CD Mastering - Audio Mastering: Mastering FAQ

Audiomaster Professional CD Mastering Specialists

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	faq

About Audiomaster About mastering

Can I have a free demo?
Yes! In fact we can do better than that. We will master all your tracks for free. We don't charge until you are 100% happy with the results. Just apply for our online mastering service and upload your tracks. Alternatively, send us your tracks in the post and we will email you a link pointing to your mastered tracks.

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When do I pay?
We don't charge you until you are 100% happy. We will master your tracks and send you a link to high resolution MP3s. Once you have approved then we will require payment. When payment has been received we will send out your CD masters.

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How long does it normally take?
Usually we aim to have your master finished and returned to you within 5-7 working days. This can vary depending on how busy we are the time. If your job is urgent then please contact us to discuss your requirements.

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Why are you so cheap?
We keep our overheads down by keeping your mastering sessions unattended. Through mail-order we are able to cut down our expenses, but without compromising the quality of your master. Any savings we make are passed onto you, our customer.

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How can I pay?

We accept the following methods of payment

Credit card - UK and Overseas customers

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Switch and Solo. Click on the link below to make a secure payment.

Alternatively you can pay directly to Audiomaster via the "Send Money" option via Paypal website. Use the email address paypal@audiomaster.co.uk.

Cheque - UK customers only

Cheques made payable to "Audiomaster Ltd. "

Bank transfer - UK customers

Use online banking to pay directly. Unfortunately due to recent fradulent transactions using our bank detaisl we can not publish these online. Please email or call us to obtain this information.

Bank transfer - International customers

Consult your bank to transfer directly into our bank account. Unfortunately due to recent fradulent transactions using our bank details we can not publish these online. Please email or call us to obtain this information.

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Why should I trust you with my master?
We have over 12 years worth of experience in the music and mastering industry. Our record and customer satisfaction speaks for itself.

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I'm a little uncomfortable with mail order mastering....
Don't worry. All the work we do is through the post and we have loads of happy clients. Apart from the cheaper costs, think about the fact that you don't have to sit through a 10 hour session listening to the same 15 second section of your track whilst the EQ is being tweaked! Our engineers are vastly experienced and will know exactly what needs doing to make your tracks sound great. Just make sure you provide lots of notes and examples of other material if needs be.

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What if I don't like it?
Audiomaster firmly believe that your music is in safe hands with us and that you will be delighted by the results of our mastering. That's why we don't accept payment until you are 100% happy. Prior to your masters being sent, we will upload previews of your finished tracks for your approval. These will be available to listen to online or to download via FTP or your web browser. If you want to make any tweaks or changes then let us know and we will re-master it for you.

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I'm not really sure what I am after...
Don't worry. We know exactly what we are doing. Just send us your masters and let us do our magic!

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Do I have to be from the UK?
No! Our clients are from all across the world. Please email us first just in case there are any extra postage costs.

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Are you really that good?
Yes we are!

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What is mastering?
Mastering is the process of transforming your final mix of recordings into a "master" that is acceptable for replication or playback. Some of the steps of the mastering process are straightforward. For example the sequencing of songs into the right order, conversion from DAT to a CD, fading or editing. However, making your recordings sound like a commercial record is a whole different ball game.

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Why do I need mastering?
The music market is very demanding and the competition is huge. If you want your tracks to compete then it is vitally important that your CD can hold its own sonically as well as musically. Have you ever wondered why commercial records sound louder than yours? Or why your tracks just don't sound like a "record"? If your tracks have been recorded and mixed at different times (or even at different studios) then you will end up with massive differences in level and tone. Mastering will create a seamless collection of your music that will sound great on radio, TV, in shops and most importantly - in the home of the listener. Whether your music is for commercial release or you are sending demos to get a deal, then you need mastering.

In addition to the sonic differences you will hear with mastering, it is also vitally important that your master is correctly encoded and produced to the Red Book standard. This is necessary if you intend to replicate or sell your work as otherwise your CDs may not play in all CD players or the replication plant may refuse to duplicate your product.

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Why can't I just do it myself?
There are lots of reasons why we recommend that you do not try to master your own tracks. Here are just a couple of examples.

Fresh ears
The mastering engineer has fresh and experienced ears. If you have been involved with the creation or mixing of your tracks then your ears will not be objective enough to make important decisions on how your single/album should sound. Your work deserves a new perspective.

Equipment
We use ultra clean signal paths and equipment built especially for mastering. We also know exactly how to work our equipment to get your CD master sounding good.

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What musical styles do you cover?
We have a vast range of experience in ALL styles, so we are pretty confident we can handle anything you want to throw at us. Recent projects have included tracks in the style of rock, pop, r&b, jazz, classical, gospel, rap, hip hop, reggae, dance hall, bangra, dance, metal and latin!

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If you have a question that has not been answered here then please send us an email by clicking here.


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