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• 01// Why master a record?
• 02// What is included in a typical mastering session?
• 03// Which audio formats are better for a mastering job?
• 04// How long does it take to have a record mastered?
• 05// Is a mastering job charged per hour or per complete session?
• 06// How much does it cost to have a complete project mastered?
• 07// How is a mastered project delivered as Master for my client?
• 08// Can I send my record to be mastered through the internet?
• 09// Do I lose audio quality if I send my record through the internet?
• 10// Which payment forms are accepted by the studio?
• 01// Why master a record?
Mastering is necessary in order to achieve a sound of the highest possible quality. Mastering means counting on more and beter tools to further enhance every detail, which is inevitably present after mixing. A good mastering job can make de final audio quality of a CD or DVD up to 50% better.
• 02// What is included in a typical mastering session?
Mastering is the search for an ideal sonic balance in each song. This implies the processing of audio should be suitable for each case (using Eq’ing, Compression, Limiting, De-Essing, De-Hissing, etc.). Digital edition is also included, comforming the definitive track sequence for the album, with accurate running times and gaps between the songs. En every session, both mastering engineer and assistant are working permanently.
• 03// Which audio formats are better for a mastering job?
In case of a mastering job for CD, we accept mixes in any of the following formats:
1. ProTools sessions at 16/20/24 bits depth, and sample rates between 44.1 y 192 KHz.
(on CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or external HDD).
2. WAV, AIFF, SDII or other “lossless” file type at 16/20/24 bits depth and sample rates between 44.1 y 192 KHz.
3. CD-AUDIO at 16 bits, 44.1 KHz.
4. DAT at 16 bits, 44.1/48 KHz.
For surround sound 5.1 audio, we accept mixes in 6 channels in any of the following formats:
1. ProTools sessions at 16/20/24 bits depth, and sample rates between 44.1 y 192 KHz.
(on CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or external HDD).
2. WAV, AIFF, SDII or other “lossless” file type at 16/20/24 bits depth and sample rates between 44.1 y 192 KHz.
3. DA-88 or DA-98 tapes, 48/96 KHz
• 04// How long does it take to have a record mastered?
Mastering a CD takes one and a half session (considering sessions to be 10 hours long). Our delivery time for CDs sent from abroad are 48 hours since the material was received. For 5.1 mastering, our average delivery time is 96 hours since the material was received.
• 05// Is a mastering job charged per hour or per complete session?
At Andrés Mayo Mastering, charges are always on a finished mastering job, there are no hidden charges or “extra time fees”. Once the budget has been settled, we work until our client’s full satisfaction… and our own aswell (sometimes even harder to achieve).
• 06// How much does it cost to have a complete project mastered?
a) The standard cost for a foreign production is of USD 1100 for the whole album (between 10 and 14 tracks), excluding shipping costs for the Pre Master CDs (PMCDs). A special price for Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru is available at USD 900. The cost per track is of USD 150.
b) The standard cost for an Argentine production is of 4000 Argentine Pesos for the whole album (between 10 and 14 tracks), excluding shipping costs for the Pre Master CDs (PMCDs).
We support local independent productions (that is, those under no music label), for which a special cost of $3500 Argentine Pesos is available.
Bands and artists in association with the Unión de Músicos Independientes (UMI) are entitled to an even bigger discount, to be checked at mastering@andresmayo.com. The price per track for an Argentine production is of 450 Argentine Pesos.
• 07// How is a mastered project delivered as Master for my client?
1. Mastering for CD
Once the mastering job for an album is done, we present our clients with a reference disc (CD-Ref), to be approved. From that audio disc, additional changes can be made under no further charge. Once obtained the final approval, a Pre-Master CD (PMCD) is produced, ready to go under duplication, along with a Safety Copy CD, which serves as an exact copy, to be used if the PMCD is damaged or destroyed. Back-ups are kept at Andrés Mayo Mastering & DVD for ultimate situations.
2. Mastering for DVD
We deliver to our clients mastered audio in the following formats: Uncompressed audio: into a HDD, DVD-R, DVD+R. Compressed audio under AC-3, DTS: into a HDD, CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R or through internet.
• 08// Can I send my record to be mastered through the internet?
Indeed, audio can be sent through the internet to and from anywhere around the globe. For such task, the studio counts on its own FTP server, for which every client is given a personal account, allowing total privacy. Through this FTP account, clients can send the audio material to be mastered, and later on download the result of our work.
download FTP Client FileZilla (PC - WinAll)
download FTP Client FileZilla (MAC OSX 10.4 + | PPC)
download FTP Client FileZilla (MAC OSX 10.4 + | Intel)
Freeware FileZilla by Tim Kosse -
filezilla.sourceforge.net.
• 09// Do I lose audio quality if I send my record through the internet?
Absolutely not. The internet equals any other transportation way when sending audio material. The only precaution to be taken is to send uncompressed audio files (WAV or AIFF), or any other lossless audio format (FLAC, APE, WMALossless o AppleLossless).
• 10// Which payment forms are accepted by the studio?
The mastering work can be paid for under the following options:
1. International credit cards: American Express, VISA and Mastercard
2. Electronic money transfer: Paypal and 2checkout
3. Bank account located in the USA, in US Dollars.
4. Bank account located in Europe, in Euros.
5. Money transfer through Western Union.
6. Bank account located in Argentina, in Argentinian Pesos.
Note: in some cases, a 10% charge can be applied, due to the costs of the transfer.
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