Mastering Importance

Published Feb 20, 2011
I have lots of friends that swear the importance of ponying up the big cash to get their studio or home recordings professionally mastered. However, more and more people I know have different audio mastering programs that run it through and "master" it in minutes. Is professional audio mastering really worth the hype and cash? And what range should I expect to pay for your typical band that just wants to have some good quality recordings?John Early, Saskatoon SK
At the risk of pissing off every engineer and producer that I know, I would hazard a guess that most people can't hear the difference between an average final mix and a mastered version of that same mix. Then again "most people" probably thought the Black Eyed Peas were awesome at the Superbowl, while you and I know they were, in fact, relentlessly horrid. So, whether you should shell out for professional mastering depends on a number of things. For example, how good is the recording and the mix? If they are really top notch, then you might be able to sneak by on a home mastering job. Another factor is how "pro" you are trying to be with your release. If a legit record label is putting it out, they'll almost certainly demand a proper mastering job. An improperly mastered album might sound feeble when compressed for radio or streaming, so that's a concern. The point is, a pro mastering job can make the difference between a record sounding good and it sounding really great, and I believe we should aim for great at all times. The cost can vary but the range for a full album is around $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the engineer and how much she or he likes you.
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