• SONAR
  • Recommendations for mixing / mastering engineers
2016/08/15 14:25:18
karma1959
Hi all,
I'm nearing completion on a project and am considering hiring pros to complete the final mixing touches, and a separate engineer for mastering.  
 
Re: mixing, I think I'm about 85-90% there, but someone with a higher skill level will bring the result to commercial grade quality.  I do want to retain much of the character I've worked hard to attain in the mix (e.g. the basic guitar / vocal / drum sounds, panning, effects, etc.) - so the person would need to be somewhat flexible in their approach.  
 
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Russ
2016/08/15 14:54:03
scook
PM Danny Danzi. He might be available.
2016/08/15 15:04:16
John T
I don't generally promote myself on here, as it doesn't seem in the spirit of the place, and obviously, I can't "recommend" myself as such, but I do make a living mixing and mastering in Sonar.
 
http://johntatlockaudio.com/
 
 
2016/08/15 15:17:25
konradh
I mixed myself and engaged a mastering engineer, Craig Anderton.  I don't know if he currently has bandwidth for more projects, but he did a phenomenal job.
 
Some mastering engineers will call out any major mix problems so you can fix them before the mastering, but you won't get that level of attention from a discount house.
 
I am leery of mastering houses I don't know because they may just be running your tracks through a standard hi-pass filter and generic compression set-up without attention to your music.  The cheaper the service, the more likely that will happen.
 
One big factor is whether this is a fan release for live shows or a barcoded product that will be on your website, iTunes, GooglePlay, Amazon, etc. in which case the quality and details will matter more and you may be willing to pay more.
2016/08/15 15:35:03
John T
That last point there is very much worth thinking about, yeah.
 
This is why I don't think LANDR is actually mastering (or at least not with a capital M). Not really making a comment on the sonic qualities of it, but LANDR doesn't spit out duplication-ready files with ISRC codes embedded or any of that kind of thing. Nor does it provide different source files for vinyl, CD or streaming. Or any of the stuff that mastering actually *is* when you get down to it.
2016/08/16 08:37:14
karma1959
Thanks for the recommendations above, I'll reach out to the people mentioned to see if they're a potential fit..
 
I completely agree with the advantages cited above with a proper mastering process and engineer over and above an automated solution or low cost mastering house - exactly why I'm looking for someone to do the job properly. 
 
Please keep the recommendations coming!
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