

Neither of these companies advertise with us so we don’t make anything by recommending them to you. Their mastering engineers have an excellent track record of working on some of the biggest releases in music history. Our advice is to choose a trusted mastering brand that have credentials such as Abbey Road or Metropolis. If they seem super cheap for the service then trust the old maxim… “if it seems too good to be true then it is.” Music mastering is a quality not quantity service. If they quote thousands of tracks mastered then remember it’s not how many they’ve done but what they’ve done. In many ways you would be better off using automated mastering or even doing it yourself. Avoid the pile it high, sell it cheap approach. Therefore before you use an online mastering service be warned not all of them are the same. It can sometimes be a case of ‘send us the mix… here’s your master.’ However, one of the reasons many people choose to use a professional mastering engineer is for the human touch and the personal service, this can sometimes be lost with online mastering services. However, with the advent of high speed internet connections it’s now easier to send and review your masters. In many ways the online mastering service is very similar to the professional mastering engineer. Sometimes better at mastering some genres than others - worth checking their credits. Often have a small roster of clients to maintain quality. Often years of experience working on some of the most listened to music on the planet.Ī deep understanding of the technical sides of mastering.įewer risks than some of the cheaper services. So a mastering engineer wears many hats, for some they become a trusted partner in the process. For some, a mastering engineer is a wise set of objective ears in the production process, helping to put the artist’s mind at rest as they put their music out into the universe.

However, a mastering engineer is more than just someone who does technical stuff. To make an album sound good on vinyl or cassette was sometimes a feat of magic, this is where they earned their money. Their job was based both on years of skill and judgement.

The top audio engineers earned their reputation working on some of the most iconic music in recording history.
