CD Mastering: $150 plus $50 per track

For example, an 10-track album is $650. The mastering rate covers everything - even FedEx overnight delivery to replication if needed. There are no hidden charges. I am happy to embed CD-Text, ISRC codes, and UPC codes upon request (though most major label releases don't include any of them). Individual tracks that are not part of a CD project are billed at $100 each. If for any reason you request changes after approving final masters, you will be billed a flat rate of $180 to cover the cost of preparing and mailing new masters.

Out of fairness, everybody pays the same rate. I don't do "friend deals" or bulk discounts, so please don't try to negotiate a discount. My rates are quite competitive considering my years of experience, gear, and room. In fact, I challenge you to find someone with as many album credits who charges less. It is my sincere belief that a great mastering job will more than pay for itself in the long run. Put another way, can you afford bad sound?

Standard turnaround is one week, and your project is guaranteed to be completed within two weeks. There's no need to schedule your project in advance. Whenever you're ready, go ahead and upload it!

Payment in full is required before I begin work. If that poses a problem, let me know and we'll figure something out. I prefer a check, but also accept all major credit cards through PayPal.

The mastering procedure:

1. You submit your tracks (either via mail or the internet), payment, and the following information:

• Artist name
• Release title
• Track order
• Details concerning fades or overlaps, with specific times if possible
• CD-Text information, ISRC codes, and UPC codes (optional)
• A reference track for me to match (optional)
  

2. I review the materials. If the mixes aren't properly prepared, I may ask you to render the files again. If I hear any problems that would best be corrected on your end, I'll let you know. If I hear glaring problems in a number of the tracks, I may suggest mix consultation. If you can't make changes to the mixes, let me know and I'll just do the best I can.

IMPORTANT: At this point, please don't listen to your mixes anymore. Take some time off (you deserve it!) and listen to other major label releases in the genre. That way you'll be able to audition the mastered files with fresh ears and an open mind.

3. I master the tracks and post the files online. 

4. You download the mastered tracks and audition them on several playback systems.

IMPORTANT: Please compare them to major label releases in the genre, rather than your unmastered versions, or worse, your own rough mastering. I can always make it brighter and/or louder, but how does it stack up to the classics of the genre that have sold millions of copies?

5. Any adjustments you request are made.

6. I post new versions for your review and approval. If necessary, I'll make further adjustments.

7. Once you approve the mastering, I create a reference burn and production master. The reference burn is identical your replication master and should be used for your reference playback, and for any CD-R copies you'd like to make for yourself, band members, family, friends, press, radio, etc. If I'm doing the replication, I'll send you the reference burn and an invoice for your records. If not, I'll also include the production master and cue sheet to pass on to your replicator.

8. If you'd like to credit me in your liner notes, I'd appreciate it! Mastered by Brian Hazard at Resonance Mastering www.resonancemastering.com is most common, but feel free to phrase it however you'd like.

Mixing / Mix Consultation: $90 per hour

I'm happy to provide samples of my mixing work on request. Three albums I recently mixed are The Deadliest Fairytales by Rain Rain, Exhibition by Die Brücke (except tracks 1, 5, and 13), and The Thought Chapter by Color Theory (my own recording project). Depending on the complexity of the mix, the first song usually takes 4-6 hours including vocal editing. Additional songs may only take half that long, because I can re-use some of my settings. If hiring me to mix your whole album is cost prohibitive, you might consider hiring me to mix one song (preferably the "hit single"), then create a PDF file detailing what plug-ins I used on each track and why. That document becomes your template to mix the rest of the album to match.

I'm often hired just to do the vocal "pocketing" - adjusting the pitch and rhythm of the vocal to best convey the emotion of the song. My background as an accompanist and singer makes me well suited for the role. It usually takes me about an hour per minute of singing.