Mastering can be thought of as creating a "master" copy of a music CD ready for mass duplication. This is not just copying data into a final format - mastering may need just as much creativity as recording and mixing. It is the last chance to enhance a mix, the final intervention to fix any technical problems. Mastering is also a process of making a coherent whole out of many items.

Mastering needs those involved to make carefully considered decisions about the audio. Instead of trying to do everything in one long session, we believe it is wiser to come back to the work several times. Only with the advent of all-digital mastering has this become practical, as analogue equipment cannot "remember" the previous day's work. Another useful idea is to bring some other CDs to the sessions that you are familiar with or you like the sound of. As well as providing a known reference point, it is easier to communicate about the desired end result.

At the end of those two or three sessions a reference proof CD is made for the client to take away and check at home. This is because most people know their own stereo much better than the laboratory-grade listening environment in a mastering room. Secondly any mastered CD must sound good on any "real" playback system and it is often reassuring to try various stereos before one is completely satisfied.

If you are working on music and need some technical answers, you are welcome to contact us or even pay a visit before finalising the mix. Many potential problems are best avoided at this stage and mastering time is best spent enhancing the music. If you are interested in technical questions like dither, compression, etc we highly recommend you visit the Digital Domain website.

A diverse and satisfied clientele is our strength, spanning from Eric Bogle to Dark Network. Please contact us for up to date client information.