It's quite simple to break down the mastering process into a few easy steps.

1. CONTACT FOR A QUOTE
see the Rates page.

2. COMMUNICATION
We first discuss your project, the style, your concepts and the goal you wish to achieve with mastering. It is also important to discuss what the final format of your work will be for distribution – CD, vinyl, digital-only, etc.

It is also a good idea at this stage, before work is started, to send me a couple of examples of the work, even in MP3 format, so I can have a better idea of the project while we are talking about the above points.

3. UPLOAD YOUR FILES
Once we are on the same page with the goals of the project, your files can be uploaded to the FTP space.

see the Prepping Your Material page.

4. MASTERING BEGINS
I start the mastering process by first loading in your tracks, carefully listening and beginning to set up the perfect signal chains. It typically takes me a couple of days to finish mastering the tracks, barring any setbacks or issues that require corrections back on your end with the original mixes or files.

5. APPROVAL
Once I have a set of mastered tracks, I upload uncompressed AIFF or WAV files for you to hear. We discuss any further edits or changes and continue to work until you are happy with the masters.

Note that at this stage, you are hearing just the mastered tracks, not the final playlist with spacing and relative levels.

6. PLAYLISTING + BURN
Once you are happy with the masters, I will create and burn the final playlist based on information from our discussions regarding spacing, fades, subcode editing, etc. If you'd like to hear the album as a complete audio file showing transitions, relative volumes, spacing, etc, this is easily sent to you before final approval and discs are burned.

7 DELIVERY
Two copies of the master (or more, upon request) are mailed to you or the label. One copy is for listening, the other is to remain unopened and be sent to the replicator.

8. BILLING
You are invoiced for the job.