MasterSuite News

Mastersuite caters to the needs of both major labels and independent artists/producers/labels. We believe in supporting musical diversity, and offer pricing to fit indie budgets and shrinking label budgets alike.

Our clients range from well-known mainstream acts, to niche artists, to up and coming independents. Albums completed at Mastersuite have won Grammy, gold, and multi-platinum awards, while many of our indie clients have gone on to sign major label deals after mastering with us, some continuing on to Grammys and multi-platinum success.

We give you an advantage in a competitive marketplace, and a great sounding record for a price that fits your budget.

SERVICES

* Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 mastering for CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, SACD, internet, & game audio
* 5.1 and 7.1 upmixing from stereo, Lt-Rt, or 5.1 sources using proprietary, patented DSP
* Restoration & enhancement with Sonic NoNoise II, Algorithmix reNovator, iZotope RX
* Internet/web audio optimization, MP3, AAC, and surround encoding
* Game audio mastering & authoring for Rock Band Network; Harmonix-trained engineer

RATES

Some facilities refuse to make their rates public, trying to squeeze as much as possible from each client. We're not afraid to tell you how much it costs. It's what we would want as clients.

Rates for chief engineer, Jay Frigoletto:

Billing is hourly plus parts (breakdown below), but you can expect about $90 per song for a typical indie project, including the master CD, or an image file uploaded to ftp. While this estimate covers the typical project, the rates below do apply.

5.1 or 7.1 for Blu-Ray, DVD etc: $150/hr.
When mastering multichannel audio for new media formats such as Blu-Ray, we are extremely competitive compared to similarly equipped and experienced facilities.

Stereo CD or web: $125/hr.
We strive to promote independent music, understanding that support at this level will benefit the industry as a whole. This affordable rate makes available to indie artists the same level of quality and service formerly attainable only by major label artists.

Rates for engineer, Corey Levesque:

Stereo CD or web: $80/hr.
We're happy to welcome Corey to the Mastersuite family, and to make our services available to a wider range of artists with tighter budgets. For estimation, figure about $60 per song.

Rock Band Network (RBN) authoring: call

MASTER PARTS and REFERENCE CDs

Some people wonder why mastering houses charge so much for master CDs or other media (commonly referred to as "parts"). The prices are based on the time it takes to create and verify them. The media itself is free.

The session clock, and therefore hourly billing, stops after EQ and editing, but it takes additional time to record to the media, and more importantly, for QC (Quality Control, aka QA, Quality Assurance). Considering the time involved in making a master image file, recording the discs, QC listening, error checking and verification, there may be up to two hours of work reflected in the price of the master. This is the mystery behind the price of parts.

If an independent client wishes to take on the responsibility of doing the QC listening themselves (we'll still perform a technical error check regardless), you can reduce the cost of your master by more than half. It does, however, skip one valuable safety step that professional mastering offers.

Full length verified CD master: $195
(PMCD, CD-audio, DDP on CD-ROM or DVD-R)

Unverified full length CD "demo" master: $95
This is an option for independent clients. See caution above.

Full length Reference CD: $45

Reference CD, Single or demo (3 songs or fewer): $25

FTP of DDP image file master directly to plant via internet:
A minority of plants support ftp delivery of masters at this time, but it is on the increase. We offer the service for the same price as a physical master.

PCM 1630, 8mm Exabyte Tape DDP, and DAT masters:
Use of these obsolete formats is discouraged, but if you require one, we will provide it. It may cost more, and must be at your own risk as they are considered to have become unreliable.

FORMATS

Tape, disc, and internet (ftp): For data files, we prefer 24 bit wav or aiff files at sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz. Other formats including SDII, and bit-depths from 16 to 32 bits are also possible, but 24 bit wav or aiff are preferable. These can be delivered via internet ftp, or on CD-ROM, DVD-R, or DVD+R.

We can also work directly from a Pro Tools session saved to data CD or DVD, or on a firewire or USB hard drive (remember to include the wav, aiff, or SDII audio files with the session). We also accept DAT tape including 24-bit Tascam DAT, DA-88 tape, Red Book CD, and Alesis Masterlink CD24 at sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz. For analog tape, we accept 1/2" and 1/4" analog tape with or without Dolby SR or A. For less common formats such as PCM 9000, Genex, iZ Radar, Euphonix R-1, or DSD, call ahead to arrange availability and pricing.

POLICIES

If this is your first session with us, we may, at our discretion, request a 33% deposit on the time booked, refundable if cancellation is made at least 48 hours in advance. Special requests or rentals are also required to be pre-paid, refundable if cancelled 72 hours in advance.

Unless you have credit with us, payment in full is due at the time of the session, and no materials will be released without payment. Local checks may be acceptable if the name and address on the check match your drivers license. Out of state checks are acceptable if you pay far enough in advance for the check to clear. Guaranteed funds (bank checks) and credit cards are also acceptable if verifiable (via a call to the bank, or running the card).

If you have credit with us, all we ask for is a signed company P.O. (Purchase Order). Cancellation fees will still be charged if session is cancelled less than 48 hours in advance.

We respect your time and appreciate your efforts. Please extend to us the same courtesy. We will work hard for you and do the best job we are capable of because your project deserves it. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your experience with Mastersuite more enjoyable and productive.

Click here to visit our sister facilities for hi-def video, and audio recording & mixing.


	Services Mastersuite caters to the needs of both major labels and independent artists/producers/labels. We believe in supporting musical diversity, and offer pricing to fit indie budgets and shrinking label budgets alike. Our clients range from well-known mainstream acts, to niche artists, to up and coming independents. Albums completed at Mastersuite have won Grammy, gold, and multi-platinum awards, while many of our indie clients have gone on to sign major label deals after mastering with us, some continuing on to Grammys and multi-platinum success. We give you an advantage in a competitive marketplace, and a great sounding record for a price that fits your budget. SERVICES * Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 mastering for CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, SACD, internet, & game audio * 5.1 and 7.1 upmixing from stereo, Lt-Rt, or 5.1 sources using proprietary, patented DSP * Restoration & enhancement with Sonic NoNoise II, Algorithmix reNovator, iZotope RX * Internet/web audio optimization, MP3, AAC, and surround encoding * Game audio mastering & authoring for Rock Band Network; Harmonix-trained engineer RATES Some facilities refuse to make their rates public, trying to squeeze as much as possible from each client. We're not afraid to tell you how much it costs. It's what we would want as clients. Rates for chief engineer, Jay Frigoletto: Billing is hourly plus parts (breakdown below), but you can expect about $90 per song for a typical indie project, including the master CD, or an image file uploaded to ftp. While this estimate covers the typical project, the rates below do apply. 5.1 or 7.1 for Blu-Ray, DVD etc: $150/hr. When mastering multichannel audio for new media formats such as Blu-Ray, we are extremely competitive compared to similarly equipped and experienced facilities. Stereo CD or web: $125/hr. We strive to promote independent music, understanding that support at this level will benefit the industry as a whole. This affordable rate makes available to indie artists the same level of quality and service formerly attainable only by major label artists. Rates for engineer, Corey Levesque: Stereo CD or web: $80/hr. We're happy to welcome Corey to the Mastersuite family, and to make our services available to a wider range of artists with tighter budgets. For estimation, figure about $60 per song. Rock Band Network (RBN) authoring: call MASTER PARTS and REFERENCE CDs Some people wonder why mastering houses charge so much for master CDs or other media (commonly referred to as "parts"). The prices are based on the time it takes to create and verify them. The media itself is free. The session clock, and therefore hourly billing, stops after EQ and editing, but it takes additional time to record to the media, and more importantly, for QC (Quality Control, aka QA, Quality Assurance). Considering the time involved in making a master image file, recording the discs, QC listening, error checking and verification, there may be up to two hours of work reflected in the price of the master. This is the mystery behind the price of parts. If an independent client wishes to take on the responsibility of doing the QC listening themselves (we'll still perform a technical error check regardless), you can reduce the cost of your master by more than half. It does, however, skip one valuable safety step that professional mastering offers. Full length verified CD master: $195 (PMCD, CD-audio, DDP on CD-ROM or DVD-R) Unverified full length CD "demo" master: $95 This is an option for independent clients. See caution above. Full length Reference CD: $45 Reference CD, Single or demo (3 songs or fewer): $25 FTP of DDP image file master directly to plant via internet: A minority of plants support ftp delivery of masters at this time, but it is on the increase. We offer the service for the same price as a physical master. PCM 1630, 8mm Exabyte Tape DDP, and DAT masters: Use of these obsolete formats is discouraged, but if you require one, we will provide it. It may cost more, and must be at your own risk as they are considered to have become unreliable. FORMATS Tape, disc, and internet (ftp): For data files, we prefer 24 bit wav or aiff files at sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz. Other formats including SDII, and bit-depths from 16 to 32 bits are also possible, but 24 bit wav or aiff are preferable. These can be delivered via internet ftp, or on CD-ROM, DVD-R, or DVD+R. We can also work directly from a Pro Tools session saved to data CD or DVD, or on a firewire or USB hard drive (remember to include the wav, aiff, or SDII audio files with the session). We also accept DAT tape including 24-bit Tascam DAT, DA-88 tape, Red Book CD, and Alesis Masterlink CD24 at sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz. For analog tape, we accept 1/2" and 1/4" analog tape with or without Dolby SR or A. For less common formats such as PCM 9000, Genex, iZ Radar, Euphonix R-1, or DSD, call ahead to arrange availability and pricing. POLICIES If this is your first session with us, we may, at our discretion, request a 33% deposit on the time booked, refundable if cancellation is made at least 48 hours in advance. Special requests or rentals are also required to be pre-paid, refundable if cancelled 72 hours in advance. Unless you have credit with us, payment in full is due at the time of the session, and no materials will be released without payment. Local checks may be acceptable if the name and address on the check match your drivers license. Out of state checks are acceptable if you pay far enough in advance for the check to clear. Guaranteed funds (bank checks) and credit cards are also acceptable if verifiable (via a call to the bank, or running the card). If you have credit with us, all we ask for is a signed company P.O. (Purchase Order). Cancellation fees will still be charged if session is cancelled less than 48 hours in advance. We respect your time and appreciate your efforts. Please extend to us the same courtesy. We will work hard for you and do the best job we are capable of because your project deserves it. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your experience with Mastersuite more enjoyable and productive. Click here to visit our sister facilities for hi-def video, and audio recording & mixing.