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's the last chance to enhance a mix, the final intervention to fix any technical problems, quality control. Mastering is also the process of making a coherent whole out of many items. Often the mixing process does not include time to make sure all items sound 100% compatible with each other and even the best engineers hear things a little different when mixing different songs on different days.

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 all-digital mastering has this become practical, as analogue equipment can't easily "remember" the previous day's work. Good preparation could be to bring some other CDs to the mastering sessions that you are familiar with, or like the sound of. As well as providing a known reference point, it's easier to communicate about the desired end result. And sometimes it's good to hear something else as an aural refreshment.

At the end of those two or three sessions a reference proof CD is made for you to take away and check at home. This is because most people know their own stereo much better than the precise listening environment in a mastering room. Secondly any mastered CD must sound good on any "real" playback system and it could be reassuring to try various stereos before one is completely satisfied. After the all clear, we make a log sheet and a final master CD to pass on to replication.

If you are working on music and need some technical answers, it could be a good idea to contact us or even come and see us before finalising the mix. Many potential problems are best avoided at this stage and mastering time is best spent enhancing the music rather than doing mix surgery. If you are interested in technical questions like dither, compression, etc we suggest you visit the Digital Domain website.

An often asked question is what format to supply the music on. For digital files a data DVD or CD, portable hard drive or USB drive works well. Any sample rate up to 192kHz will work and 24bit is much better than 16bbit. Please don't use compression etc on your master fader while mixing as that can't really be undone in mastering. And for the old school types yes we can accept quarter inch analogue tape. It's also possible to bring in whatever medium and playback device you have and we can play it in in real time, analogue or digital. This is a useful approach for Tascam or Roland style hard disk recorders.

A diverse and satisfied clientele is our strength. Just some of the artists who have finished their CDs here include included Fred Smith, Eric Bogle, Fabrik Europa, The Fuellers, Johnny Huckle, Guitarama, Marcella Fiorillo... the list goes on, since 1996. Please contact us for up to date client information.