Mastering with technical assistance gives you the option to maximize
the benefits of the mastering process and to get as a result a better
product out of your mix.
New advances in technology is now giving everybody the power to
create astonishing sound recordings within a non-professional environment
(i.e. your home studio).
Unfortunately, one single fact still remains the same, you need
to know what you are doing when making a record.
This service is suitable for individuals who are making their own
demos, or even cutting records, but are not audio engineers.
If you want to make a music presentation to obtain a publishing
deal, a record contract, or manufacture your own CDs and distribute
your music digitally, this service could be essential to you.
Even seasoned engineers could use an objective ear, especially if
they are working out of their own familiar studio environment.
I am not sure if I
need mastering with technical assistance
Not sure? That's the reason we have a $10 Activation
fee. You'll pay only this if the mix meets the conditions to
perform mastering. If it doesn't and you DO need the assistance,
you'll be charged $40 per mix (Plus regular mastering fees).
It's really up to you.
The way we look at it is, we are giving you an option to make sure
you are getting the most of our mastering process and thus, add
more value to your investment.
Our service provides simple, professional solutions. But, for this
to be effective, you must have a basic understanding about how a
mixer and its processors work.
Do I have to order
assistance with every mix I submit?
Not at all. Choose any mix you feel it might need this
service. You can also place an order to master an album and pay
for this option for any mix you designate. If you own a project
studio, you can find out how your mixing is and what needs tweaking.
It's really up to you.
Here is an example: an artist/engineer who was having problems with
one mix, placed an order with technical assistance. We found out
that he needed to use a de-esser to control excessive sibilance
on his vocal recordings and to avoid masking the delicate sounds
he had arranged on the high frequency range.
He realized that he had the same problem on other mixes and therefore,
he was able to correct them on his own and saved money. Finally,
he submitted for mastering his mixes and the results were overall,
very good. This was an educational experience for him.
Our service provides simple, professional solutions. But for this
to be effective, you must have a basic understanding about how a
mixer and its processors work.
How do I order this option?
I don't see it on your site
At present we don't have a form to add the mastering assistance
option. All requests are handle on a case by case basis.
When you make it known to us either by email or phone that you need
this, we will create a payment button or an invoice for you to pay
using your credit card. You can also pay by phone by calling at
our regular business hours.
When you opt in for mastering with technical assistance,
the engineer is engaged in studying everything that was done in
the tracking and mixing stages of your music production.
He checks for the state of the mix, stereo field and harmonic imbalances.
He achieves this by spectrum analysis and by listening with emphasis
on the record dynamics.
Once he determines that the mix(es) have the elements necessary
to meet industry standards, only then will he start the mastering
process. So, up to this point your $10 activation
fee has been accounted for.
However, if mix issues were found, you will be given instructions
to adjust and correct them (By email or by phone, at your convenience).
If you do agree to making the adjustments and re-submit the revisions,
then and only then, you will be charged $30 per mix you designated
for technical assistance.
The
scenario above applies to people that are not sure as to whether
they need MTA. If someone requests this, the $40 charge is applied
immediately.
This service provides simple advise and professional solutions,
but for this to be effective, you must have a basic understanding
about how a mixer and its signal processors work.
Mastering acts like a window cleaner on a murky or foggy glass;
after clean up, you get to hear the mix with much greater clarity.
Usually these problems are not so crucial as to require you to go
back and re-mix all over again.
However, through our guarantee you can get adjustments to the equalization
and compression until you are satisfied with the results. But, we
can not give express or implied guarantees about this particular
service, so you still may not have a 100% perfect mix.
This is due to the fact that some mix issues don't get detected
until full mastering process is completed, and no matter how much
you adjust equalization and compression settings, some mix issues
just can't be fixed.
Having said all that, these cases are usually the exception rather
than the rule. We are most of the time, substantially right on all
the instructions and corrections that we give to make a recording
meet industry standards.
Warning: Once you
initiate this service, there is no turning back. Sorry, no refunds.
I-Once you initiate this option, there are no refunds whatsoever
(Including the initial activation fee).
However, our engineer at his sole discretion, reserves the right
to approve the technical assistance of any mix submitted under this
option.
In the event a mix submission is declined service, you'll get a
full refund (Minus any credit card charge back fees and our $10.00
activation fee).
You will be given the option to continue mastering but without assistance,
as we never decline mastering orders, and we'll try to give you
back your mix sounding better than the way it was.
II-If you are not an engineer, you need to have at least
some basic knowledge of how to use a mixer as you maybe required
to adjust compression and equalization settings for each individual
track.
We are not responsible for your inability to understand
or make the adjustments and corrections recommended by our engineer.
Since mixing is subjective ( a high level to you maybe low to us
and vice versa) we make the assumption that it is the individual
track level that you want.
III-You need to have access to the session files or the
multi-track system with its mixing console.
Most importantly, the ability to do "Total Recall".
This is usually a standard feature on any software based digital
recorder.
However, mixing consoles may not have this feature, If you haven't
made notes of the mix settings as well as the individual track's
compression and equalization parameters at the end of each session,
this could be a problem and grounds for a decline.
IV-We don't advise you to use this service option without 'Total
Recall'.
VI-We limit to a maximum of 1 hour phone assistance
per mix submission.Roll over phone assistance
time for other mix submissions is not applicable.
VII-Notwithstanding
all the aforesaid written here or anywhere else on this site in
respect to our satisfaction guarantee, your master is deemed final
after delivery and a review period of 72 hours, and it does not
cover for additional corrections needed due to your inability to
capitalize on our mastering engineer's mentorship. You are also
still responsible, should we fail to observe QC (quality control),
for problems in your mix. This is because MTA is not considered
a mixing process, only a series of suggestions or an overall consultation.
VIII-International orders receive assistance by email only. However,
we may accept a call during regular business hours from 9AM to 5PM,
New York Eastern Time (Subject to availability).
"We
just listened to the master in our car that we received from
Edward Vinatea and, WOW, we can't say with words how much we
appreciate his mentorship. He went way beyond his duty to master
our song and really helped us get the best possible master from
our home project. I Truly feel Edward is nothing short of a
Godsend. I promise that everyone I know will know about this
company MusicMasteringOnline.com and We cant wait to get another
song ready. Again thank you, thank you and thank you..."
Hear
an actual mastering with technical assistance example. Keep
in mind this is the first time this fellow made a song demo
and he used a drum machine. Just click on the final product
and compare to the original. This player works with fast connections
only.
Our fee for mastering with technical assistance is the regular mastering
rate plus $40 per mix (See
price and a rates).
Because we don't know how many of your mixes will require adjustments
and corrections, we charge a $10 per mix activation fee to review
your submission(s). You must call or email to opt in for this special
service.
Once we determine how many songs need technical assistance, we will
forward you a statement by email to pay for the technical assistance
option. You can also pay this by phone.
Album Mastering Deal Orders
Technical assistance fees apply.
Definitions:
Activation
Fee
The
initial charge that initiates the technical assistance option.
If your mix needs no adjustments, you don't pay for the full
service fee and your music is put back on schedule to get processed.
Logically, people seeking this option already have the sense
that their mixes need adjustments or something, but don't know
what. Keep in mind that it only takes one mix with one single
issue found for your order to be taken out of the work schedule
and assigned to the care of our chief engineer. That's why you
can't combine this service with our 'Priority Service'.
$10.00 per cut
Technical
Assistance
If
your mix have issues the engineer will call you to make corrections
and adjustments. You must meet our requirements
for this service. Once you activate or we process your order
with technical assistance, there are no refunds of any kind
and you are subject to our terms and
conditions. Make sure you read and understood the contents
of this page.
