MASTERING
Mastering does not equal “making it loud.”
And any “mastering engineer” who insists that it is might not be exactly what they’re claiming to be.
Mastering is a skill set distinct and different from audio production and engineering, and folks out there claiming to do all three are highly suspect. Mastering is an entirely separate discipline requiring unique skills, a highly-developed ear, specialized (read: ultra-high quality) equipment and an intimate knowledge of the disc-pressing process, sample-rate conversion and word-length reduction. These are all reasons I do not master audio. I am a very good producer, engineer and mix engineer, and I prefer to leave the mastering process to those who have spent as much time developing that skill set as I have on developing my skills.
Not convinced that folks can be amazing producers, engineers and mastering engineers at the same time? Ask folks like:
If you’re interested in having your project mastered, I will gladly point you in the direction of some highly skilled mastering engineers who master – and ONLY master – for a living, and don’t cost quite as much as the folks listed above!