What is audio mastering?
Audio mastering is the process of improving a good recording so that it sounds better on reference equipment and works well across multiple devices, like car speakers, headphones, home speakers and on radio or streaming audio services.
What formats does discLab accept for audio mastering?
We accept media in physical form, digital as in CDs, DATs, external hard drives, flash drives, SSDs and through our Dropbox account. Analogue media can be 1/4″ two-track or four-track tape, 1/2″ two-track, 7.5ips or 15 ips stereo, cassette tapes, stereo only.
Pricing
Either a la carte or with our packages, there are options that can work for you.
Digital Mastering
• Mastering, per hour of studio time, $235 (Includes use, at the engineer’s discretion, of all available inboard and outboard mastering gear.)
• CD-R reference disc with track list, $75 – included with mastering sessions
• CD-R master, plant ready, 100% quality-controlled and P-Q code sheet, 2 originals, $175
Mastering for Vinyl Record Pressing
This is the cost for transferring digital audio as mastered above, or from your finished digital master, to lacquer master.
• 12″ or 10″ lacquer master, per side, $375, to 18 minutes.
• 7″ lacquer master, per side, $150, to 5 minutes
• 1/4″ tape set-up, $235 per session
• RDAT / DAT set-up, $105 per session
• For more vinyl mastering services, see the vinyl mastering section.
Don’t let your audio disappear! Safety transfers are essential to the preservation of audio programs.
• DAT flat transfer to audio CD-R or data files – no spacing or sweetening, $175, up to 72 minutes.
• Analoque flat transfer to audio CD-R, 1/4″, 7.5, 15 or 30 ips, $235 per reel per 15 minutes tape running time.
Utility Services
Don’t let your audio disappear! Safety transfers are essential to the preservation of audio programs.
• DAT flat transfer to audio CD-R – no spacing or sweetening, $175, up to 72 minutes.
• Analoque flat transfer to audio CD-R, 1/4″, 7.5, 15 or 30 ips, $235 per reel per 15 minutes running time.
Tape baking is an option that requires review of the original media for analysis.