The Art of Mastering
        

In the recording studio, you record one song at a time, and the focus of the recording or mixing engineer is to make each song great.
The result, however, is generally a collection of songs that all peak at different levels and may have different EQs.
In the post production phase (called mastering), a professional engineer unifies the CD by using EQ, compression, and other dynamics
processing to give it a consistent sound from track to track.

In addition, post production can raise your album's overall level through the careful use of compression, so your album can compete with any major
label release. The mastering engineer also ensures that your music will sound great - whether it's being played through a car stereo, a portable
CD player, or a top-of-the-line stereo system. In mastering, the sound of your CD will be optimized, making it sound punchy, warm, and full, while
raising the overall level (volume) and highlighting details that aren't already apparent. Post production is also helpful for addressing issues
such as "pops," out-of-phase tracks, and overall noise reduction.

A fresh pair of ears can be the difference between a good sounding CD and a great one. A real advantage of post production is that an
unbiased sound professional has the opportunity to evaluate your master and determine how to get the most out of your production.
After you've spent weeks or even months in a recording studio listening to your CD over and over again,
a fresh pair of ears can put the project into perspective for you and let you know whether or not your CD will benefit from post production.
After all, you only have one chance to make your music sound its best. The choice is up to you.
The mastering engineer, to improve your recording, can:

• Raise the overall level.

• Even out song levels and EQ individual tracks for cohesion.

• Correct minor mix deficiencies with equalization.

• Enhance flow by changing the space between tracks.

• Eliminate noises between tracks.

CD mastering is the level beyond where your recording sounded great in the studio. The basic CD mastering process
is fairly straight forward, but then comes the experience which allows you to cross the mastering line to where
amateurs fear to tread. At Hot Tracks we  then push beyond that line and gives you a master that's hotter,
cleaner and bigger. The CD mastering process includes; formatting, P&Q code editing, program order editing, cross fading,
spectral enhancements, 3D enhancements, 3 types of equalization, de-essing, compression, limitation etc. CD mastering is
produced via digital and/or analog to make the final product the hottest, most viable radio ready CD master available.
CD mastering also includes signal processing to optimize song levels to commercial (radio broadcast) standards.
It includes normalization, spacing of songs, resequencing of songs, fades, noise reduction, and any digital
editing needed to maximize the sonic quality of your recordings.

Mastering is sophisticated audio processing that enhances and technically
prepares your final mix for CD replication,
and other processes that are essential for a properly mastered record
including maximizing relative playback volume and track continuity.
 Aesthetic adjustments to program material, and transfer from mix formats to problem free,
reproducible formats acceptable for manufacture.

Expensive mastering gear like compressors, specialized equalizers,
and accurate reference monitors separate true mastering facilities
from edit rooms with inexpensive digital editing software".

 Variable Compressor are used by hundreds of
professional mastering studios from The Hit Factory to Masterdisk.
Its many applications include adding "warmth", "punch",
and an overall smoothness to the finished product.

We can increase the clarity of many frequencies
 to correct certain problems
associated with compromised recording and / or mixing.
 

DIGITAL AUDIO ARCHIVING

We archive extended resolution (24 bit) audio data prior to requantization to 16 bit for CD recording. Archiving at this resolution
facilitates economical revisions to your CD production master and preserves your data for future releases. We archive file level data.

AUDIO RESTORATION

We correct audio from your damaged or corrupt original format (see acceptable formats above) and transfer to CD-R,
or any of our archive formats. Other formats are available by special request.

INTERNET AUDIO FILE MASTERING

We prepare audio files for optimal sound quality in efficient delivery formats. Mastering for the Internet includes
sweetening, editing, sequencing, requantization, down sampling, dithering, noise shaping, file formatting
and re-recording to Iomega cartridges, floppy disks or CD-R.
Custom mastering for the Internet controls bandwidth requirements, reduces download times, contributes to
glitch free streaming, and most importantly, creates a dramatic audio improvement for the listener.

JBL Professional  Reference Monitors are designed specifically for mastering
applications where extreme listening accuracy is demanded.  The
mastering engineer needs to hear exactly what is transpiring
in the mix so proper signal processing can be applied.

 MAJOR POST PRODUCTION & MASTERING:

Detailed Full spectrum EQ and compression
 Noise Reduction
3-D Stereo imaging
Compression
Hum removal
High resolution final limiting
Final limiting and one Master CD
 

MINOR POST PRODUCTION & MASTERING

Full spectrum EQ and compression
Spatial stereo imaging
High resolution final limiting
Final limiting and one Master CD
 

STANDARD MASTERING

Sequencing and cross fading
Final limiting and one Master CD
 

 COMMERCIAL RADIO EDITING & MASTERING

Reverse editing of language
EQ and compression
Final limiting and one Master CD -radio play ready
 
 

Here is the short version

If you cant stand the way your CD's or DVD's sound

Get Them Mastered !