online mastering

[sheld]

Hello i was wandering how would i go about this " online mastering" should i ever want anything mastered by an expert, i guess first i would need some web space to upload my song, what file would i upload it as? how would i get it back? how much would it cost ? say for one song just to hear the results. Thanks.

[TrilliumSound]

Hello,

Most Mastering facilities offers FTP (file transfer protocol) services to their clients so they (clients) can upload their songs. The clients have their own accounts and personal space to their files

You would have to upload your stereo mix files to it (wav, aiff etc.)

You can get your Mastered files back by FTP again (download) or get the Master CD by mail.

Cost: depends on the studio/engineer. By visiting their website or calling them, you will get the answer to this question.

Regards

[Cucco]

Richard's right - most mastering houses will offer an FTP upload/download capability.

However, there are some folks who ONLY offer this capability. In other words, if you ask to come into the facility, their only response could be..."What facility."

You've got to be careful. Some of these "on-line" mastering houses merely take your song, run it through a Behringer compresser and then back into a hacked version of Cubase with their hacked Waves plugins and smash the hell out of your tunes. (I know one of these companies!!! They're in my area here and they REALLY PISS ME OFF!!!!)

If you can't visit a tangible location, don't work with them. They could have a storefront in Northern India for all I care, but that at least means that they have clients that come in and they actually care enough about their business to lease space dedicated for mastering!

So, in other words - be careful.

FWIW - I have two domains in which I perform mastering. 1 is in my studio. This is my "light" mastering setup. This is for the dudes that come from the studios up the road and want some quick/cheap stuff done. Then I have one that I built in my home. It's not a regular "home" studio - it's designed from the ground up for acoustics. (I had the home custom built and one of the main aspects of this house was the studio - the other was the built-in wetbar just off of the studio... :D ).

Clients are welcome in either or both locations if they would like to come. I have no secret weapons or magic voodoo that I don't want my clients to see (like that local "on-line" company near me does -- hint, I've seen their bag of magic tricks - it's Sound Forge/CD Architect with an Alesis reverb box and a behringer compressor monitored through Alesis M1s in an awful acoustic environment!).

So, the best advice is - do your homework and be careful. If in doubt, post your findings here - we will gladly debunk or validate a good service.

Good Luck!!!

J

[Massive Mastering]

When you're looking for "low-rent" online service...

http://www.massivemastering.com/html/buyer_beware.html

A lof of questionable types have given me a lot of flack over that particular article over time. And the accusations... Whoa...

Anyway, it's really only something to think about. The whole "no free lunch" and "if it sounds too good to be true" type stuff. There are a lot of people out there trying very hard to rip you off.

There are a lot of people who aren't also - There are a lot of honest, non-deceptive online budget mastering services out there. It just seems that they're getting harder to find through some of the noise...

[TrilliumSound]

John,

Isn't it your logo on the 2nd picture on the left side of this ebay add?
( http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIO-MASTERING-...QQcmdZViewItem ).

I doubt that someone else has the same logo and is in the Mastering business :roll:

[Cucco]

OUCH!!!!! :!:

John - I'd be pissed as HELL about that one!

I also bet if you contacted Lipinski, he could tell you whose room that is on the right with his monitors hanging over the control desk.

Is someone prepared to give this guy an on-line bitch-slap yet?

[audiowkstation]

Sure looks like it. John..?

I do about 80 or so percent on line mastering. FTP or U send it gets the tracks here. I compile a list of questions after listening to your music and then we get busy. Details on my site. I do my best..clients are pleased.

I maintain open communication and interaction. It is very nice to get a free sample of your mix..mastered by the prospective mastering house before you decide. Rates can vary depending on the amopunt of preparness you have put into your mixes. Some are basket cases and hands need to be held to assure the best results, others just need another set of ears and some fine balancing. It is all relative.

[Cucco]

Come to think about it - if you've trademarked your logo and/or copyrighted your photos, I wouldn't be pissed at all - this clown just earned you a lot of money in court! Just hope he has liability insurance and you can take him for the limits!!!!

[Thomas W. Bethel]

John,

Isn't it your logo on the 2nd picture on the left side of this ebay add?
( http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIO-MASTERING-...QQcmdZViewItem ).

I doubt that someone else has the same logo and is in the Mastering business :roll:

I am not too sure you can copyright a picture of a blank reel . It may be someone's logo but it is also the same picture that is used by a lot of companies that sell 10.5" take-up reels. You would have to prove that this was unique in some way.

I have seen pictures of microphones used for logos for studios but not only can that not be copyrighted (if it is recognizable microphone from a microphone company) the person that is using the likeness of a microphone for there studio logo is in direct violation of copyright law. This would be especially true if it were a instantly recognizable microphone like an RCA-77DX or Shure SM-58.

Just for clarification.

[Cucco]

John,

Isn't it your logo on the 2nd picture on the left side of this ebay add?
( http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIO-MASTERING-...QQcmdZViewItem ).

I doubt that someone else has the same logo and is in the Mastering business :roll:

I am not too sure you can copyright a picture of a blank reel . It may be someone's logo but it is also the same picture that is used by a lot of companies that sell 10.5" take-up reels. You would have to prove that this was unique in some way.

I have seen pictures of microphones used for logos for studios but not only can that not be copyrighted (if it is recognizable microphone from a microphone company) the person that is using the likeness of a microphone for there studio logo is in direct violation of copyright law. This would be especially true if it were a instantly recognizable microphone like an RCA-77DX or Shure SM-58.

Just for clarification.

Not so. You can copyright any image that you create. You are correct in that you need to prove it that you created it, but if he watermarked it or if it is used in its exact likeness, it would be very easy to determine.

Bear in mind, ANYTHING that you create in this country (and I believe most countries internationally) is automatically protected by copyright now - no paperwork filing necessary. The burden of proof, however, lies on the person claiming infringement. This is true of recordings, songs and lyrics, photos, poop-art and so on. (The most common form of copyright protection, which I refer to as "poor-man's copyright" is to simply place a copy of your intellectual property into an envelope and send it registered mail to yourself. Do not open the item - ever. If you ever need to prove when you created your masterpiece, you have a federal document - err, mail - showing a legal, court-worthy date.)

As for using a microphone such as an RCA 77DX or so in an image as part of your logo - that is perfectly legal. You can't copyright an idea. If you were to take a picture of the 77DX, then that particular image is copyrighted, but not the concept of using the microphone in an image. To be sure though, it's always wise to get the blessing of the company before you do it. Many companies (such as Monster Cable) encourage this kind of thing, as it promotes brand recognition.

If using an item in a logo were illegal, then showing a person driving a Chevy during a Pepsi commercial would be illegal.

However, if you used the Chevy cross as part of your logo or in print advertising which is advertising yourself, then yes, you are in direct violation.

Truth be told, if this yahoo did take John's logo which John either created or had created for him (in otherwords - paid a graphic artist and the GA released all rights to it), then he has a legitimate law suit on his hands.

Book EM Danno!

8-)