Mastering Services

  • Mastering - analog/digital mastering for CD/DVD
  • Premastering - analog/digital premastering for vinyl/records

    Price:

  • $85/hour; 10 hour day: $650; all costs in US dollars
  • $30 flat fee for master CDR and reference CDR

    Payment Terms:

  • Payment due at time of service

    Forms of payment accepted:

  • Cash
  • Check

    Equipment Highlights:

  • Athlon FX 60 (dualcore / 2.6mhz OC); 2gig RAM; NVidia 8800 OC; dual monitor
  • Empirical Labs Distressor (2)
  • Empirical Labs Lil'Freq (2)
  • Cranesong Trakker (2)
  • Chandler Mini Rack Mixer

    A/D/A Converters:

  • Cranesong Hedd A/D/A

    Monitors:

  • Lipinski L-150 subs / L-707s (stereo) w/ Lipinski L-301/306 amps

    Contact: contact[at]egrsoftware.com -- Michael Leahy
    Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

    Credits:

    Records:

  • Catharsis, Nadon, Hedmess - Xenos EP - EGR Records - July 2003

    Digital (CD):

  • Time Slips By - TSB - November 2004
  • Distance to Empty - Distance to Empty - March 2004
  • Mark Wilson - 49 Minutes - Live Bait Recording Foundation - July 2003
  • Splinter Psyche - EP 1 - March 2002
  • Joseph Pehrson - February 2002
  • Chorus Paulinus - December 2001
  • Twomp - With These Hands - June 2001

    Questions:
    Q: What is mastering?
    A: Mastering is the final step in the recording/production process where EQ, compression, and limiting are applied among other processes if necessary to achieve the best sonic balance to the final sound of the track/album in order to make it competitive in its respective genre.

    Q: What is premastering for vinyl/records and how does it differ from mastering?
    A: Premastering for vinyl is the 2nd to last step before a record is made. The goal in premastering for vinyl is the same as the description for mastering above; "to achieve the best sonic balance to the final sound of the track/album". The engineer who cuts the lacquer applies his/her skills to achieve the best cut from the premastered sources. For instance most electronic dance music requires the lacquer engineer to cut the tracks as loud/hot as possible.

    Q: How long does it take to master a full length CD?
    A: On average, it takes about 6 to 8 hours to master a full length CD.

    Q: How long does it take to premaster a 2 track EP going to vinyl? A: Approximately 2 hours.

    Q: How long does it take to premaster a 4 track EP going to vinyl? A: Approximately 3 hours.

    Q: What can I expect from my 1st record; will the sound change dramatically when it is transferred to vinyl?
    A: Tracks transferred to vinyl will sound very close to the premastered versions. If you like how your tracks sound on CD after receiving the reference from premastering then you will have a good idea of what the vinyl will sound like.

    Q: What formats do you accept for pre/mastering?
    A: 16-bit DAT at 44.1khz or 48khz sampling rate; Red Book CD audio; CDR of wave (.wav) or AIFF at 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit float (all sample rates)