Mastering

[Joey]

So I've just finished up my 11 track debut album, tracks are mixed and everything, just not sure how to go about things next.

I know I want to have a physical release for two reasons 1. I want my music to exist in a tangible format. 2. I want to be able to hand out copies to everyone interested (and maybe sell a few).

I'd probably only do a run of 1000 or so.

ANYWAY,

the biggest issue here is mastering the songs to have constant levels with the others. I use izotope ozone to do quick and dirty masters for web, but on a physical release I'd want the best quality possible, and a bit worried my own skills aren't up to scratch. I know a good mastering engineer who will do the entire album for around $700, and I figure most will be around that price as well. My only issue is money, it will take a while to save up that cash to get it mastered (a couple of months), and I'd rather have the music out sooner so I can start doing shows and promoting.

I've been considering just releasing it online for free with my masters in the meantime to drum up some attention, as well as just have something out there when people ask, instead of a phantom album waiting to be mastered.

What would you guys do?

[b3groover]

I would have it properly mastered. Why have copies of it out there not sounding as good as it can be?

$700 seems pretty reasonable to me. I know on my recent solo disc, I thought I had everything sounding pretty damn good but when I took it to be mastered and compared my versions with the mastered versions there was just no competition. The mastered versions sounded far and away superior.

[tallowwaters]

You can always see if some people here could maybe master it for cheaper...

[Scories]

I'd rather deal with a pro for mastering than buying 12 000$ of tube compressors, eq's, tape recorders and very specific softwares. He should enhance the sound, hear annoying details you ceased to notice and make your music sounds good on most sound systems. He should also make your overall album sound more homogeneous (coherent from a track to an other). Just make it sounds better...

I'd suggest that you take an underground album that you really like the sound, check out who did the mastering and contact the guy. I think it becomes more exciting then!

[Synthaholic]

I'd suggest that you take an underground album that you really like the sound, check out who did the mastering and contact the guy. I think it becomes more exciting then!

Now there's a neat idea!

Whatever you do, make sure you make it absolutely clear to whoever does the mastering that they do NOT compress the c**p out of your recordings like most commercial recordings are done to make them "louder".

[Esus]

If you're doing at least 1000 discs, I'd recommend replication rather than burning. They'll last longer, be more robust, and they'll give you a more professional image. Don't be stingy with the artwork, either. Get the best art/photography on the best quality stock you can afford. It'll ultimately make a huge difference. Check to see if there's a respectable replication house in your area (like one who pays their licensing fees), and be cautious of those "1000 discs with jewel case and artwork for $995" ads in the back pages of magazines. If you'd like, I can get you a bid from a local replicator I do business with. Then you can have a better idea of what direction you want to go.

[Stab Frenzy]

I've been considering just releasing it online for free with my masters in the meantime to drum up some attention, as well as just have something out there when people ask, instead of a phantom album waiting to be mastered.

What would you guys do?

Get it professionally mastered before you make it widely available, you only get one chance to make a first impression and if people hear the quick and dirty version first it might ruin your chance of getting it on a label or a comp or whatever. That's what I'd do anyway.

[Joey]

Alright thanks for all the advice guys... I think I'll get it done professionally