CD Mastering Checklist

Welcome to Mike Wells Mastering

Welcome to Mike Wells Mastering

CD Mastering

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Mastering Checklist

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	Services: CD Mastering - Checklist for your session To assist you in having the best possible session, below you will find a checklist of items & tasks to consider in preparation for your mastering session. You may also download this document in PDF format here.
	General Notes:
	Delivering Media: You may deliver your digital files (.WAV, .AIF, etc...) via FTP transfer. Upon confirmation of booking your session, you will be provided with login/password information. If you are mailing your media (any media type) and using the US Postal Service, you are strongly encouraged you to purchase Delivery Confirmation. The additional $0.50 is worth $500.00 in headaches when you don't know where your package is and the USPS isn't helping. Other carriers (UPS, FedEX, etc..) have tracking numbers by default. Please email the carrier type used and tracking number when you submit materials via the mail to avoid delivery problems. Digital Processing: In general, there are a number of tools available to you in your DAW that you should avoid using on your audio prior to mastering. Therefore, please do NOT use the following on your tracks after you have mixed them: Limiting / Maximization / Compression Normalization Fade-Ins or Fade-Outs Equalization Track Sequencing: You don't need to have your tracks in the proper sequence prior to mastering. The proper track sequence will be created in the mastering workstation at the time of your session. It is, however, a very good idea to have an idea of what order you want the tracks in or a few versions of track order. If you would like cross-fades to occur between any adjoining tracks in the sequence, I recommend creating an example of the crossfades, track sequence, and track ID's as you would like them as an Audio CD. This will greatly aid in the sequence step of the mastering process. Labeling: "The More The Merrier" is the thing to remember here. The more specific your documentation is, the smoother your session will go. If you are submitting multiple mixes of the same track, please note the differences on your media. For example: Track 3 "A New Day" (Vocal +1dB).
	Analog Tapes:
	If you are providing your mixes to mastering on analog tape, please follow these guidelines: Print alignment tones on your tape for 30 seconds/per tone at 0dBu (1kHz, 10kHz, 15kHz, and 100Hz) at the beginning of each reel. Keep tapes tail-out to prevent print-through. Include the following information on each tape box label: Artist Release Contact information (Name, Phone number) Song titles included on reel Times per song Tape Speed Record level for 0dBu in nw/M Record eq (CCIR or NAB) Stereo or Mono Any notes you would like to add about the tapes
	DAT media:
	Follow these guidelines when submitting DAT tapes for mastering: Always send in a Digital Copy of your original DAT, and keep your original Create a track ID marker at the beginning of each track on your source DAT If you haven't mixed yet, it's a good idea to start recording after the first 2-3 minutes on the DAT, to avoid any bad tape at the head of the cartridge. Print a 1kHz tone at 0dBu as it reads on your mixing desk. You will notice a difference in value on your DAT machine (depending on the make/model). If you will be mixing to DAT, I recommend using (or renting) a high-quality A/D converter to interface with the DAT machine, rather than using the converters built with the machine. Include the following information on each DAT tape label: Artist Release Contact information (Name, Phone number) Song titles included on cartridge Start times of each track Approximate length of each track Sample Rate (44.1 or 48) Bit Depth (16 or 24)
	CD-R / DVD-R / DVD+R media:
	Follow these guidelines when submitting removable disc media for mastering: ISO 9660, Hybrid, or Joliet formats are required. If you are on a PC one of these will come by default (most likely Joliet). If you are on a MAC, you will need to find the option in your CD Burning software to specify ISO 9660 or Hybrid (Mac & PC compatible). In software such as Toast, this setting is in the Options dialog. Put your media in a case, avoid paper sleeves or no case/sleeve at all. Include the following information on each J-Card label: Artist Release Contact information (Name, Phone number) Song titles included on the media Sample Rate (16 - 192) Bit Depth (16 - 32) File Format used (.WAV, .AIF, .BWF, .SD2, etc...) Stereo or Dual-Mono
	CD Audio:
	CD Audio is the least-attractive option for submitting your mixes to mastering. For example, if you have been working in a 24-bit format (ProTools, etc..), then creating an Audio CD to submit to mastering is incurring a bit reduction that can be avoided.
	Alesis Masterlink:
	If you are mixing to an Alesis Masterlink, please use or rent a high-quality A/D converter to use in front of the Masterlink, rather than its internal converters. Once you have your mixes in the masterlink, please name the tracks as specifically as you can using 8 characters and create a CD24 disc of your mixes. Why 8 characters? The CD 24 format is basically the ISO 9660 format, and this format will only create a filename with 8 characters. Therefore, if your track is called "A New Day" and it is the Vocal +1dB version, an example would be "NEWVOX_1", etc...
	Other Digital/Optical Formats:
	If you would like to send in a hard-disc, or media from another external digital recorder, please follow these guidelines: Create a backup of your original media, and send the BACKUP Please advice in advance what format/media you are sending in. You will be advised if a rental is necessary. so there are no surprises and your session can go smoothly. If the device supports export to a 2-track digital format like .WAV, etc... that may be a preferable route for you, simply provide the .WAV files/etc... on a CD-R or DVD+/-R.