FAQ

• What is "mastering"?
  • As the demand on quality of music productions has increased enormously over the past years, professional mastering gains in importance.
  • The primary object is to prepare the audio material best possibly for the copying in the pressing plant or for the digital sale.
  • The central points are frequency response, dynamic, stereo width mono compatibility and loudness.
  
  
• Why should I master my productions in a professional mastering studio?
  • High -end- mastering offers an enormous gain in quality for your productions. Your music sounds much more professional, powerful, balanced, consistent and above all “more precious”. Not only in the studio, but also on your hi-fi system, on your iPod, on grandma’s kitchen radio, in the car and on the club- PA.
  • The acoustics in a good mastering studio in combination with the class A studio monitors enable to show details in a mix that would remain undetected on “conventional systems”.
  • An objective mastering engineer often discovers flaws in the mix that a mixing engineer would not find because of his lack of distance to the mix. Thus, even the most renowned recording studios give their productions to experienced mastering specialists.
  
  
• Why is Highend-Mastering the optimal mastering studio for me?
  • We are sure of the fact that there is no other mastering studio all over the world where the three central criteria of quality, service and price are attractive in equal measure.
  • We unify appreciation of music and tactfulness with technical and analytical precision. That means we combine the art of music with the science of sound.
  • Especially in online mastering the communication is often missed out. This is different at Silver Sound. You may communicate your individual sound conceptions to us. We realise them! In case you have any requests for modification of the master, 1-2 retroactive revisions are even included in the price sie um!
  • With special offer prices for self-financing artists we provide an opportunity to take advantage of professional mastering.
  • We use exclusively high quality equipment on a digital and analogue level: amongst others compressors, limiters and EQs of Manley, Drawmer, Avalon, Api and Urei.
• How do I prepare my mix for optimal mastering results?
  • Please switch dithering and noise- shaping off while creating the stereo mix. Please do not put any effects in your stereo sum (no limiter, multiband- compressors, sum- EQs or the like)
  • The stereo sum must not clip or distort. We therefore recommend that you leave at least 2-3 dB headroom in your mix. So the level should never exceed a top of -2dB.
• Which file formats are accepted and in which format do I get my master?
  • We accept .wav and .aiff files with a resolution / sampling rate of at least 16 bits / 44,1 kHz or higher.
  • For optimal results we recommend a resolution of 24 bits and 96 kHz.
  • Upon completion of the master you receive your audio data according to Red Book Standard via download link as a .zip file with password protection. Optionally, we offer DDP image files, recording of a master CD inclusive ISRC code, CD text and EAN.
• How can I accord you my audio material?
  • Thanks to our upload form the data transfer is as easy to operate as possible. In one step the audio files may be loaded directly on our web server
  • Click the button “upload” on our website or on myspace. On request we send you your personal password.
  • In case you prefer a transmission via FTP we send you the appropriate FTP data.
  • Alternatively, you can post us your files.
    Post office box: Highend-Mastering / P.O-Box 70 21 10 / 22021 Hamburg.
• How can I convey my sound conception to Highend-Mastering?
  • To handle your sound conception optimally we recommend the upload of a sound reference (e.g. a chart production of another music artist you like).
  • You can also describe your sound conception to us in detail and add it as a txt. file.
• Why don’t you offer mixing at a fixed price?
  • As the effort of dubbing depends on the number and the preparation of the tracks we do not offer any fixed price.
  • But we will be glad to make you an individual offer after a review of the audio material. For that purpose, please load all tracks of the song, cut on 0, in one folder as an uncompressed zip- or rar- file on our server.
• What do I have to take note of with upcoming pressings?
  • Our navigator window allows you to plan your production, calculate and gather extensive information like specifications.
  • You find the required forms like e.g. license agreements for different media as well as the Gema application for exemption available for download on our website.
  • Please contact us when you have further inquiries.
• Which methods of payment are accepted?
  • As new customer please send us your address data and your e-mail address after the upload of your data. After receipt of an invoice you can pay the amount either per bank transfer, paypal or by credit card.

Here you can download our faq:

Highend-Mastering FAQ (PDF)