Need Mastering For New Label Venture...

[M2E]

Hey Guys,

Well, I've just been in the biz for 17 years and felt like it is time to venture off into doing a label myself. The reason I'm posting here is because, I'm mixing all the songs here at my studio and it's not 99% perfect studio but, I think I got it to about 85% to 90% there.
Anyway, I'm looking for a real honest, straight up, friendly and knows his sh_t kind of Mastering Genius. I'm not looking to get nothing for free so, I know I have to pay for quality which I'm very OK with.

My label will be an R&B/POP/Hip Hop/Dance/House Music label. So it covers a lot and will need a Mastering guy that can cover a few of these if not all. I'm OK with working with a team of guys but, really I want to have that one on one guy that we can click and make it happen.
I know how important a good Mastering Job can be as I've had some great Mastering guys do some of the records I've done in the past but, this is new to me directly. As the labels always handled that part of it. So this is new to me as I'm now the label guy getting this done. I know the record business hand and foot but never dove into this until now. Oh Great.....
Anyway, the first single we are releasing is an old school Ghetto Chicago House/Club/Dance Joint for the underground dance DJ's and Club heads that love that aggressive house music. I grew up on Chicago House music and always wanted to do a Martha Wash/Time For The Perculator type joint/s with a twist and these first songs will be just that.
I'm not in a huge rush as I just got the Label legally done Jan 1st. It's a US based Company but, the market we are going for is UK/Germany/Euro for the first single and album.
When it's time to Master the songs I will give ref's but it would help if the Mastering guy knew these markets already and could supply us with samples of their work.
This goes for anyone who wants to give it a shot and has the skills to do it.

I mix ITB so, I'm looking more for an OTB Mastering guy but, I'm not limiting the label to just that but, I need a very Warm, Punchy, Club Sounding Master/s.
I'm not one of those anal mixing guys but, I know it when I hear it kind of guys. I will A/B it with other popular songs out in this genera.

So if you would like to take this on and are interested. I will need to hear some samples of your work please.
If your examples sound great I will send you a short copy of the first track to see what you would do to it. I think this is as important because, some Mastering guys do Acoustic/Rock/Alternative stuff really well but not Dance/R&B/POP etc and this is more what my label is about.

I would also love to hear what you have to say about the mix. What could be done better etc. These are the conversations I will be having, every mix I send to be Mastered and will need that trusted Mastering engineer to give me the best advice at getting the best mixes so he can make the best Mastering possible. Basic communication is so very key for me and the label I'm running.

I know I probably won't get any big Mastering guys as they have their clients which I understand and this is a new label but, one that plans on bring out at least 5 to 7 full albums out this year and 20 to 50 singles. We won't be playing around.

So, please if your interested you can PM me if you feel you would like to be more discrete or just post here as I will be checking this daily.

I know the Namm is going on, and like I said, I'm not in a rush right now as I'm getting more of the biz taken care of with Contracts and Artist's and new numbers blah blah blah but, this is very serious.

So please take it as that.

Thanx

Marc Ellus

[Perry Lancaster]

Hi Marc,
I have over 30 years experience in all facets of recording and Mastering and have spent the last 10 year focusing on Mastering
You can look me up on LinkedIN
Perry Lancaster - LinkedIn
I am glad your not in a big hurry I will be in Mexico City next week
to fix an SSL 8000 but should be back by Friday.
I have some work I did for Beonce I think you will like and be the type of Mastering your looking for.
Let me get back from Mexico, send you a couple of demos and we can go from there. And yes I use both Analog and Digital processing what even get the desired results is the best process.
Cheers
Perry Lancaster
Living Room Mastering
Austin, Texas

[puremastering]

Originally Posted by M2E

The reason I'm posting here is because, I'm mixing all the songs here at my studio and it's not 99% perfect studio but, I think I got it to about 85% to 90% there.

Don't forget that the last 10% of the job takes 90% of the time...

Good luck with your new label.

[Black Belt]

Please feel free to visit our website: Black Belt Mastering - A Seattle audio and music Mastering studio.
There you will find online examples, and test masters can be arranged at no cost. I'd be happy to discuss rates if you are so inclined. Best of luck!

Cheers,

-Black Belt Mastering

[M2E]

Thanx to everyone who has PM'ed me as well as the ones that answered openly.
I'm really tired tonight as I've mentioned to all the PM'ers and so I wanted to openly say this as well so i won't miss anyone.
I really do appreciate the interest In this project. I'm really going to be working hard on this stuff but at the same time, I want to be honest with myself and others to be honest with me as well (As far as mixing goes and any other opinions)
I'm a big boy and I love music and the art but at the same time I love having the fun that goes along with it. I also love the biz side of it so that's why I'm doing it.
Anyway, my hands are hurting now, so I say good night and I will get back with you guys later tomorrow for the ones that have sites and mp3's/wav for me to check out.

Again..... Thanx, and good luck

God Bless,

Marc

[Mastering7]

Hi Marc,
Thank you if you check my site too! You can find samples of my work there in mp3.
Yours, studiozr
Affordable music, CD mastering, mixing, restoration online
mastering7 (Ivan Folk) | MySpace

[The Orbit Room]

Hi Marc,

We would be interested in working with you. We are very OTB and are versed in several musical styles.
Our Website is:

WWW.Orbitroommastering.com

Best regards,
Bruce Maddocks

[M2E]

OK, so far I have to admit, there are too many to go through. Also, not everyone had a Club/House mastering reel which I understand or even had demos and I would have had to call and kept track of so many. A lot of you did have some good reels but, to be honest, I couldn't tell by the songs on the websites so, after talking with my partner and after going through 15 or more websites and 100's of pictures and sound clips and trying to write down notes on each one, I'm just going to post up a sound clip of the mix itself and you guys show me what ya got.
When mixing it, I used different ref's like (Sexy Chick by David Guetta which is a cool song but love the lowend on that record and Tik Tok by Kesha which I don't like the record itself but like the punchy warmness of it)
Now, this is a very simple aggressive song that builds and what I put on sendspace is just a 2 min clip of a 6 to 7 min song that just keeps building.
To some of you that never mix House Music, you might not get where I'm coming from with this song and I can totally understand that, just do your best. Make it sound like a record like you normally do.
I tried to do a Mastering job on it and that's when I knew, I don't ever want to try that again. I'll leave that part for the pro's.

Here ya go.... 16bit/44.1k - CD Quality

Download Mix_Master-1.wav from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way

Now, this song is under the property of IMSR Company LLC and Universal Music Publishing International Office so, I ask to please keep this to yourselves and please do not pass this around.
Also, when you are done Mastering it, please send it back the same way through sendspace. So easy this way. That way I can keep notes on who sent what.

I really appreciate this guys and good luck.

Marc

[M2E]

I do have a quick question for all of you as this is important.

When you Master a single, I will normally have

1. Main Mix
2. Radio Mix
3. Instrumental
4. TV Track
5. Maybe Acapella - will very

How do you guys charge for this?
Also, I may not have this for every record and for some songs, I may do remixes that will have as many if not more.

Please, when you Master the clip, send that info as well.

Thanx guys,

Marc

[M2E]

Thanx to all the people that have sent in their version of Mastering. I've had one person mentioned that he needs a version that is not cut @ 20hz and 20khz. That is cool. Anything to do a better Mastering Job so, I've posted it here...

Download MasterMix-No-LPFandHPF.wav from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way

For the guys that have sent their masters already, if you feel this will make a better bigger Master then please feel free to download and send an updated version.
I will try to PM all the people that sent in Masters and refer them to this post.
If this does make a huge difference, please let me know and I will not do this to any of my mixes from now on.

Thanx

Marc

[M2E]

One other thing.... I see that some people got confused from another link I had that said Gearslutz Mix Ref. That is not the right song nor the right mix. Sorry about that.

The correct song and mix is above. It's called "Get'cha Money". It's a House song. 120bpm's.

Thanx

Marc