Audio Mastering
Mastering work typically includes audio level, dynamics, stereo field, and equalization adjustments; noise & click removal; fades/crossfades; audio restoration; track sequencing & spacing; and metadata encoding.
Two sample tracks will be provided online initially for approval or revisions before we continue on to the remainder of the project and send out an invoice. A reference of the entire project will be provided for evaluation after the invoice has been paid. Revisions to reference uploads may be requested until the project has been approved.
Mastering work is billed based on the total length of the source material in 5 minute blocks (rounded up). Pricing includes revisions and a set of Digital Master Files suitable for Streaming and Downloading. Both 16-bit / 44.1kHz WAV files and High Resolution Audio (HRA) WAV files (that also qualify for the Apple Digital Masters program) are provided.
BOB WESTON
$160 per 5 minutes of material
MATTHEW BARNHART or GREG OBIS
$110 per 5 minutes of material
Additional Services
- Alternate Versions (instrumental, radio edit, alt mix, a cappella, etc.):
BOB: $60 per 5 minutes of material (when supplied with main mixes)
MATTHEW or GREG: $40 per 5 minutes of material (when supplied with main mixes) - DDP Master for CD manufacturing: $80
- Vinyl Cutting Master (high resolution files suitable for disc cutting at another facility): $80
- Cassette Duplication Master (files suitable for cassette manufacturing): $80
- Hourly and attended mastering rates available upon request
info@chicagomasteringservice.com
Vinyl Mastering
We cut your Lacquer Masters from the high resolution mastered audio files that you approved, and then ship them to your pressing plant’s electroplating facility via next-day delivery (due to the time sensitive nature of the relatively soft lacquer grooves after they’ve been cut).
Lacquer Master Discs
12” 33-⅓ rpm LP : $235 per side
12” 45 rpm Single : $190 per side
10″ : $170 per side
7″ : $140 per side
- Additional charges may apply for excessively long side times – see “Vinyl” page for recommended side lengths
- Ask about pricing on multi-disc albums
FLAT-CUT (cutting lacquers from audio mastered at another studio) includes material load-in, set-up, spacing, cutting time, and cost of lacquer discs & shipping materials at the prices listed above. Hourly studio rates apply for any additional audio mastering or restoration work needed.
Payment
Full payment is required before we will release or upload a full set of Reference Tracks, Final Masters, or any source materials.
We accept Cash, Check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, PayPal, ACH transfer, Wise, and Wire Transfer. When using PayPal (this does NOT apply to regular credit card transactions), there is an additional 4.25% added to the total to cover PayPal’s fees. An additional charge of $15 applies to Wire Transfers to cover bank fees incurred.
