As a pro mastering engineer, I come across very few working musicians, mixers, or producers who don’t want the benefits of working with a high-quality mastering studio.
Who wouldn’t want …
It’s kind of a no-brainer for serious musicians, recording engineers, and record labels.
But when it comes to the price of mastering, even some well-established musicians can get a bit confused.
And some musicians and producers make the mistake of taking the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach at the expense of quality. The quality that really does matter especially if streaming is considered!
Here’s a typical conversation that shows what I mean:
Mastering Engineer: So, you’re interested in mastering your album, yes?
Musician: Oh, yeah, that would be so awesome! But …
Mastering Engineer: But what?
Musician: Uhh … If we had more money we would go with pro mastering in a heartbeat, dude. But we just don’t have the money, so we are probably just going to do it ourselves.
And so on…
It’s possible they might succeed on their own. It’s been done before. There are all kinds of cheap tools and “so-called” engineers online promising to make your music sound “just like” it has been professionally mastered.
But I don’t recommend any of them. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. You already know that tools are only small part of the mastering equation.
Usually, musicians or recording engineers who take the DIY approach fall off the map never to be noticed by a wider audience. And I never see or hear from them again, either. I don’t blame them for trying to save money. But I wonder if they would make the same decision if they truly understood the Real Cost of Skimping on Mastering vs. Realistic Prices for Mastering That You Can’t Afford to Skip (see below).
I’ll be the first one to admit that there is no proof that if you spend the money for professional mastering, then millions will hear your music. And then you will make a lot of money. That’s just not true in today’s growing, competitive music business.
There are too many other factors in play. Current trends, language barriers, and access to traditional record-label scouts to name a few. And I would avoid any mastering engineer who makes such promises. We recognize how hard it can be to get your music out to a wider audience. Even if it is professionally mastered. We even added some services in this regard to support you (please refer to our additional services at the bottom of this page).
While you must beware of false mastering promises, there is one truth that you can still count on. Namely this – nearly every successful commercially distributed album, that becomes a hit, has been professionally mastered. If you don’t believe me, then just check the credits. You’ll see a professional mastering studio or mastering engineer in there almost every time.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for a level playing field when it comes to the music business. Therefore, one of the main reasons that I became a mastering engineer was to bring high-quality mastering expertise and equipment to areas where pro mastering studios are few and far between.
The Internet has opened up a ton of new opportunities for musicians, recording engineers, and record producers who aren’t part of the mainstream music industry in the United States or the United Kingdom. But …
One of the main factors being used right now to determine whether you make it into the music industry or not is the sonic quality of your recordings. The opinions of a handful of pro reviewers, journalists, talent scouts, and other music-industry gatekeepers still count. You can’t entirely ignore their opinions if you are hoping to get a contract or make enough of living to keep making music professionally. Mastering engineer Billy Stull of Texas puts it this way:
The “core” people whose opinion can affect the success of the recording artist, more and more are using the “science” as a “filter” for the art … In about 10 seconds, professionals can tell if it’s been mastered professionally, mastered poorly, or not mastered at all. And will stop listening if the sonics aren’t professional.
— MasterpieceMastering.com
So, the real cost of skimping on mastering is steep. Like trying to “prove a negative,” you can never tell if skimping is holding you back. You just don’t get anywhere. There is no way to tell if taking the professional approach would have made any difference. Unless you are using it with each album you release.
Skimp on mastering, and you basically take yourself out of the picture for many music professionals. They still can make a big difference in your career.
Is it fair? No! But if you only have about 10 seconds to make a good impression, what would you do ? Do you really want to take the risk of sounding unprofessional when you might be able to sound as good as the hit makers for $500 or less?
Here’s where the playing field starts looking a lot more level. There is a realistic alternative between high-priced mastering studios that mostly cater to well-established recording stars, on the one hand. And cheap DIY mastering, on the other hand.
All around the world, mid-priced mastering studios are opening their gates to professional musicians and producers who are still working on a budget. And they are delivering high-quality sound that music-industry decision makers will recognize as professional mastering. Not a poor imitation of professional mastering.
At Sonic Science Lab, for example, we charge $60 an hour, but we also offer regular discounts and special offers that can help bring that price down even more. With our flexible pricing, you can get an entire 10-song album mastered for about $400!
Whether you choose Sonic Science Lab or another reputable online mastering studio, your options are growing. The decisions you make about mastering your music are no longer limited to:
Now more than ever, you can find the mastering studio Sweet Spot that’s just right for your budget and career level. Shop around, but be sure to check out our latest offers at sonicsciencelab.com.
Best Regards,
Artur Stawski
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