Mastering — the Final Polish!
How important is mastering?
There has probably never been a truly world-class album or CD ever made that has not been mastered.
It's like the final polishing of a hand made guitar... it's like the final colour added to a portrait that truly sets it off. Mastering is the process that adds that final dimension of sound quality. It is the final quality control, final analysis of all volume levels of the different songs and final correction of all the errant frequencies that can sneak through a recording session.
Any deficiency in the sound is then addressed and careful processing is applied to make the project sound bigger, warmer, clearer, punchier, louder, more 3-dimensional, more natural or whatever may be appropriate to that particular recording. Some processes that might be applied at the mastering stage include:
dynamic enhancement
transparent limiting
equalization stereo width expansion
multi-band compression
dynamic EQ "Tube" warmth
harmonic enhancement
track level adjustment
click & clip removal
hiss & noise reduction
sample accurate editing & fades
Our mastering engineers work with specialized audio tools, state-of-the-art digital programs and the very finest vintage analogue gear to bring your CD to its peak.
Additionally, mastering is where the final assembly of the record occurs. In this process the project may be edited, songs placed in their proper order, gaps between songs adjusted, fades performed, noises & glitches removed, and so forth. Most importantly, all changes and enhancements in the mastering process are done in close consultation with you to make sure that the end result fits your vision of the project.
Equipment used in our mastering studio includes:
- PMC IB1S full-range midfield monitors
- Proceed HPA2
- Lavry DA-10
- Meridian 518
- Weiss DS1 Mk III
- Requisite L2M MkIII
- Manley Variable-Mu Series I
- Chandler LTD-2 Mastering edition, modified
- API 550m Mastering EQs
- Millenia Media NSEQ-2, Fred Forssell modifications
- Crane Song HEDD
- TC Electronic Finalizer 96K
- Lexicon 480L, AMS RMX16, Sony DPS-V77
- Vintage preamp modules used for line level processing : Neve, Langevin, Telefunken, Siemens etc.
- Ampex ATR800 tape machine
- Rega Turntable w. Bryston phono preamp
- Arcam and Marantz CD players
- Panasonic, Tascam DAT
- Sony Minidisc
- Sony PCM F1
- Samplitude dual-Xeon workstation w. Sonnox, TC Electronic, UAD, Waves, Focusrite etc.
- Plextor CD writers w. PlexTools
Why should you master your project at Healey Music?
Simple — we guarantee it!It's so important to us that you be truly satisfied with your sound, we offer all revisions for free. You will be happy! Period. And since we master hundreds of records each year in ALL styles of music, we know how to give you what you want.
And it's affordable!
Check out the specials we are currently running on our mastering packages.
Please go to our production school to learn more about mastering.For more information, please contact your Healey Music representative. 1-800-835-1362 info@healeymusic.com
