Prices for mastering a sampler

[nixoblivion]

I got a deal for mastering a sampler. Ive never professionally mastered before, though i do lots of live gigs (20€/hr.)

Since all the tracks are mostly mastered already, im not sure what price seems right for creating a cd for production.
The guy offered me 75€ for a finished cd (volumes, small eq changes fades etc.)
There will be 20 songs on the Sampler.

The thing is this guy will give me a deal for 10 Samplers, if this one works out. Obviously the price will stay the same for all 10 Samplers.

I dont think this will be very time consuming, but i will have to check the Sampler on several systems. Im assuming about 4 hours per Sampler should be sufficent (which would lead to the 20€ per hour)

[huejahfink]

Seems reasonable for your level of experience in the field, providing that you DO finish in 4-5 hours.

I don't think I would be confident in balancing 20 songs in that time.

[nixoblivion]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

Seems reasonable for your level of experience in the field, providing that you DO finish in 4-5 hours.

I don't think I would be confident in balancing 20 songs in that time.

Im pretty sure itll take me longer in the end! but thats the way i work. i like to check things 5 more times and then make little changes until im happy (which i never am)
but if i charge by the hour, noone will pay!

im just thinking finishing the Sampler in 4-5 Hours is resonable, not that i will do it in that time. So i will charge for what is resonable and then take the time i need to finish it!

[huejahfink]

Don't forget about burning and checking the master either!

So let's say that CD TEXT, burning and audio check of the CD takes 2 hours. That means that you have 6 minutes to eq, level and bounce each track to hit your target of 4 hours.

This doesn't even sound possible. I would more realistically say a day of about 7 hours to level and bounce 20 tracks (which means you do one track every 20 minutes, with 20 minutes spare for housekeeping)

The following day, allow yourself another hour to check the bounces with a fresh ear and make any necessary adjustments, plus another couple of hours to burn and check the CD.

That's 10 hours... 7.50 euros per hour!

Of course, if the audio is already in excellent shape, it might take less. I've been tempted to think that things would be quick before, but it rarely works out that way for me!

[nixoblivion]

Thanks for giving me more info!
The songs i will get are all already mastered and sound good (i doubt i could do a better job with my current mastering knowledge!)
I will only do little sound changes to each file, mostly eq. I doubt ill need any compression or so...

But what do you mean with burning cd etc.? If it means what i think it does, then i dont see it taking 2 hours.
Getting the cd read (inserting the ISRC codes etc) and burning should take more tha 30 mins.
What am i overlooking?

then of course i will have to check the cd on several systems.

[Odeon-Mastering]

Originally Posted by nixoblivion

But what do you mean with burning cd etc.? If it means what i think it does, then i dont see it taking 2 hours.
Getting the cd read (inserting the ISRC codes etc) and burning should take more tha 30 mins.
What am i overlooking?

I think you are overlooking what we call quality control...and it doesnt only involve listening at different enviroments and cd-players

[nixoblivion]

Originally Posted by Odeon-Mastering

I think you are overlooking what we call quality control...and it doesnt only involve listening at different enviroments and cd-players

Ok so what does this involve then?
And what takes so long about it?

[jackthebear]

Originally Posted by nixoblivion

Ok so what does this involve then?
And what takes so long about it?

I suggest you scroll up to #4 and actually read huejahfink's comprehensive post.....all is revealed right there......

[Ben F]

Originally Posted by nixoblivion

Thanks for giving me more info!
The songs i will get are all already mastered and sound good (i doubt i could do a better job with my current mastering knowledge!)
I will only do little sound changes to each file, mostly eq. I doubt ill need any compression or so...

But what do you mean with burning cd etc.? If it means what i think it does, then i dont see it taking 2 hours.
Getting the cd read (inserting the ISRC codes etc) and burning should take more tha 30 mins.
What am i overlooking?

then of course i will have to check the cd on several systems.

This is what 'mastering' is fast becoming on the interweb. Burn CD? What? I thought it was all about limiting?

[jackthebear]

Originally Posted by Ben F

This is what 'mastering' is fast becoming on the interweb. Burn CD? What? I thought it was all about limiting?

You have learnt well grasshopper.......

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by nixoblivion

What am i overlooking?

then of course i will have to check the cd

Bingo!

I usually burn 2 cds. One as a reference for the client. This I merely check that it comes up in the cd player ok.
Second is the production master. This I put in the CD player carefully and check from start to finish in real time, which obviously takes as long as the cd is.
Of course another way would be to rip the audio from the CD and then do a null test from the source file. If they don't null to infinity they are either not lined up properly, or you've got serious problems.

I also do a basic test with Nero CD-DVD speed. Other folk on here do not sing its praises much but I find it adequate to check for basic errors and the plant will do a full integrity test when they receive it. I have never had a reject yet.

[binarymilton]

Originally Posted by nixoblivion

I got a deal for mastering a sampler. Ive never professionally mastered before, though i do lots of live gigs (20€/hr.)

Since all the tracks are mostly mastered already, im not sure what price seems right for creating a cd for production.
The guy offered me 75€ for a finished cd (volumes, small eq changes fades etc.)
There will be 20 songs on the Sampler.

The thing is this guy will give me a deal for 10 Samplers, if this one works out. Obviously the price will stay the same for all 10 Samplers.

I dont think this will be very time consuming, but i will have to check the Sampler on several systems. Im assuming about 4 hours per Sampler should be sufficent (which would lead to the 20€ per hour)

75 euros for a finished CD strikes me as slave-labour wages. Surely you could ask for 100, or at least 80? Maybe asking for 90 would be a compromise? Sure, all the songs may already have been mastered, but you'll still have to do a fair bit of balancing there.

[lowland]

I generally find that compilations take up to about 75% of the time I would need to master a brand-new set of album mixes from scratch - it's deceptively time-consuming if done properly, and that needs to be taken into account when deciding how much to charge.