Mastering for a 6 tracks rock-stonish EP

[SLy_drums]

We are about to finish a 6 tracks EP mixing for an heavy rock/stoner band. They have an average budget of 400 euros/$550 to master the project. I know it's not enough to get something really professional with analog gear etc. but unfortunately they can't really pay more for the job...
Any ideas of acceptable masering job places in those prices ?

[L_Nix_Mastering]

I don't think quality mastering costs as much as a lot of people assume. IM me and I'll be glad to tell you more...

[lucey]

Originally Posted by SLy_drums

We are about to finish a 6 tracks EP mixing for an heavy rock/stoner band. They have an average budget of 400 euros/$550 to master the project. I know it's not enough to get something really professional with analog gear etc. but unfortunately they can't really pay more for the job...
Any ideas of acceptable masering job places in those prices ?

There are easily 10 guys posting here who can do a great job for around that price.

[brethes]

Originally Posted by lucey

There are easily 10 guys posting here who can do a great job for around that price.

...and some of them are even based in good old Europe!

[swisha31]

Originally Posted by lucey

There are easily 10 guys posting here who can do a great job for around that price.

yeah man i actually just tried to get in contact with somebody about mastering 6-8 tracks for a demo. hopefully i can get it for around the $550-600 range, that would be nice as hell. i dont know though because he is real good.

[Riccardo]

Ask around for quotes. It doesn't cost anything to ask.
Don't always assume your budget is too low.
I agree that many people think mastering is always expensive (it can be....it depends on the source material, hence the job it requires and of course if you go with the A list..) but a budget around the amount of money you indicated for an EP or double that for an album is more on the middle end than the low end...so to speak.

[swisha31]

Originally Posted by Riccardo

Ask around for quotes. It doesn't cost anything to ask.
Don't always assume your budget is too low.
I agree that many people think mastering is always expensive (it can be....it depends on the source material, hence the job it requires and of course if you go with the A list..) but a budget around the amount of money you indicated for an EP or double that for an album is more on the middle end than the low end...so to speak.

Riccardo how much do you charge to master projects that size?

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by swisha31

Riccardo how much do you charge to master projects that size?

No money talks here guys (as in quotes, let's leave that to the PMs, e-mails or pigeons only joking ...ok)

What I'm trying to say is that (as others have already stated) mastering is not always as expensive as you might think it is.

Yes there are well known facilities with famous engineers charging fees at the top of the industry at that I believe is fair.

The mid end of the market is probably closer to the original poster's budget (i.e. within or under 1k € for an album and within/under 500€ for an EP, give or take)

[L_Nix_Mastering]

You also have to keep in mind, we don't ALL have to pay NY/LA rent, living expenses, etc.
I've had some clients ask me, "why are you so much cheaper that "%$*" or "@#@^" and I've had some clients ask me, "why are you so expensive?". I tell the clients that ask why I'm "so cheap" that if they want to pay me more money, they're welcome too! As for the clients that ask why I'm "expensive", they always end up telling me some "friend" has a "mastering program" at home and would "master" the whole album for $100! I think we all know what kind of quality that would be! Can you say normalizer!?!?