Suggestions for a great mastering shop on an indie budget.

[ransomRR]

Greetings all,

I've been working with this band for about 4 years now, and they have some label interest in their new album we are finishing mixing. I left everything off of the master fader (hard for me as I'm an L3 junkie) and made it sound as good as I could, making sure to leave plenty of headroom so the mastering engineer would have plenty to work with. We are going to end up with about 13-15 songs and I am going to need to get it mastered within 4 weeks from when we finish so it can get to the various A&R's. We are all independant, but want to make sure the record sounds as good as humanly possible before the labels hears it. So...I am looking for a really good mastering shop. Quality matters over price (don't really want to send it to another guy with pro tools and an L3 cause I coulda done that), but I don't think any of us have close to Bob Ludwig money. Any suggestions, and if so, have they done anything that I would know or could easily check out? Thanks all, I love this site...

[Berolzheimer]

Mitch Zelezny's great.

******//mixnmaster.com/

Tell him I sent ya.

[jomo1234]

There are lots of quality shops that do great work for not a lot of money. I've used all of the above places and have been happy with the results. Most mastering houses will work with you on an 'indie label 'price. You can get great deals on "off hours" mastering at some of the high end places.


here are some good places to start:

• Joe Lambert at Tru Tone (NYC) ******//www.trutonemastering.com
• Jonthan Wyner at M Works (Boston) ******//www.m-works.com
• Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering (Boston) ******//www.peerlessmastering.com
• Scott Hull at Scott Hull Mastering (NYC) ******//www.scotthullmastering.com/
• Alan Douches at West West Side Mastering (New jersey) ******//www.westwestsidemusic.com/
• John Golden at Golden Mastering (LA) ******//www.goldenmastering.com/
• Roger Seibel at SAE Mastering (AZ) ******//www.saemastering.com/
• Bob Katz at Digido (Florida) ******//www.digido.com
• Gene Paul at db plus (NYC) ******//dbplus.com

[Jose Mrochek]

Originally Posted by jomo1234

T
• Bob Katz at Digido (Florida) ******//www.digido.com

I was talking with a friend the other day about Bob Katz, that he is a big name and wrote books and very well respected ME. But we were trying to think what projects did he work on ???

Anyway.. Brad at www.euphonicmasters.com gets my 2 thumbs way up.

[enharmonic]

Why not take it to Airshow...right down the road? Charlie Pilzer is solid.

[5down1up]

Brad Blackwood all the way ! ******//www.euphonicmasters.com/

fast , superclever , payable and the most important kick ass SOUND !

[toolskid]

Brad Blackwood in the states!

or

try Riccardo in the UK!!

[jdunn]

Originally Posted by Berolzheimer

Mitch Zelezny's great.

******//mixnmaster.com/

Tell him I sent ya.

I know Mitch too. Even though he doesn't have tons of analog outboard compressors/eq's, he has good ears and people really like the sound he gets. And he has a well designed, good sounding room. It's also in a nice setting up in Glendale.

Hi Berolzheimer. Ken told me he knows you too.

I helped him move to a new shop last month.

[Berolzheimer]

Originally Posted by jdunn

I know Mitch too. Even though he doesn't have tons of analog outboard compressors/eq's, he has good ears and people really like the sound he gets. And he has a well designed, good sounding room. It's also in a nice setting up in Glendale.

Hi Berolzheimer. Ken told me he knows you too.

I helped him move to a new shop last month.

Hey Jason, Yeah, I think we've shared some of Ken's gear in the past. You may have seen I've recommended him here a few times for acoustics. He & I go back to around 1983, had a studio together for a bunch of years, & have managed to remain friends too. That guy has a deeper understanding of sound than anyone else I've encountered in this biz.
You & I should get a cuppa sometime, & I'd like to see your place.

[Telecastr]

Originally Posted by 5down1up

Brad Blackwood all the way ! ******//www.euphonicmasters.com/

fast , superclever , payable and the most important kick ass SOUND !

I 3rd Blackwood. Very good. thumbsup

[TonyBelmont]

Adam @ Gateway Mastering...

[jdunn]

Originally Posted by Berolzheimer

Hey Jason, Yeah, I think we've shared some of Ken's gear in the past. You may have seen I've recommended him here a few times for acoustics. He & I go back to around 1983, had a studio together for a bunch of years, & have managed to remain friends too. That guy has a deeper understanding of sound than anyone else I've encountered in this biz.
You & I should get a cuppa sometime, & I'd like to see your place.

I agree, Ken is pretty much a genius when it comes to sound. I'm using studio monitors that he built, and recently we built some absorber panels for my mix loft.

I don't have a tracking room here, just a "mix loft". It's far from acoustically perfect still, and I'm just learning how mixes translate. I may track a jazz vocal project at Carlos' place in a few months.

Ken has been threatening to do a power amp shootout soon, with the Power Physics, Gamut, and my little Chord. I'll see you there if we both show up. You'll have to eat bbq and drink a few beers with us sometime.

[brucegel]

And SUPPORT A GEARSLUTZ AT THE SAME TIME

[Jose Mrochek]

Originally Posted by brucegel

And SUPPORT A GEARSLUTZ AT THE SAME TIME

the least we can do is support each other, specialy when top notch people are available right here!

[audioboy6]

Magneto Mastering

******//www.magnetomastering.com/

Dave or Bruce both great guys

(612) 327-6170

[jdunn]

I must admit I'm considering Brian Lucey just for his Fairman EQs alone!

But I'll probably bring some mixes over to Mitch' place for some pre mastering mix critique and analysis. I'll pay them both, no worries.

[andredb]

Ue Nastasi at Sterling Sound
Great Sound, Good rates, Good Name and reputation

[GearGuy]

Brad at www.euphonicmasters.com! He been great to me and great to work with... he'll treat your mix right....

[slantbar]

Randy LeRoy at Final Stage in Nashville has been taking great care of me since 1994

www.finalstage.com

[jajjguy]

second for jeff lipton at peerless mastering (boston)
and alan douches at west west side (jersey)

don't know their pricing, but i do know they've done great work for indie (not well-funded) projects that i've been involved with. good stuff.

[Matej]

Originally Posted by andredb

Ue Nastasi at Sterling Sound
Great Sound, Good rates, Good Name and reputation

I just received a mastered song by Ue Nastasi at Sterling Sound (afterhours).
It kicks all kinds of asses, great job.

Someone suggested that you risk having your song mastered by "cleaning personell" at Sterling when you go with Afterhours, which is really a rude obnoxious comment.
I had no idea that afterhours boys mastered some of my favorite albums. And especially Ue is extremely experienced.

I couldn't be happier with their service.. Class act, awesome sound, bargain price! I'll use them again without a second thought in the future.

Matej

[shikawkee]

Quality matters over price?
Bob Olhsson.
olh_at_hyperback.com

[Jetblack]

www.blackmarketmastering.com
Awesome work, great gear, for a great price.

[gtr123]

David Torrey at DRT Mastering

www.drtmastering.com

Had a few projects done by him including my latest, EXCELLENT work and great to deal with!!

Jason Sadites
www.sadites.com
www.sadites.com/music.htm

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by brucegel

And SUPPORT A GEARSLUTZ AT THE SAME TIME

Not that Brian is or is not good, never used his services before. I wanted to point out that Brad and Bob Olhsson are both TOP notch posters around here as well.

thumbsup