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First we'll either load in your sound files, or set up your Masterlink, analog tape, or other source material. If you bring or send in Separations, we'll do some file organization and copy your audio files into our hard drive and create a new project in our "source" Digital Audio Workstation. If you bring in stereo files for traditional mastering, we create a stereo project in the same way. If you bring in an analog source, we're ready to go. Let us know if you have any songs that are your sonic favorites in the project.

We may have some general conversation to discuss your goals, recording methods, or look over your written notes. We're happy for you to attend the session, but if you can't make it, that's ok too. We charge the same rate whether you're at the session or not. Generally, the smaller the crowd, the more time-efficient the session will be. It helps to write out a list of your concerns and then have one or two people speak for everyone. We can process the songs in any order, but it works well to do it in the order it will end up being on the CD.

We begin sound enhancement using analog eq, compression, limiting, de-essing, phase correction, width enhancement, multiband compression and level correction. If we're doing Separation Mastering, we'll use some State-of-the-art plug ins help to optimize the individual tracks. Once we've done all the refinement that seems appropriate, we then record each song into the Sonic Studio DDP "destination" mastering system (real time) and mark down all the processing and eq settings in a data base that can be easily recalled.

Now we have a waveform in our destination computer. As with all DAWs, the project editing decision page gives a visual display of your music. As each song is loaded in, we do preliminary cleaning up the beginnings and endings of the songs.

Important: We not only A/B compare your music with commercial CDs, we also compare each current song we're working on with the already completed songs in your project. This is not standard in many other mastering studio, but it is for us. Example: When we're loading in song #8 - we're still checking the sound on songs1 thru 7.   This is a more holistic approach to mastering because the tone and levels of each song are being monitored during the entire process.

The project will develop it's own "global" sweet spot (or optimum tonal balance) and it will become evident how every song relates to the others. Sometimes ONE song can influence the sound of the entire album! If we need to change the eq on a song that's already been loaded in, it's easy, fast and very simple to do. If you attend the session, you'll hear the differences in the processing - you won't be puzzled about anything.

We can make everything as consistent as you like, OR leave things unique and different if that's what you're after. Think about these things before you begin! How much time it takes to process your music depends on how consistent the mixes are, how much optimization of the Separations you'd like, and how many songs there are total. Twenty short songs totaling 45 minutes - takes longer than ten longer songs totaling 45 minutes.

At this point, more editing and creative work can occur - we'll set the amount of space between songs and set the Track ID's (they can go anywhere you like) and handle any last minute creativity. Let us know if there are any cross-fades you'd like, where you'd like the song ID's, and if you want any hidden tracks. Note: if you ask questions during the session, we tend to give detailed answers. Keep your budget in mind when asking questions, but know that you'll come out of the studio with more than just a master!

We'll burn a reference CD for reference purposes. Treat any CDR we give you with the ultimate CARE! for you to reference at home and decide if you want any changes.

Listen to your audio CDR on several consumer systems (maybe even on a DJ system). DO NOT take it back into the studio right away and see how it sounds there! See our page on Studio Monitor Madness to see why. Your CDR was designed for the real world. Take it there first. Listen on boom boxes. Listen in the car (but remember, moving car CD players can scratch the surface - always use care with your reference discs and/or masters). Listen on a couple home systems. Compare it with other commercial CDs.

You are now at a new level of objectivity where you will hear things you haven't heard before in your mixes. Put the CD on in the living room and go wash dishes in the kitchen and see how it feels at a distance. Play it at a party, in the garage, play it soft, loud, on your computer (certain PCs can have some weird default playback characteristics) etc. Keep listening to your "competitors" CDs and see if the over-all impression of your product comes across effectively, given the time and budget you had to work with.

Now your mixes have more clarity, consistency, and presence. You may hear subtle things revealed that you forgot about. Due to the big CD volume contest, you may hear less impact on the drums, or the eq may bring UP the impact of the drums. The vocal may be more clear, as well as the hi-hat or guitars, or you may hear more body in the middle instruments. The catch: you may hear distortion that was masked in the track before - mastering tends to reveal everything a little better.

Your CD may be perfect just the way it is. Or you may want some additional creative changes like spacing in between the songs, or a different fade. Be sure your key people listen to the end product, as well as some fresh new ears or other professionals who will listen.

KEY: We keep all the settings for your project in the computer, and most changes at this point are EASY and FAST! With a few clicks and turns - voila! But some changes can be more involved.... it's depends on each project and how much detail is appropriate for your budget.

Whether a second master is made or the first one is perfect, we can either make an Audio CDR master or a DDP master to send to the pressing plant (check to see which format your pressing plant prefers) and a backup master of the approved version for safekeeping.  So now you're on your way to having a superb CD that will sound great for a long time - and the ball is in your court to make it a HIT!