, and
a Grammy-winning sound. Today's mastering process
is able to make the most of the overall sound of your recordings,
shaping and molding the frequencies and dynamics to provide the
best sound possible. Virtually all of the recordings you hear
today have been mastered.
"Does
my recording need Mastering?"
The
final stage in a project, mastering prepares your collection
of music for the best overall sound in its final medium.
Not only can you polish what is already there, but also in many
cases you can correct problems that can only be addressed with
the kind of control good mastering provides. A
project that has been mastered simply sounds better.
It adds cohesion to your project, pulling together the overall
impact of your collection of songs. Mastering
is the definitive watermark of a professional quality project
- no matter what style of music.
Mastering can be the single most important
part of the sonic impact of your recording project, and
should not be the place to try and save a few dollars. There is
good reason why those who know, trust experienced mastering engineers
with dedicated mastering tools. If
the best masters could be made by just anyone who has a simple
software plug-in, or from an "all-in-one-mastering box"
device, then that is what all the best-sounding recordings would
be using. There is good reason that competent mastering engineers
don't just all have the same plugins or magic black box. A variety
of special EQ, dynamics, and digital-conversion tools are used
as necessary, and more importantly they must be used correctly.
"Chops" for mastering are not bought; they are
earned from years of recording experience and thousands of hours
working with the right tools.
No
matter what your music style, a quality-mastering job should
be a part of your recording project.
At
Back at the Ranch,
we usually include time for mastering as the final step in any
project production. With over 30 years of professional mastering
experience, Brian Konzelman
will master your project using the best of both analog
and digital mastering equipment. Great masters require great tools,
and we have the very best. Our recent acquisition of a complete
NEVE PORTICO analog mastering system allows us to offer our clients
the finest signal processing available. Combined with our variety
of the top digital processors and converters, we can provide the
finest in vintage and modern sound pallettes. Back
at the Ranch has been turning out great masters
for independent artists and labels like Word,
KNB Music, Starsong, and Sparrow, for over three decades.
Our mastering can be the difference between your project sounding
like a "demo", or sounding like a "record."
The
cost of mastering depends on your project and your requirements
for final formats. Generally you should plan on allowing about
$100 per song as a general rule.
  Muffin
the wonderdog says "I know my master ".
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Mastering
your Music Recordings at Back at the Ranch Studio 