I primarily do audio mastering, but I also do mixing. I do not currently have a proper vocal recording booth here, so no recording services are offered.

Mixing is when you take several separate tracks—for instance, a stereo instrumental track and 4 vocal tracks, or several instrumental tracks—and you combine them so that all of the levels between all of those separate tracks, in every section of the song, are balanced and sound like they should. Often effects like reverb and delay are added to certain tracks at this stage, and this is also when any special editing (whether comping a vocal track or adding a special effect or process) would be done.

Once the mix is completed, and everyone is in agreement that it sounds like it should, then you're ready to have it mastered. The mastering process will prepare the recording for release in whatever medium you intend for it to be released—digitally, on CD, on vinyl, or even on tape. Mastering for different formats can sometimes affect the cost of the mastering service, as they often require different techniques or even different masters.

Mixing is what you do when you have several independent audio files and you need to have them mixed together to have a finished song (which is usually presented as a single, stereo audio file); mastering is what you do when you have a mixed, 2-track (stereo) audio file that you want to put the finishing touches on, and to prepare the track for release, radio airplay, and/or duplication. The mastering stage is also where any metadata would be added to the song file.

I don't send out other people's material that I have mastered, for several reasons—including the fact that how someone else wants their music to sound may be quite different from how you want your music to sound, and also because someone else's unmastered music may sound quite different to start with—but I do offer free samples of my mastering abilities to new clients using their own, unmastered material; just send me an audio file of the finished mix of your song (preferrably in .wav or .aif format), and I'll get a sample worked up and on the way to you as soon as possible.

Please also send any notes or examples of other mastered material that you like the sound of, which will help me determine the best choices to make with your material; without sending any additional info besides your unmastered song, I won't be able to meet any specific requirements or goals that you may have for your music...so please, help me give you the best finished product that I can deliver, and share the details of your expectations with me when you send your source material for the free sample!

I offer mastering for single songs for a flat rate of $45 each (for up to 6 minutes), and albums for $400 (up to 14 songs/60 minute maximum). I also offer an EP rate for $240 (up to 7 songs/30 minute maximum).

Let me know the details if your project exceeds any of those limits, and I'll get you a custom price for your specific situation.

My mixing rates vary from project to project; pricing will depend on how many individual tracks are involved, whether there is editing/comping to be done to any tracks, whether additional effects will need to be added, etc. I am happy to offer a free quote to mix your song, though; just send over all of the materials (all of the basic tracks, plus any instruction/etc.) and I'll let you know the price to mix it.

And every song that I mix, I'll also master it for free! That's right, mastering is included with every mix project that I do, if the client so desires it.

I have a robust Mac Pro on which I have several DAWs to choose from: Pro Tools 11, Pro Tools 8, Cubase LE 4, and Harrison Mixbus 2, as well as PreMaster CD 3. I generally rely on UAD plugins, but I also have a vast array of other plugins, too, from folks like Sonnox (Oxford), Waves, FabFilter, Eventide, Scarlett (Focusrite), SPL, Sonalksis, Trillium Lane Labs, and Lexicon. I have Auto-Tune 7, plus a whole slew of other Antares plugins. I have a pair of vintage dbx 163 compressors, plus vintage Ibanez and Univox analog delay units, as well as outboard gear from BBE, Universal Audio, Focusrite, M-Audio, Aphex, Mackie, and Behringer.

I have three monitoring systems that I can easily switch between: the main system is a pair of JBL 4311s, which are 12-inch, 3-way professional monitors, powered by a Yamaha P2100 power amp and augmented by a White Instruments 4700 room equalizer and a 400-watt, 15-inch subwoofer; the secondary system is a pair of Yamaha NS-10Ms powered by a Yamaha P2050 power amp; and the tertiary system is a pair of Auratone 5PSCs powered by a Hafler P1000 trans-ana amplifier. Everything but the Hafler amp is vintage.

Wait a minute, you might be saying; aren't those the same kinds of monitoring systems that one could expect to find in some of the biggest and best recording studios around over the last 40 years or so?

Why, yes; as a matter of fact they are. I've collected a lot of gear from other studios over the years, and that's most evident in my monitoring systems. Here in my home studio, I may not have the purpose-built, acoustician-designed, multi-million dollar listening/playback room that a lot of those high-dollar studios have...but what I do have is a modified (and highly improved, from an audio perspective) environment that I am very familiar with the acoustics of, and that I am able to get amazing, world-class results from—results that are comparable to, and in many cases far superior to, what you would get from a lot of other places that are far more expensive.

I am located in Marietta, Georgia, in Atlanta's northern suburbs...but thanks to the miracle that is the internet, I'm happy to provide mastering services to the entire world.

At this time, I do not offer the option for clients to attend mastering sessions; this allows me to book more sessions, get finished materials back to the client faster, and ultimately to master more music.

I generally work with PayPal payments (please send payment to me at info@mariettaaudiomastering.com), and you can use the link below to send me a payment in any amount using PayPal, e-check, credit card, or debit card (PayPal account required for PayPal or e-check payment).

Miscellaneous Payment

Actually, I do! I can also transfer audio cassettes, 8-track tapes, 4-track (multitrack) cassettes, 8-track (multitrack) cassettes, vinyl (any size/speed), DAT tapes and microcassettes, to .wav files or any other digital format. I can repair/enhance/improve any transfers, as well as any currently existing digital material, through a complex process involving classic and contemporary techniques using analog and digital equipment. I can extract audio from video files (including VHS tapes), and I can also "clean-up" audio files to remove background or other noises. I also offer transcript services for any audio or video files. And I have limited on-site/remote recording capabilities, so I may be able to help if you have a need in that area as well.

All additional services are priced per project; please contact me with the details about your specific circumstance, and I'll get you a custom price.

If you still have questions, please contact me with the details and I'll get back to you as quickly as I can. If it's a question of universal appeal, I'll add it to this FAQ.