Essential Things To Ask Before Choosing A Music Mastering Service
Music mastering services are important if you hope to have a professional recording. Whether you want to share your music with close friends and family or release it for sale on major services like iTunes, you need to have each song mastered by a professional. To determine the best music mastering services for you, ask these essential questions before making your choice.
Ask: How Do You Need Me to Prepare My Mix for Mastering?
Different companies may have different answers to this question. You need to know for sure that you are on the same page with an audio mastering company. You may share what you have already done with the engineer and music producer. They can then let you know what further steps are needed so they can master your music. This is likely to be a rather involved conversation, so set aside time to engage in a thoughtful discussion and try to prepare questions in advance.
Ask: What Are Your Audio Mastering Rates?
You need to know how much the music mastering services will cost. Although a high-quality music mastering team is essential to putting out high-quality music, you need to be realistic about your budget. Finding out rates early on can prevent you from wasting time with a company that you won't be able to afford.
Ask: How Can I Hear Samples of Your Work?
Many audio engineers and music producers will have samples of their work readily available on their website. If you can't easily access samples, be sure to ask for them. Professionals will be happy to share samples with you.
Ask: How Long Will It Take Before the Songs Are Finished?
While the length of the music mastering process will likely vary from project to project, you should be able to get an estimate of how long it will take for your songs to be mastered. Before asking this question, be sure that the engineer and producer has all the primary information about how many songs need to be mastered and what sort of special requests you have.
Ask: How Do You Feel About Sharing the Work as You Go?
Some companies like to share works in progress, while others don't want you to hear your mastered music until it is complete. Be sure to find a company that works in a way that you prefer. If you need to hear how the process is coming along, let the company know this prior to choosing their services.
Finally, take your time when you are looking for audio mastering services. Music mastering is both an art and a science. You need dedicated professionals who have the experience to back up their promises, yet you also need a creative team who will be able to understand your vision. When you take the time to find the right music mastering company, you will be confident when you send your music out into the world to find your listeners.
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