What mastering house is best for metal/hardcore?

[Gujukal]

So im soon done with my band's album and we want it professionally mastered. But first we will release a single and i need it mastered. Which studio should i choose? I've been thinking about Joey Sturgis or 4D Sounds, which would you prefer?

 

[Christian WUFU]

For metalcore your best bets would probably be Joey, or Joshua Wickman (dreadcore studios). That's assuming your mix isn't a train wreck.

 

[Gujukal]

Ok, does Joey have an email so you could send the song? I've contacted him on Twitter since he seems to be pretty active there but it's easier to send stuff via email.

 

[Christian WUFU]

Ok, does Joey have an email so you could send the song? I've contacted him on Twitter since he seems to be pretty active there but it's easier to send stuff via email.

"Rates are negotiated between the client (you) and my manager, and you can contact my manager here: craig@riserecords.com"

 

[JeffTD]

The one your mix engineer trusts most.

 

[Humidfume]

Acle at 4D Sounds fucking rules man! Seriously check his stuff out! If you go that way let him know I sent ya (Joseph Parry) might get ya a better deal

www.4dsounds.com

 

[Gujukal]

Thanks Christian!

Venemorte: Yeah he seem to be amazing at mastering, if i'm not happy with Joey's i'll probably try 4D Sounds

 

[Machinated]

i'd be more inclined to go for the likes of metropolis/sterling etc. most places will be will to discuss what you're looking to achieve and maybe even a test sample if you're lucky.

 

[Humidfume]

Thanks Christian!

Venemorte: Yeah he seem to be amazing at mastering, if i'm not happy with Joey's i'll probably try 4D Sounds

NP man!

 

[JeffTD]

Joey has been a good dude to me over the years but to say he's a mastering engineer is a little weird; you're going to get presets pretty much and it'll sound good/like Joey, but know that he's admitted publicly to spending like 15minutes on album mastering jobs.

 

[Humidfume]

Go with 4D mate, Acle does it right!

 

[guitarfishbay]

i'd be more inclined to go for the likes of metropolis/sterling etc. most places will be will to discuss what you're looking to achieve and maybe even a test sample if you're lucky.

I've used Sterling twice so far.

First time I didn't give clear enough instructions and it came back not quite how I wanted it, but the band were happy.

Second time I gave really specific instructions and they nailed what I wanted.

At the price it can be a bit scary to want to go for any corrections (the hourly rate is about twice the mix price IIRC) but they have some of the top mastering engineers in the world at that studio.

FWIW I used Ryan Smith both times, but I'd be tempted to use Ue Natasi for metal, his credit list is pretty awesome. http://sterling-sound.com/engineers/ue-nastasi/

 

[Gujukal]

Hmm, I'll probably go with 4D Sounds since Joey hasn't replied and I'm worrying it will sound like every other core-band out there. Should i do analog master? It's just 5 pounds more than digital mastering.

 

[Christian WUFU]

Hmm, I'll probably go with 4D Sounds since Joey hasn't replied and I'm worrying it will sound like every other core-band out there. Should i do analog master? It's just 5 pounds more than digital mastering.

Like Jeff said, Joey would likely run it through his usual setup. So you would wind up with that typical sound that his masters have (IE not stuff he has both mixed and mastered). Him mastering it wouldn't make you sound like "every other core-band" unless you mixed it similarly to him.

Do you want an analog master? I don't think anyone can answer that except for you

Also, did you mix the album yourself? I suggested going with Joey or Josh because I assumed that was the sound you wanted based off of your soundcloud

 

[xTomx]

Alan Douches has done a good portion of my favourite albums:

http://www.westwestsidemusic.com

 

[JeffTD]

I've used Sterling twice so far.

First time I didn't give clear enough instructions and it came back not quite how I wanted it, but the band were happy.

Second time I gave really specific instructions and they nailed what I wanted.

At the price it can be a bit scary to want to go for any corrections (the hourly rate is about twice the mix price IIRC) but they have some of the top mastering engineers in the world at that studio.

FWIW I used Ryan Smith both times, but I'd be tempted to use Ue Natasi for metal, his credit list is pretty awesome. http://sterling-sound.com/engineers/ue-nastasi/

Sterling hasn't been very good since like 2006 or 7, and now if you just send in a file and aren't specifying/paying for Ted Jensen you get an intern or assistant doing your master.

 

[Humidfume]

Hmm, I'll probably go with 4D Sounds since Joey hasn't replied and I'm worrying it will sound like every other core-band out there. Should i do analog master? It's just 5 pounds more than digital mastering.

Ask Acle mate! I'm sure he would do you a comparison or something as a quick demo idea if you were genuinely going for one! He's a great guy!

 

[guitarfishbay]

Sterling hasn't been very good since like 2006 or 7, and now if you just send in a file and aren't specifying/paying for Ted Jensen you get an intern or assistant doing your master.

Surely that would be fraud? I'm not based in the US so not aware of the laws. You book sessions on a per engineer basis, each engineer is a different price and has their own schedules. You don't just send a file over to Sterling, you have to make a specific session booking. If you pick someone directly surely you get that person or else you've been mis sold a service?