What's a good mastering studio in NYC area that has good price$ and great results?

[Brooklyn]

I see many people trying to master at home or at some semi-pro setup "at a friend's place" -- I am trying to get a consensus of what you more experienced people out there are doing? And if you are in NYC and what is a good spot to go to?

I've done a search and see in Brooklyn there are a few good studios:

Joe Lambert Mastering
Timeless Mastering
Spleenless Mastering

What do you all suggest? I just need a good place, good engineer that I don't have to change project-to-project.

Thanks.

[NesNeedsGear]

usually a Mastering studio will have a sample of their work, or a discography available.

listen to their work and choose on the sound.

[MAzevedo]

Don't forget Paul Gold @ Salt Mastering if you're looking for Brooklyn dudes.

[Cellotron]

Originally Posted by MAzevedo

Don't forget Paul Gold @ Salt Mastering if you're looking for Brooklyn dudes.

I'm in Brooklyn as well - as are Bonati, Blackler, The Spot, and On Air.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by Cellotron

I'm in Brooklyn as well - as are Bonati, Blackler, The Spot, and On Air.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

oh okay... but the places I mentioned seem a bit better than those others --or am I being dazzled?

[Cellotron]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn

oh okay... but the places I mentioned seem a bit better than those others --or am I being dazzled?

All the places so far mentioned in this thread are dedicated mastering studios with imo decent gear and decently experienced engineers. To figure out which one is best for you I'd check the credits and see whether you like the sound of their work - and get in touch with the ones who you do and get a vibe as to what the communication is like with the engineer (good communication being a vital part of getting results that you will be happy with).

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by Cellotron

All the places so far mentioned in this thread are dedicated mastering studios with imo decent gear and decently experienced engineers. To figure out which one is best for you I'd check the credits and see whether you like the sound of their work - and get in touch with the ones who you do and get a vibe as to what the communication is like with the engineer (good communication being a vital part of getting results that you will be happy with).

Best regards,
Steve Berson

Thanks, I will do that...

[KyleDiSanto]

Check out Masterdisk - Experienced Music Engineering

[reggiesears]

You Should Check Out My Personal Fave, Sterling Sound...I don't know how far you are from there, but its a awesome place.

[lucey]

There are many good people in your area and keeping the work local is admirable.

Yet attending the full session is not always necessary or productive. The worst feeling for both client and engineer is to get it 95% right in terms of the overview, but not quite there because the client was unfamiliar with the room.

So if you go local, take home a single and think it over before you move on. Then come back a second day and fine tune it, so the engineer knows your subtle tastes.

The best feeling is for both parties to be clear on the goal and to get there in stride!

[Silver Sonya]

In my experience, attended mastering is over-rated, and sometimes even counter-productive.

I don't do it anymore.

My suggestion is very baseline and practical: Look at the liner notes of recordings that you like and seek out those people. Some of them may not be accessible to you --- not everybody is available just for a price, many use discretion in the projects they take or pass on -- but the likelihood is that one or two will suit your circumstance and budget. Communicate what you want and trust them to do the work.

- c

[Musiclab]

Go to Masterdisk, if you have a real budget, get Scott Hull it doesn't really get any better than him. If you don't have a real budget get Randy Merrill, he's Scott's apprentice
and is mastering at very reasonable rates. I sent another slut to him recently and he was very happy

[Silver Sonya]

I'm gonna recommend Emily & Sarah.

- c

[vegafreak]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

Go to Masterdisk, if you have a real budget, get Scott Hull it doesn't really get any better than him. If you don't have a real budget get Randy Merrill, he's Scott's apprentice
and is mastering at very reasonable rates. I sent another slut to him recently and he was very happy

what is scotts standard rates? or close to.....

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by vegafreak

what is scotts standard rates? or close to.....

I'm not sure what his current rate is. so ask him

[It'sJoeAgain]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn

I see many people trying to master at home or at some semi-pro setup "at a friend's place" -- I am trying to get a consensus of what you more experienced people out there are doing? And if you are in NYC and what is a good spot to go to?

I've done a search and see in Brooklyn there are a few good studios:

Joe Lambert Mastering
Timeless Mastering
Spleenless Mastering

What do you all suggest? I just need a good place, good engineer that I don't have to change project-to-project.

Thanks.

If it's value what u are also looking for, no contest, Timeless Mastering of course, that's Adrian Morgan's room with his great collection of rare vintage analog gear for great tone and vibe, however, if u look for transparency and precision, you knock the next door and get Edward Vinatea's "unofficial" mastering room, all in the same building, how good is taht?

[masterizer]

West West Side has great rates and great results in NYC, I know several bands that went there and were pleased with the results.

[rajprods]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

I'm gonna recommend Emily & Sarah.

- c

I had Emily master a song... She's awesome!

[jhamburg]

First and foremost: Damon Whittemore co-owner of Trirtone Digital..

ValveTone

There's a ton of people doing great work, Spleenless, Bonati and Joe Lambert spring to mind.

cheers,

joel

[Josh P]

I would definitely recommend Mark Christensen at Engine Room Audio. He has done work in a large variety of genres with great results.

I would also check out the guys at Masterdisk. I think you'll be pleased with any of the engineers there.

[Mackrochips]

I'm biting my lip right now not to name names, but one of these well-spoken of mastering engineers from Brooklyn mentioned above totally blew off an associate of mine this past week- as in text messaged them 45 minutes before the scheduled appointment and said they couldn't do it! The mastering engineer would not answer their phone, or offer any explanation, just a total flake- they just 'faded' this artist out, and never answered a subsequent email inquiring about the reason and POOR TIMING of the cancellation (the artist was on the way to the mastering appointment).
The bottom line is that my associate was an independent artist- paying to get one song mastered out of their own pocket- so the mastering engineer probably figured they could ditch them with impunity.

So when you make a mastering appointment GET A CONFIRMATION EMAIL containing exacts- sort of like a contract or friendly agreement. If it was the other way around and the artist blew off the mastering appointment they'd want half- or spread the word around that the artist was a slacker.

Many of these mastering studios have made such a huge investment in gear they have no choice but to cater to a more corporate clientele and are just 'not for' independent artists with no clout.
There is a big mastering engineer in the Boston area I could also name who I know is buried up to their ear drums in credit card debt- that would be an example of someone who would blow off an indy artist for a corporate client out of necessity.

Don't automatically equate Brooklyn with "indy-friendly" even though the average rate is like $15 less per hour. Also remember this thing called the internet where information is traded freely and reputations can take a dive when truths are revealed.

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by Mackrochips

Also remember this thing called the internet where information is traded freely and reputations can take a dive when truths are revealed.

While I am sorry for what happened to your friend we let this place become a dispute ground.
The internet is full of truths and lies. Without hearing both parties we will never know what really happened, nor this is the right place to engage in such a discussion

A known fact here is thet we are more interested in your very useful advice: get a written booking confirmation from the ME or his/her booking manager.

Regarding the fact that there are "premier league" and "second division" customers that is not my experience but who knows .................. I find it very unlikely and if true very disturbing. A customer is a customer ........

[Mackrochips]

Yes- I stopped just short of being a twisted troll. I've had great experiences as well, and have great respect for the profession and those who posses the patience and ear-training to 'master' mastering. The most important thing is the music and the feeling listeners get when they press 'play'.

Couple more bits of useful info to artists preparing for mastering:

In my view charging upwards of $100 for a "tape handling fee" for merely running the songs through a rolling old tape machine's circuitry is dubious and borderline exploitation of what "warm tape sound" means to many musicians who are not fully educated on it. They just hear "tape" and see the retro machine rolling and fork over extraneous dough.

If an ME says something to the effect of "I don't usually work on projects this small-time" at the beginning of a session that's a real bad sign.

Also, if an ME lets it slip that they are testing a newer piece of mastering gear that they admit they're not completely familiar with and you know they review equipment for a recording magazine it totally smacks of "indie-artist guinea pig" treatment- often way over the head of the artists who may be mystified by the process to begin with.

I've got no problem with acknowledging tiers, but I'd rather hear it up front (pre-mastering) then have it insinuated via comments or treatment.
Canceling via text message 45 mins before a session without any further replies or phone answering courtesy is unprofessional, and I doubt it would have happened if it was Bruce Swedien on the way.

back to love

[Sonik31]

Is there any other suggestion to mastering studios in NY?

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Sonik31

Is there any other suggestion to mastering studios in NY?

New York Musician

This is a pretty extensive list.
Ed

[Sonik31]

More suggestions?
I want to fly to NY on 1st or 2nd week of March.

Thanks

[Waltz Mastering]

Originally Posted by ed littman

New York Musician

This is a pretty extensive list.
Ed

---------

[Sonik31]

Hi Tom,

I know that , but I didn't want a list of all mastering studios.
What I want is a suggestion, from the folks here (that had a real experience with them), of some mastering studios with a good price.