How we do it
We start by scheduling a conversation with the artist. We want to know what you like. How you feel about your current mixes. What other albums sound good to you and why? What are you hoping for? What are you looking to avoid? All of this information goes into precisely tailoring the process to achieve exactly the end product you are looking for. We believe that our work is not finished if you are not satisfied. We’re ready to go all out to achieve your artistic goals.
We strongly believe that open communication throughout the process is essential, and we will work to ensure your project adheres to your creative vision.
Here’s what the process looks like:
Free Consult
We start with a call to discuss your project goals and budget. (Let’s do that!)
Free Mix Advice
If you’re not working with a professional engineer, we are happy to give you mix critiques before we start working on your music. We’ve heard tens of thousands of mixes and will work to help you make mixes that will be best for mastering.
If you are working with a professional engineer and they would like mix critiques, we’re happy to work directly with them to help them finish the mixes.
While this is a free service, we do require a deposit towards the eventual session before we do this for you. Also, due to our busy schedule, we sometimes take a week or two to provide this advice.
First Step of the Mastering Process
We listen through all the mixes/songs in sequence to develop a plan. We want the songs to work together as a cohesive album while also maintaining their individuality. We note the similarities and differences of the mixes and we come up with a master vision for the project so that everything sounds its best.
Signal Processing and Mastering in the A-Room
Mastering begins in the A-Room. There, we use the highest quality signal processors (digital and analog) to refine and burnish the sound. If the project includes a co-mastering engineer, or if the band/label are at the session, they listen to each song at this point to make sure that they agree with all the decisions.
Quality Control and Clean-up in the B-Room
Next, it’s time for a full quality-control phase in the B-Room. At this point, another engineer listens to the project from start to finish, judging it by our strict quality standards. If they find that something isn't working, the project is sent back to the A-Room for revision. Quality control also includes artifact removal — the clean up of unwanted noises including digital pops and clicks, distortion, mouth noise, click track, and anything else that detracts from the intended aesthetic of the song. Fades and sequencing are also performed at this stage.
Listening Party
When all this is done, we post the audio files to our secure server for you to check out. Usually at this point, after a good listen, you approve the master. That said, we want you to be happy, so we encourage you to let us know if you have any concerns or think there’s anything that should be done differently. We offer unlimited free revisions. It’s done when you love it.
Wrap-up
Once everything is approved, we prepare the final masters for the formats you need. All the files are posted for download in our secure server area.
Ready to start the process?
“Mastering at Peerless Mastering with Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice is among the most profoundly pleasurable experiences in life. One gets to hear ones music as it really sounds in an exquisite pristine environment and then observe how Jeff immeasurably improves it in infinite subtle ways. When he’s finished, it’s like instead of being in the audience at a concert, it’s like being on stage with the players. My wish for all musicians is that they can enjoy the sonic nirvana of mastering their music at Peerless Mastering with the great generous gracious masterful Jeff Lipton.”