OUR WORK | MASTERING | DOLBY ATMOS | F.A.Q | CONTACT
Top Mastering Engineers in South Africa
Hello I am Des Grey, I provide a dedicated no compromise mastering service. From stereo to immersive and everything in-between.
If you’re an indie artist, there are so many factors you need to keep in mind, to successfully release a project. With that said the hard work and dedication you have for your project should be matched by any professional you choose to work with.
This goes double for any mastering studio, as they’re responsible for the final production step of your release. The project you wrote, performed, perfected, recorded, and mixed, over the span of months or even years is about to be finished.
This is no doubt a big deal and should be treated as such. That’s why picking the right mastering studio for your project is so important.
When choosing the best mastering studio, keep these things in mind. The studio should be affordable, offer revisions, be easy to communicate with, provide an easily accessible online upload and download process, offer consistently great sounding masters, be able to master for multiple mediums, and have knowledge and resources regarding other aspects of music production and release.
Is Affordable:
As an indie artist, you most likely have a strict budget in mind for your release. When you factor in all the other steps required to release music, everything can add up pretty quickly. That’s why an affordable mastering option can keep your expenses within the budget you’ve allocated for your project.
Mastering prices can range wildly – In South Africa, there are many facilities that offer mastering within the R250 to the R450 range, many times these studios are not dedicated facilities, and compromises have been made. It is recommended to start at the R600 per single rate which is the standard entry into professional mastering and many times with a nudge and a conversation you can negotiate a better rate as many facilities have tiered rates based on tracks.
Offers Revisions:
This is something that is often overlooked by artists. If you’re expecting to have differing perceptions in the band or group, or perhaps have a few different ideas as to how you’d like the final master to sound, finding an engineer that accommodates revisions is essential. Nothing is worse than receiving your track, wanting to change a small detail, and getting charged full price for that revision.
Is Easy to Communicate With:
This one is obvious and goes for any professional or friend you want to work with; however, it’s surprising how many engineers neglect this responsibility.
Of course, you want to make sure that your engineer makes time for you and your project. This means finding an engineer that not only cares about the mastering process, but cares about your single, EP, or album.
The best way to find out an engineer’s ability to communicate properly is by contacting them via their preferred method of communication.How long does it take them to get back to you? If the answer takes longer than 12 hours, you might want to consider another engineer.
Offers Great Sounding and Consistent Masters:
This one goes without saying 🙂
Is Able to Master for Multiple Mediums:
A digital release is definitely the most popular at the moment, but what if you plan to release something on vinyl record, or maybe cassette?
You may already know this but each music medium, be it tape, or vinyl, or digital requires certain specifications during mastering that set each mastering process apart from one another.
If you do want your music put on a vinyl record or cassette, you will almost certainly need a separate master for that medium. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and know that the studio you choose is well versed in that type of mastering.
Dedicated Facility:
A dedicated mastering room, that specializes in just mastering will offer a no-compromise service as all their focus and resources will go towards offering the best service possible. These rooms will be superior from acoustics to gear.
Conclusion:
Picking the best mastering engineer or studio may not be the easiest task, but if you take all of the aforementioned points into consideration, coming to a conclusion is that much easier.
Need help with mastering? Drop us a message
LATEST CREDITS
Mastering
STEREO MASTERING | STEM MASTERING | APPLE DIGITAL MASTERS | IMMERSIVE AUDIO
I master as you advocate, it is my pleasure to assist you in presenting your music in the most compelling way possible. My primary objective is to extract the essence of your work and shape it into a form that resonates deeply with your audience. When you enlist my services, you can trust that my discerning ear, refined taste, and unique perspective will blend seamlessly with your vision.
I use customised tools, including tubes and transformers to ensure all the necessary vibe while remaining true to the heart and soul of your mix. My rates include all edits and revisions until you are completely satisfied. By working together, we can create something that not only competes but endures the ever-evolving music industry.
Equipped for Atmos
FEATURING A 7.1.4 MONITORING SYSTEM DRIVEN BY A METRIC HALO INTERFACE
I offer a full array of ATMOS Services with our 7.1.4 calibrated reference room. Much like a stereo master, Dolby Atmos Mastering focuses on the final touches to ensure a competitive sound that translates and meets the approval specifications by Dolby, DSPs, and, if applicable, your record label.
We appreciate its a new creative format, often posing many questions, but I am here to support you through every single aspect. From how best to prep your ADM files, stems and how to audition and review content efficiently to name a few. If you have completed your Dolby Atmos mixes on headphones or in an acoustic environment that is not ideal, we are here to help you.
F.A.Q
Reduced rates are available for self-financed artists (without a label or distribution). Drop us a message at +27 84 720 2668 to discuss your next project. It would be our pleasure to contribute to your art.
Reduced rates are available for record labels, studios, mixing engineers, and self-financed artists (without a label or distribution). Drop us a message at +27 84 720 2668 to discuss your next project. It would be our pleasure to contribute to your art.
Stereo Mastering Rates:
– R850 or $75 for 1 track.
– R750 or $65 per track for 2-5 tracks.
– R700 or $50 per track for 6-10 tracks.
– R600 or $45 per track for 11+ tracks.
Additional Services:
– Attended Sessions: Mastering rate + 20%.
– Stem Mastering: Unlimited Stems @ R1500 / $150 per track.
– Subscription Mastering: Unlimited mastering designed for labels at a reduced rate.
Our handy online booking system is the fastest way to get your music booked into the studio. It utilizes a secure payment gateway from Payfast. We can also accept a variety of payment options including PayPal, Engineers Platform, Mastercard/Visa, and EFT.
Immersive Rates
- Immersive Mastering @ R950 | $100 per track. || You provide the ADM BWF file (Atmos mix) + Stereo Mix for reference.
- Immersive “Stem” Mastering @ R2000 | $250 per track. || You provide the stems + Stereo Mix and we create an immersive master
- Immersive Mixing @ R5000 | $500 per track || Unlimited Tracks.
Additional Services
All Immersive options include a binaural stereo master. It is important to release both stereo and Dolby Atmos masters, as this way the listener has a choice of which format to listen to based on which device they are listening with.
It averages from 24 hours for a single to 7 days for an album depending on studio workflow. If you have something urgent please WhatsApp and we can arrange a faster turnaround or contact our studio manager at studio@desgreymastering.co.za
- Resolution 32 Bit floating point (24 Bit TDIF or triangular dithered minimum)
- Sample rate Native sample rate you have been recording and mixing in.
- Headroom Just make the mix sound great :). Thoughtful master bus processing is always welcome.
- Plug-ins Please export the mix with all important sound processors.
- Fades Do not fade out the file yourself
- Vinyl Please send me the catalog number and pressing plant contact details.
- Stems Please export each stem with all processing including anything on the master bus that was mixed through. Files should all be the same length and labeled appropriately.
Upload to Google Drive, Wetransfer, or any file delivery service of your choice to hello@desgreymastering.co.za
As standard, we deliver multiple formats to ensure you have a proper archival of your project.
- 44-16 Folder – 44.1kHz, 16-bit tracks for CD reference
- 44-24 Folder – 44.1kHz, 24-bit for Digital Download sites where digital upload at 96kHz aren’t accepted
- 48-24 Folder – 48kHz, 24bit. If you are using the songs with video or YouTube, use these
- 96-24 Folder – 24-bit Hi-Res Mastered files for all streaming sites where possible.
- 96-32 Folder – Archival File
Absolutely! I prefer that method. The rough master or a reference from an artist that your love is the perfect way for us to get on the same page with regard to your vision for your music.
We work alongside a few select mixing engineers who cover a range of genres, so we can take your project from mixing right through to mastering to ensure a quality finished project.
Below are the audio delivery requirements for all recording projects. Please read thoroughly and adhere to each requirement (technically appropriate to your project) before delivering your files for Dolby Atmos.
GLOSSARY
MULTI-TRACK – The collection of individual audio tracks recorded during music production, such as vocals, guitars, drums, and other instruments.
STEMS – The collection of audio tracks processed by the mix engineer and exported with effects, such as drums, keys, synths, vocals, and other instruments.
MULTI-TRACKS
Below are the guidelines to follow when sending projects to be mixed and mastered in stereo.
Print all MIDI, synth and/or virtual instrument tracks as audio files.
Name each track logically (do not label tracks as “Audio 23,” etc.)
Use labels that reflect the instrument type
DR – Drums/Percussions
BS – Bass Instruments (acoustic and synths)
KY – Keyboards (piano, organ, pads, synths)
GT – Guitars
SFX – Sound effects (risers, impacts)
VX – Lead vocals/adlibs
Naming Convention: TrackType_Instrument
Example: DR_Kick
Do not use non-alphanumeric characters such as: *?<>“| \/:+#
STEMS
Below are the guidelines to follow when sending projects to be mixed in Dolby Atmos.
All stems should:
Be the same duration, so they can be synced up easily (recording start and end time).
Match the tempo of the project/session, including any tempo changes.
Exporting Instruments:
Separate out the instruments as much as possible and deliver them “wet” (with effects such as EQ, compression, and reverb).
Drum kits, sampled or live, should be separated out, as well as delivering a stereo stem of the full kit
Loops/Samples should be printed as separate stems and not combined with other mix elements
For live recordings, please provide as much separation as possible for audience microphones (e.g. please don’t print all audience mics to one stem)
Vocal stem elements (lead and background) should be:
Separated out as much as possible (Lead Vocal, Adlibs, Choir, etc).
Deliver ‘dry’ vocal stem with tuning and processing (EQ, compression, saturation, etc)
Deliver a ‘wet’ vocal stem with effects (reverb, delay, widener, etc).
Tuning should be included on dry elements (Autotune, Melodyne, etc).
Below are three ways in which you can experience/ approve a Dolby Atmos mix.
Option 1: Binaural
Mixes created in Dolby Atmos can be experienced using high-quality headphones or earbuds that are capable of reproducing a wide range of frequencies. Binaural audio is designed to create an immersive experience that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the sound. Pay attention to the sounds coming from different directions and try to visualize them in your mind. Play the file named “Binaural” and focus on the sound which enhances the immersive experience.
Note: Binaural mixes are best experienced on headphones. Do not use speakers to playback this file.
Option 2: Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio is Apple’s version of binaural audio. By using Apple hardware, this technology creates a three-dimensional sound experience for the listener, simulating sounds coming from different directions and distances, which creates a sense of immersion and depth.
Step 1
Locate the file named “Spatial Audio” and click “Share > Export File > Save to Files.” Save the file to your local storage named On My iPhone.
Step 2
Open your “Files” folder and locate the file you downloaded from Dropbox. When your file is saved to local storage, it will appear in this folder.
Step 3
Connect and pair your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max and enable Noise Cancellation and Spatial Audio Fixed. Notice the file format recognized by iOS as ‘Dolby Atmos’ under the volume slider. This ensures you are playing back the Dolby Atmos file provided by us using Apple’s Spatial Audio for a Dolby Atmos experience.
Option 3: Surround Sound
Dolby Atmos mixes exported as .mp4 files are multi-channel files that can be played back on TV, AV receivers, or soundbars with surround sound. You can experience the mix created in Atmos on a 5.1 surround sound system with these instructions.
Download the file named surround sound to a USB thumb drive.
Play the track on a home theater sound system.
On the TV remote, press the ‘Source’ button.
Then press USB Device or Connected Device.
The music should begin playing and display “Dolby Audio.”
This method allows you to preview the Dolby Atmos mix on a 5.1 home theater system, where vocals and effects are panned to the rear speakers. This gives the listener the illusion of being right in the middle of the audio, immersing them in the mix.
We offer labels a simple subscription solution to ensure a consistent and quality release schedule. For our peers in the industry who are mixing engineers or studio owners, we provide a rate to ensure that your clients’ budgets are kept in check.
CONTACT
Des Grey
OWNER | OPERATOR
- +27 84 720 2668
- hello@desgreymastering.co.za
Stacy Smith
STUDIO MANAGER | ACCOUNTS
- studio@desgreymastering.co.za
Thank you so much ! You did a thing ! Truly appreciate it.