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EQ Session Time

The studio time required will vary according to each project. Please call or email Rachel Higgins or Scott Sperlich for a specific quote based on your project requirements and length. We do not charge a flat rate.

207 828 9400 staff@gatewaymastering.com

Prepare as much as possible beforehand by choosing mixes, sequencing, and deciding on gap lengths. If you decide a particular track needs to be edited between several mixes, doing so before mastering will be more cost effective. If you want to use different versions such as “vocal up” or “guitar down” for certain parts of a track, it means that each section of these versions must be EQ’d. This will add to the EQ session time.

We book sessions many weeks in advance so we can’t always accommodate last minute requests for album projects, but we always try to rearrange our schedule so that we can meet your deadline. If you know that you would like to work at Gateway Mastering Studios please call when you start to mix and put a day on hold for the approximate time you would like to master. That way we have a day held for you
that we can move if need be.

We need as much information about your source material as possible in order to prepare the session properly. This includes the date of all arriving formats, sequence and most importantly mix choices!

When you call for a quote or to book a session we’ll need to know program length. Also, how the mastered audio will be used will determine sampling rates, delivery formats and deadlines.

We generally book one day for a stereo CD and mastering is usually completed that day. References may be taken that day, posted to FTP sites, shipped that day or the next, depending on courier deadlines. Revisions that are requested will be scheduled as quickly as possible and subsequent references sent out for approval.

Please don’t pre-master or compress in pro tools, as this leaves less room to make changes once the mastering engineer evaluates your mixes. But in addition to your master mixes please send any other listening references that you have created for approvals.

Attended sessions
All clients are welcome to attend mastering sessions, however it sometimes lengthens the amount of hours in the studio, which will affect your final cost.

If you are unfamiliar with the mastering process and not sure what kind of changes can be made, then it would be wise to send one or two representative tracks and have them mastered. Then you can compare on your own monitors and other systems and have an idea of what can be done. This is also helpful when you are working in an unfamiliar mix studio and want to get some independent feedback. Investing in one hour of studio time to do this at the mastering studio may save time and therefore money when you are ready to complete the project.

Are your masters well labeled? Are you wondering how to label your masters, and what information will be useful to Bob or Adam on the day of your mastering session? Adam recently wrote an article for Mix Magazine, on behalf of the NARAS Producers & Engineers wing, explaining how to best label your sources before sending them for mastering.

Check it out:
http://mixonline.com/recording/mastering/audio_notes_pe_wing/

Once all the appropriate parties have approved the mastering, we then schedule quality control and production for the specific end use. We critically listen to the audio on all production masters because any digital transfers can induce problems and we want to make sure your end product is error free.

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Gateway Mastering Studios Production Worksheet

Methods of Payment Accepted

• Cash In Advance payment required for foreign and first time clients.
• The balance due is payable upon completion of the session and before parts ship. Any credit balance will
  be returned to you with the final invoice.
• Please have the funds to us 5 business days before the session.
• We do not accept credit cards.
• Personal or company checks payable to Gateway Mastering Studios Inc.
• Wire transfers in US dollars including all bank fees. Please call or email for bank wire information.
• If a client takes references or production parts with them, rather than shipping, the State of Maine
  charges 5% sales tax on the studio time. Any Maine clients must be charged sales tax whether the
  session is attended or not.

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