High-Definition Multi-Format Mastering

What is Mastering?

Mastering is an essential but frequently overlooked and misunderstood part of making a great-sounding record. The process of Mastering entails transferring audio from your mix master (analog tape, digital file, audio CD, DAT, cassette, etc.) to a medium that can be used for mass duplication and/or distribution (such as a lacquer disc for a vinyl release, a DDP image or Redbook Standard audio CD for a CD release, or a digital distribution file set for a digital/streaming release). In the course of this process, numerous enhancements, edits and alterations can be made, as dictated by the nature of the project and the client’s wishes. 

Justin Phelps has been mastering albums since 1997. His involvement in this mysterious art was ramped up in 2009 when he moved from San Fransisco to Portland. At that point he received some final training from legendary engineers John Cuniberti at The Plant Mastering in Sausalito CA and Rick McMillen at Super Digital in Portland OR. Since then he has mastered approximately 400 projects for regional, national and international artists.

Justin’s mastering credits include:

​Emily Wells, Everyone Orchestra, Fruition, Rich Kids On LSD, Amanda Richards, March Fourth, All Classical FM, Jet Boy, Lynx, MDC, Dead Kennedys, DOA, Robin Jackson, Sassparilla, Lila Rose, Logan Lynn, Ryan Lewis, The Dandy Warhols, Tiffany, Double Plus Good, Moon Museum, Volume Bomb Records, Rise Records, Fat Wreck Chords, Cartesian Binary Records and Hallowed Halls Presents live concert documentary series among many others.

THE BENEFITS OF QUALITY MASTERING

  • The Hallowed Halls, Portland, Oregon

    A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

    The opportunity to have a pair of seasoned, experienced ears analyze your mixes on exceptional playback equipment in a well-tuned room. A mastering studio's accurate monitoring can expose flaws in your mixes that had previously not been apparent.

  • The Hallowed Halls, Portland, Oregon

    MIXING FIRST-AID

    The opportunity to fix problems detected when it's too late to remix (remove clicks and pops, adjust levels, correct frequency imbalances, reduce noise, etc.).

  • The Hallowed Halls, Portland, Oregon

    AN ALBUM WITH FLOW

    The opportunity to fine-tune the sequencing of your master, including adjusting or adding fade-ins and fade-outs, crossfades, and space between tracks... even adding tracks from multiple recording sessions in multiple formats to the final album program.

  • The Hallowed Halls, Portland, Oregon

    AUDIO SWEETENING

    Use world-class processing (EQ, compression, limiting, stereo field adjustment, etc.) to enhance your mixes making them even better than the already great mixes you left the studio with. Often it is the work done in this phase that helps the recording stack up to other commercial recordings.

Pricing

  • Single Track Mastering

    Mastering for single songs and scores:

    0 - 7 Minutes in Length - $100

  • Album Track Mastering

    Mastering for additional album songs and scores:

    0 - 7 Minutes in Length - $70

    7 - 10 Minutes in Length - $100

    10+ Minutes in Length - $120

    Note: First track of an album is billed at Single Track rate, with additional tracks billed at Album Track rate.

  • Additional Mastering Versions

    Streaming Versions, Vinyl Premasters, Alternative Edit Versions, Instrumental Versions, and Alternative Volume Versions can be added to any project for half the price of the original version.

  • All Mastering projects include:

    Initial listen through with client, analog audio processing, digital audio processing, sectional mastering adjustments as needed, post processing listen through with client, one round of revisions, metadata insertion, two digital master formats of client's choosing, one CDR reference copy if needed.

    Additional rounds of Mastering revisions will be billed at Studio B's hourly rate ($60/hour).