Recommendations for mastering an album

[LilDozer]

Hi Folks,
First time post on here, though been lurking for a long time and also on TapeOp.

Have just finished my new band's first record which I recorded & mixed myself as I was unhappy with the results and very rushed approach from local studios. I had co produced stuff as a band member for previous albums with another band and was up for the challenge of getting hands on.

I think it has worked out really well and I am very excited about getting it mastered. It is an indie rock album ranging from quiet to loud songs, I'm thinking Sparklehorse, Afghan Whigs, Grant Lee Buffalo, Arcade Fire but with female vocals, but its hard to describe your own sound.

I have obviously put hundreds of hours into getting this as good as I can make it and want to get it mastered before sending it around record companies or self releasing the record. I have read with interest the various discussions of where does a good job, where is expensive and where is worth it, but to be honest there's a lot of conflicting opinions out there and I'm just as confused about what to do as when I started looking.

I want a very talented someone to take this record to be the best that it can be. I don't want to be thrown through the production line at a big mastering house and I don't want a bedroom enthusiast on their laptop. I need a personal service with great communication in case I have made some rookie mistakes on the technical side of things.

It's been all in the box up to now so some analogue gear may be just the ticket, but that's maybe just a myth. Budget is limited, hence why I'm not going for an attended session with the big guys down in the big smoke, but I can stretch to a reasonable budget and I plan to make cds, not just downloads. I am based in Edinburgh, Scotland and I could travel to attend the session if it will help nail it.

You can hear 3 of the tracks (with some home mastering) right here:
Little Doses

So please get in touch if you think you are the right guy for this job or with any recommendations for who I should be talking to.

Cheers,

mArk

[Mastering7]

Hey LilDozer,
PM sent.

[TWKs]

Hi Mark

PM sent

[dmsaudio]

Hi Mark,

PM sent

[LilDozer]

Dear everyone,

Thank you for your raft of offers to do the mastering, there really is a plethora of options out there that you would never know about from a google search.

I have found a mastering house that is within travelling distance for an attended session (well by plane) and who are walking me through taking my album through the stress of this last step. I am very happy with my choice.

Good luck to everyone trying to make their living making beautiful music.

LilDozer