$65 per song includes meticulous balancing and enhancement of your recording (up to 10 mins/song), heads/tails editing and sequencing, and WAV masters for the destination format of your choice. Also included are up to 4 sets of free mastering revisions so that everything sounds exactly the way you want, and a comprehensive follow through to make sure your release goes smoothly.
Mastering revisions beyond 4 rounds (rare) are $10/song for each subsequent revision. Mastering a revised mix for a song I've already mastered starts at $15/song if no changes on my end are needed, after which the additional charge is proportionate to how much time is required to adjust the previous settings for the new mix ($15-$65 depending). Please print your revised mix at the same level and start point whenever possible.
Projects with the same source mixes to be released on multiple formats cost an additional $10/song for Apple Digital Masters, MP3s, video or other digital masters, $15/song for cassette masters, and $20/song for masters for vinyl.
Masters for vinyl are delivered as 24-bit 96 kHz cutting master files for each side with cue sheets. Special attention is given while mastering for vinyl to address any potential playback problems in order to create the best sounding records possible. If the song order and spacing is significantly different from the digital version, there is an additional $25/side sequencing charge. Masters for cassette can be optimized for the specific tape formulation used and are sequenced for each side.
A DDP master for CD production can be prepared from digital masters for $50 per project, which includes Red Book compliant track ID spacing, CD-text and ISRC encoding. Separate 16-bit audio masters optimized for the CD format are created for the DDP. A license-free DDP player is provided to check your master for proper playback, titles and indexing. A physical CD production master disc can be made for $60 + shipping which includes error checking and write verification. In nearly all cases, the DDP is the easiest and most reliable method to send your CD master for replication.
I can master instrumental mixes or radio edits with the same settings as the album versions for $15 per alternate mix when they are submitted at the same time as the original mixes and are printed at the same volume and start point. If adjustments are required from the album master settings due to level or other differences, additional charges may apply.
Adjusting singles I've previously mastered for an album release is $15/song.
Editing, sonic restoration and noise reduction is billed at $60/hr. in 1/4 hour increments.
Simple rate card:
$65/song - Mastering for one format and up to 4 revisions (does not include remixes)
Additional charges:
$10/song - 5th and subsequent mastering revisions for each song (REV F and beyond, rarely needed).
$15/song - Minimum charge for mastering each revised mix. ($15-$65 depending on how much changed)
$15/song - Alternate mix versions processed with the same settings as the album versions. (instrumentals, radio edits etc.)
$10/song - Each additional digital release format from digital masters, except for CD/DDP which is $50 per project.
$20/song - Masters for vinyl prepared from sessions for digital masters.
Balances must be paid in full before any masters can be released.
A complimentary mix evaluation for scheduled projects is available upon request, in which I thoroughly review your mix and offer suggestions I hear for adjustments you may want to consider making before submitting the track for mastering. I also offer mix consulting for $20/song if you'd like to work together on fine tuning your mixes to get them sounding their best. This more in-depth approach includes suggesting techniques to improve the balance and separation within the mix and covers up to 5 versions of the revised mix per song.
The above rates apply to unattended mastering. The rate for attended sessions is $125/hr. + parts and does not include free revisions. Physical media transfers are done at $50/hr.
Your mastering project is scheduled for the next available session once payment is received. Please schedule in advance if you have a deadline.
Rush service may be available for projects that require expedited delivery without advance notice for an additional 20%.
Please inquire for current lead times, rates on mastering from stems, songs longer than 10 minutes, mastering for sync submissions, live albums, and other services.
