Best Mastering Engineer For Cheap....

[jjaacc1]

I was thinking about this, and Boy, is this thread going to have alot of different views and posts. So let the Fun Begin!

I was asked by a Client (Reggae/Dub Band) Who a very good mastering engineer is for a cheap price. Alot of my Reggae Bands always refer to Brian Gardners work on "Long Beach Dub Allstars Wonders of the World" This album does sound very good, its big on the bass, sparkly highs, and LOUD.

So knowing this, who is a good mastering engineer who meets that criteria mentioned above, but works for a fraction of Gardners price?
Post Away!




John

[echorec]

IMHO you should not try to save a few bucks when mastering. Using a good, professional ME is always worth every penny.

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

HERE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you wan to go down the cheap route... do it yourself and then come to realise why 'Big Bottom' Gardener charges the way he does... Mastering the last of the Black arts!

CYA
Wiggy

[drew]

www.westwestsidemusic.com

[Tousana]

IMHO, Mastering is the icing on the cake. I advice all my clients to spend the extra money to have the project finished. 'Cause it's not finished till it's finished. I don't feel as an engineer, that I even like to try and master my own stuff, because I'm to close to the sound of what I've done. I like to give it to the guy with the different set of mastering ears and knowledge. You don't have to go to a Berrnie Grundman, Bob Ludwig, or Brian "Big Bass" Gardener. There are lots of guys in the midrange price that can do the job for you as well, and if you look around some of the more expensive places may have deals for doing the job in off hours or down time without you being there. So in review, what have we learned? Answer: Don't forget to put the icing on the cake.

[Steve Smith]

******//www.euphonicmasters.com/

not to blow smoke up anyones butt, but singly the best mastering job I have had at the price, and one of the better mastering jobs I have had done period.

[David R.]

You want cheap? Stuff your mixes through a (k)racked Maximizer plug-in. If you don't have that, I have seen ads online for Mastering $15/hour. That is what they use. It will be louder.

You want good, save your extra pennies and send it to someone who really knows what they are doing.

I was at a mastering session yesterday, just about $200/hour. Worth every penny.

[Jay Kahrs]

I'll second Brad Blackwood at Euphonic Masters. I've sent maybe a half dozen projects to him in the last few 8 or 9 months and every one of them has been great. The man does great work regardless of price.

[e-cue]

I try to stick with Oasis no matter what, and if I'm working on an indie or low budget project, they'll always give my clients a quote they should be able to afford, or at least to the point of what I consider reasonable. If the clients still can't afford it (budget well under $1,000us for mastering), Swire can give awesomely cheap quotes at Sonic Mastering. Personally, I think they do a great job with the adult contempo David Foster-ish kind of music, which is difficult to master and end up sounding loud, big and dynamic all at once.

[jbuntz]

I second www.westwestsidemusic.com

[juniorhifikit]

John Golden has done a nice job on a few indie (low $) things I've worked on.

[drew]

also Joe Lambert @ www.classicsound.com is great.

drew

[ray]

Originally posted by slipperman
Big Al!

A great dude who does an amazing job on lower to mid-budget recordings.




I also recommend you check out Brad Blackwood in Memphis. Can do the 'Clean Smash' game or even sane masterings if you insist.... HOHOHO(sorry Brad, had to bust on ya there.... Great job on the latest 'Heavy thing', just got it FedEx today, VERY LOUD/VERY CLEAR - Kudos I know how tough that is to accomplish).

Or Dave Collins in LA. More conservative. Very good instincts. Very 'Hands off' type guy.

Or Tom Hutton at Jigsaw Sound on Greene St. in NYC. Tom's # is 917-856-8840. Not as daring as Brad.... More daring than Dave. IMHO.

All very good guys. All expiditious and affordable. Nice to have some choices when yer thinking about the 'Best man for the job'....

Best wishes to all of these gifted fellahz.


SM.

[ZEUSS]

Alan Douches. www.westwestsidemusic.com

[Jack the Bear]

Just out of interest (in particular you cats on the Nth American continent).....what price range do you consider to be "cheap"???


Cheers,

Tony Mantz.
Glorified Tape Copy Boy and Audio Janitor.

[Jay Kahrs]

For me it's the ability to get a full length (10 songs at 40 minutes) done for about $1000 or less.

[Jack the Bear]

Wow!! Interesting what some people call cheap. $1000 USD for a 40 min album is not "cheap" by Australian standards, but for maybe $200-300 USD more you would get into the upper echelon of mastering studios in Australia.

Some of more expensive NYC cats would have a huge monthly nut especially in Manhattan, hence the higher rates.

Cheers,

Tony MAntz.

Glorified Tape Copy Boy and Audio Janitor.

[Teacher]

Originally posted by Jack the Bear
Wow!! Interesting what some people call cheap. $1000 USD for a 40 min album is not "cheap" by Australian standards, but for maybe $200-300 USD more you would get into the upper echelon of mastering studios in Australia.

Some of more expensive NYC cats would have a huge monthly nut especially in Manhattan, hence the higher rates.

Cheers,

Tony MAntz.

Glorified Tape Copy Boy and Audio Janitor.

sounds like i need to send my CD overseas to get mastered....

[Brad Blackwood]

Originally posted by Jack the Bear
Wow!! Interesting what some people call cheap. $1000 USD for a 40 min album is not "cheap" by Australian standards,

What's that, about $47k in Australian dollars?

hehe

Just crackin', Tony.

[Jack the Bear]

Actually 46K dood. the AUD is roughly at .64 USD give or take a little.

And Teacher feel free to send your masters.

I've actually got a couple of clients from Miami who do more underground electronica and I do vinyl shit for them.


Cheers,

Tony Mantz.
Glorified Tape Copy Boy and Audio Janitor.