Thank you for your interest in Grey Larsen Mastering. We've tried to anticipate some of your questions and listed them below. If you have any additional questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
Why master your project?
Why choose Grey Larsen Mastering?
What music formats are accepted?
What about back-ups?
What about revisions?
What if you need mixing or overdubbing?
Who may attend the mastering session?
Why Master Your Project?
There are many reasons to master your recording.
* Mastering is the final creative opportunity in the recording process.
* Mastering enhances each mix globally, improving clarity, depth, and definition. Often it's as if a veil has been lifted, one that you didn't realize was there, making the music more clear and three-dimensional.
* The careful use of multi-band EQ, compression and limiting improves the frequency spectrum balance and increases the overall volume of the music so that it stands up well next to anything else on the radio. All major label releases are mastered. Why not yours?
* Though mastering is not remixing, it is often possible to bring out certain elements of a mix (vocals, bass, etc.).
* Mastering brings a set of highly experienced and discerning ears to your project for a fresh perspective on how you are presenting your music to your audience.
* Digital editing can be done in the mastering process. The basics can include fade-ins, fade-outs, crossfades, background noise reduction, and removing other unwanted sounds. Many other possibilities exist as well, such as splicing together parts of different mixes, adding or removing whole sections of music, stretching or compressing time, raising or lowering pitch, adjusting the volume of certain parts of the mix relative to other parts.
* PQ codes, such as index numbers for the CD and ISRC codes (International Standard Recording Code) are added in the mastering process. ISRC codes provide an extremely powerful tool for royalty collection, administration, and anti-piracy safeguards in the digital arena by placing a "digital fingerprint" on each song that can't be removed, identifying you as the song's owner. Click here to learn more about ISRC codes. You must first register (for free) with the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) to obtain your own unique "registrant code". This usually takes only two business days.
* CD text is also entered in the mastering process. Many newer CD players and software programs can display text that is associated with the CD and with each track on it. Your CD text can even include a website address where people can buy more copies of your CD.
Why Choose Grey Larsen Mastering?
With satisfied clients from all over the US, you can count on Grey Larsen Mastering to not only make your project sound great, but you can trust us to provide quick and professional service. Our clients love Grey's work, and references are available upon request. We specialize in acoustic music, and can bring out the best in your material. Check out our Discography for some of the artists we've worked with.
Our equipment and software is equal to the task. Click here to view our equipment/software list.
We encourage our clients to attend their mastering sessions, though it's not a problem if you choose not to or cannot do so. If you do not attend, we request that you fill out our Mastering Form and include it with your the mixes you send to us.
What Music Formats Are Accepted?
You can send your unmastered mixes to us in a variety of formats. DAT, CDR, CD-RW, Minidisc, files up to 24-bit/192kHz on CD or on hard drive are all acceptable. Masters on analog reel-to-reel tape will incur an extra charge for transfer into digital form. Other formats can be accommodated as well, with enough advance notice.
What About Back-ups?
Immediately after the mastering session we back up your data and files. We archive all the sound files as well as all mastering and editing settings and decisions, which are all easily reproducable.
We take all reasonable professional care in protecting your materials but can be responsible only for the replacement cost of blank media. UPS and Fedex lose packages occasionally. Even the best tape machines eat tapes on rare occasions.
Be prepared! You should have at least one backup of any valuable materials you send to us or bring with you to the mastering session.
What About Revisions?
Mastering is a subjective and interpretive art. Sometimes producers or artists may be unusually sensitive to a particular EQ change or the effects of a compressor/limiter, and will request that adjustments be made after the mastering session is done. If, after listening to your reference CD, you would like to change the spaces between tracks, modify the EQ, increase or back off compression, adjust the stereo image or make tunes louder or softer, etc., it will not be a problem. Since complete archives and records of all the settings used to create the first version are easily restored, changes are usually done quickly. Revisions are charged at our hourly rate.
What If You Need Mixing Or Overdubbing?
Generally all recording and mixing has been completed by the time you book your mastering session, but the best-made plans sometimes need to change at the last minute. If you still have mixing or overdubbing work that needs to be done, Grey Larsen Mastering offers full recording and mixing services at $50/hour.
Our studio equipment includes great microphones such as the Neumann U87 and 184s, and AKG 414s. We use top of the line Oram preamps. We work in Pro Tools HD, a fabulous mixing environment, fully automated, so your project can take advantage of all the bells and whistles that current technology has to offer. You may wish to mix your entire project here with Grey.
Who May Attend The Mastering Session?
We encourage the producer and/or artist to attend the mastering session, though it's best to keep the number of attendees to no more than three people. (Sometimes too many opinions will slow down the process). If you wish to attend the session, make sure to bring a filled out Mastering Form with you.
If you will not be attending the session, make sure you send a completed Mastering Form along with your stereo mix. Otherwise your project may be delayed.