master my album?!!!

pgasm

hey guys, anyone know a good place to master an album, i want somewhere with a good rep at affordable prices. We got our last album mastered in Abbey Roads but due to lack of funds we need to look elsewhere this time!?

I have actually emailed several places last week and i have not got a single reply.....dunno why!

any help would be appreciated

cheers

PaulBrewer

pgasm wrote: »

hey guys, anyone know a good place to master an album, i want somewhere with a good rep at affordable prices. We got our last album mastered in Abbey Roads but due to lack of funds we need to look elsewhere this time!?

I have actually emailed several places last week and i have not got a single reply.....dunno why!

any help would be appreciated

cheers

Give Richard at Wav Mastering in Limerick a yell.
http://www.wavmastering.com/index.php

Great work at good prices.

Fergal Davis in Dublin is also a man of note.

http://www.myspace.com/suitestudio

frobisher

They didn't reply?! That's pretty crap. There are a lot places doing mastering by FTP too, some at great prices. Check out your options if you have the time then make an informed decision.

pgasm

cheers dudes! Think i might go to tube mastering in London, check him out n see what you think! www.tubemastering.com

ogy

www.goldenmastering.com

haven't used them but they have a great rep and great clients list. special deal if you just send them the album in the correct order with gaps between tracks etc decided.

johnnylakes

Any more recommendations/suggestions for good mastering houses guys..?

PaulBrewer

ogy wrote: »

. special deal if you just send them the album in the correct order with gaps between tracks etc decided.

That sounds like they just run it through a single preset and fire it back at you, doesn't it?

fitz

PaulBrewer wrote: »

That sounds like they just run it through a single preset and fire it back at you, doesn't it?

Certainly doesn't inspire confidence.
OP, what's your budget for the mastering?

pgasm

We have about 800 euro left after everything else, so thats our budget.

fitz

A lot of places will do a sample track.
Why not see if some of the local guys will master a track...give them all the same one and see which you prefer?

I'm sure both the local options Paul mentioned would fit your budget. It really can't be overstated how beneficial attending the session is, so if money's tight, someone local is a good option. Both Fergal and Richard have good reps.

PaulBrewer

I think an attended mastering session is the most efficient way to work.

You have the benefit of instant feedback in both directions - Mastering is all about opinions, yours being the most important.

One man's dull can be another man's bright.

Unattended can of course get results but at least when you leave a local Mastering House you know what you've come out with as you've participated in it's creation.

(Aha! Both Fitz and I must have been typing simultaneously!)

fitz

Spot on Paul.

I'd always attend. You've put so much time effort and money into the recording/mixing, why scrimp at the mastering stage and risk being unhappy with the result?

ogy

ah i don't think so, this from their site:
"Ready To Go" means your source tape,disc, or files are in the correct sequence and do not require extensive editing or assembly. "Ready to go" prices include a complete rundown of your entire project , EQ / Dynamics processing, level optimization etc. and one cdr or exabyte cd master (or lacquer masters when doing vinyl). But only if your master source is " Ready To Go". Otherwise you may incur additional studio time, as described below. "

just means they don't have to bother with the "program" end of the job, fade ins fade outs etc.

spook of the thirteenth lock's album was done there and it sounds great and theres loads of magazine articles and testimonials about them online.

im all for supporting local business etc but its an option and a very reasonably priced one!

pgasm

I understand what you are all saying - but i priced several places locally and the approx quote is between 700 - 900 euro.

Then i went and got a quote from British places, one being tube mastering, by Andy Jackson (who has worked with Pink Floyd for the last 25 years) and it came to 395 pounds for the same job!

Add the price of a ryanair flight and one night accomodation and yer saving so much money - and with a guy who obviously knows what he is doing!

fitz

I dunno dude...he's worked with Pink Floyd alright, but as a mix engineer (going by his website). I'd be going to someone based on their credits for the job I'm asking them to do, not on a different role they've done.

He's got no mastering clients listed on the (very mediocre, home-brew-looking) website.

He could be great, but looking at him on spec, the info on his site doesn't inspire confidence.

PaulBrewer

fitz wrote: »

I dunno dude...he's worked with Pink Floyd alright, but as a mix engineer (going by his website). I'd be going to someone based on their credits for the job I'm asking them to do, not on a different role they've done.

He's got no mastering clients listed on the (very mediocre, home-brew-looking) website.

He could be great, but looking at him on spec, the info on his site doesn't inspire confidence.

The other question I'd ask is why so cheap? Your 700 to 900 Euro would be what I'd call the going rate. That's what I'd be expecting to pay.

Another thing on the website that raised an eyebrow was the fact the photo was of the 'old room' ....

I'd guess if you compared his Mastering CV to Richard's you'll find more successful records in more genres.

Of course if you want to have a chat about the Floyd ....;)

Has he actually mastered PF?

PaulBrewer

A quick look at google maps suggests it's in a room in a semi detached house.

CmX

Fergal Davis as someone else mentioned will do a good job.

PaulBrewer

CmX wrote: »

Fergal Davis as someone else mentioned will do a good job.

A great job!

pgasm

think im gonna go to MasterLabs now - thanks guys!

fitz

Let us know how you get on!

PaulBrewer

pgasm wrote: »

think im gonna go to MasterLabs now - thanks guys!

Is he still going? I thought he'd quit as I'd not heard the name for years ...

pgasm

Yeah he is - and seems to be very interested and was very helpfull, so gonna keep it local afterall, after thinking of going abroad!!

ill let you know how it goes next week!

PaulBrewer

pgasm wrote: »

Yeah he is - and seems to be very interested and was very helpfull, so gonna keep it local afterall, after thinking of going abroad!!

ill let you know how it goes next week!

Good Stuff ! and Best of Luck.

madtheory

pgasm wrote: »

think im gonna go to MasterLabs now - thanks guys!

Aidan's work is superb. He's one of the few people left in the world who can master for, and cut vinyl.

PaulBrewer

madtheory wrote: »

He's one of the few people left in the world who can master for, and cut vinyl.

???????????

SeanHurley

PaulBrewer wrote: »

???????????

Hey Paul what is the name of the crowd that Joe uses in the UK? Is it Fluid Mastering? Plus are their results good?

Also anyone heard anything much about Metroplis imastering?

PaulBrewer

SeanHurley wrote: »

Hey Paul what is the name of the crowd that Joe uses in the UK? Is it Fluid Mastering? Plus are their results good?

Also anyone heard anything much about Metroplis imastering?

Yup - Fluid's have all the tools and know how to use them. They cut for vinyl too . For the last 8 years they've been involved in remastering the Trojan Records back catalogue.

Metropolis have lovely rooms too, I believe Ray Staff is now based there too.
Again a top notch setup.

Interestingly Metropolis do a lot of 5.1 Mastering for Abbey Road.

SeanHurley

Yeah Metropolis' prices for non-attended web-based mastering are really quite good. £75 for unspecified engineer and £125 for specified engineer.

http://www.imastering.co.uk/

PaulBrewer

SeanHurley wrote: »

£75 for unspecified engineer

And that's exactly what you'd get!

SeanHurley

PaulBrewer wrote: »

And that's exactly what you'd get!

:pac: indeed. Still even at £125 for a specified engineer it seems reasonable enough. Prefer to sit in though.

PaulBrewer

SeanHurley wrote: »

:pac: Prefer to sit in though.

Aye ...

shayleon

It's probably too late, but just in case: <snip> Since we worked in the past together (before you had your own studio <snip>
Shay

PaulBrewer

shayleon wrote: »

It's probably too late, but just in case: <snip> Since we worked in the past together (before you had your own studio <snip>
Shay

What sort of setup do you have Shay?

shayleon

Hi Paul. The control room acoustics was designed by a great acoustic consultant that I borrowed from the UK. Monitors are Adam P33.

As for gear - It's mostly "in the box".

There are places with nicer spec, but I think it's more what you do with it, than what you have, hence the free trial.

<Snip>

All the best.

Shay.

PaulBrewer

shayleon wrote: »

Hi Paul. The control room acoustics was designed by a great acoustic consultant that I borrowed from the UK. Monitors are Adam P33.

As for gear - It's mostly "in the box".

There are places with nicer spec, but I think it's more what you do with it, than what you have, hence the free trial.

<snip>

All the best.

Shay.

Who is this consultant? Many are Charlatans in my opinion!

shayleon

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Who is this consultant? Many are Charlatans in my opinion!

Max Hodges
The real deal.

fitz

Shay, the OP has said who he's getting the work done by, no advertising of services please. There's a stickied thread at the top of the forum for pimping your sevices, make sure you post in that, I'm sure people will be interested in a low cost mastering option.

shayleon

Appologies. Saw other names mentioned, so thought it's OK. Will not do this again.
cheers.

frobisher

shayleon wrote: »

Appologies. Saw other names mentioned, so thought it's OK. Will not do this again.
cheers.

Posts edited and PM sent. Use the Pimp Your Services thread and then link to it.

PaulBrewer

shayleon wrote: »

Max Hodges
The real deal.

Never heard of him! Also a google only comes with links to him and SOS . In my world that's akin to looking for a brain surgeon and finding Order of Malta ... (no disrespect to our brethren in Da Maltas)

jtsuited

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Never heard of him! Also a google only comes with links to him and SOS . In my world that's akin to looking for a brain surgeon and finding Order of Malta ... (no disrespect to our brethren in Da Maltas)

eh no disrespect here, but googling your own name doesn't bring up much outside boards, bebo, and audiowarehouse stuff.

shayleon

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Never heard of him! Also a google only comes with links to him and SOS . In my world that's akin to looking for a brain surgeon and finding Order of Malta ... (no disrespect to our brethren in Da Maltas)

There is no way I can reply to your question without reverting to what may be interpreted as self promotion or advertising, so I'll leave it at that.

Regards.

S.

PaulBrewer

shayleon wrote: »

There is no way I can reply to your question without reverting to what may be interpreted as self promotion or advertising, so I'll leave it at that.

Regards.

S.

Drop me a PM if you like I'm very interested. We use Munro Acoustics for consultations. ... It seems to be an area wedged with chancers. I'm surprised I've not heard of Mr. Hodges.

Does he have a website?

frobisher

There can be great things being done by great people that we haven't heard of as much as there can be shysters. Our own knowledge is a pretty poor barometer for what is or isn't good.

Can we put the my Google-Willy measuring aside and get back on topic please?

pgasm

Hey guys, didnt realise this thread was still going till now and it looks like ive been missing the action!!!

Shay, thanks a million, hope all is well down your end, i must call up sometime

We mastered our album in Abbey Roads. Then ended up scrapping four songs and rerecording two. So we still have four mastered Abbey Roads tracks. Should we use these tracks and master the new tracks to the Abbey Road ones, or do you think we should give the engineer a clean slate?!

fitz

Clean slate. You want it all to sound consistent, which it won't if it's two masters stuck together.

pgasm

this is what i thought aswell, but in the back of my head i just think its a shame to get rid of those mastered tracks coz it costed us a fortune! But your right.

PaulBrewer

frobisher wrote: »

There can be great things being done by great people that we haven't heard of as much as there can be shysters. Our own knowledge is a pretty poor barometer for what is or isn't good.

Can we put the my Google-Willy measuring aside and get back on topic please?

Ah, I'm only askin? My thirst for knowledge knows no bounds ... I hope it won't be bound around here.

PaulBrewer

fitz wrote: »

Clean slate. You want it all to sound consistent, which it won't if it's two masters stuck together.

You do also have the option to get the new tracks mastered by the same guy referencing to the previous work, which , if you're happy with that work, may be the most logical and cost effective method.

pgasm

hey all, just thought id let you know that we got the CD back from masterlabs today. It was great, id recomend him to anybody looking for somewhere to go. Really nice place, great rates and a very professional job. Tracks sound great! We will have it on itubes ina few weeks so you can see for yourself our you can come to our album launch, ye get a free copy of the CD. So if yer interested or bored on the 25th June, pm me n ill give you the details

thanks guys!!!!!!