What is mastering ? - Des Grey Mastering

What is mastering ?

Hello I am Des Grey, I provide a dedicated no compromise mastering service. From stereo to immersive and everything in-between. 

Mastering is the final step of audio production. Mastering provides balance to a stereo mix and optimizes playback across all systems and media formats. Tools like equalization, compression, limiting, and stereo enhancement are used when appropriate.

The goal is to ensure your audio will sound the best it can on all platforms, especially since music has never been consumed on more formats and devices than today. 

Whether you’re working in a million-dollar facility or a bedroom studio, you still need the final quality check that comes with mastering. 

We tailor our audio mastering process to the specific needs of your project. We use a hybrid mastering approach with a mix of quality analog and precision digital equipment to provide the best possible product to your listeners regardless of format. 

We provide artists, recording studios, labels, and film creatives with a dedicated online and attended audio mastering service since 2006. We offer over a decade of experience and have added the final touch to music across a wide variety of genres. This combined with our no-compromise philosophy to audio has afforded us the opportunity to work with artists from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and across the globe.

Our full range monitoring system from Vivid Audio takes center stage, with the heart of our system driven by the Metric Halo interface that can handle everything from stereo through to a fully immersive audio experience. Add to that a thoughtful selection of analog and digital tools, which we believe puts us in the best possible position to serve your music regardless of genre.

Our current mastering room is our sixth incarnation of Des Grey Mastering and was built from the ground up in 2020 with one goal in mind: To create a no-compromise listening environment. Based on the non – environmental design, this is our most acoustically accurate space to date, with an extremely tight frequency response and a balanced reverb across the entire frequency spectrum. 

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.

Ayanda Jiya Artist

Thank you so much ! You did a thing ! Truly appreciate it.

Charles Webster G.O.A.T

Thanks so much for your great work...sounds really nice.

Rick Wade Dj | Producer

Appreciate your work. Great Master !!!

Cornelius SA DJ | Producer

Sounds Great. Your mastering is on point.

Solid The Gifted MPC | Rapper

I love your work and appreciate the time and effort you put into polishing the tracks.

Ntokozo Ngongoma Artist

Des Grey is the best by far... all my best selling projects are done by him... high efficiency and easy to work with. Big ups man..

Phat Pro DJ | Rapper

Des Grey never disappoints🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. Delivers on time and is so easy to work with

Nk Da Dj Artist

Amazing work brother.

Mr. G Producer

Shewww! Thank you so much I love it ! Will be sending you more stuff soon I have found my engineer !

Nelo HD Producer | Dj | Label Owner

I received the files, they sound perfect! Thank you for your outstanding service.

Dj Sekza DJ | Producer

Wow !!! What a master. Thank you bro.

Ernie Colville Producer

It sounds amazing. Thank you so much.

Sand Isle Dj| Producer

Thank you for your beautiful work.

Loading SA

You are the best ! What you did on my Ep is something else :)))

Reeves Music Artist

Thank you so much Des, I love this !

Kazeli Artist

Perfect !!! This just Perfect ! Thank you so much.

Dj Sekza Artist | Dj

Happy with the master ! You really dont disappoint :)))

Lution Producer | Artist

Des Des Des Des!!!this is it man!!!!!!! This is what I’ve been longing to hear… super super master man!!!! The track sounds so amazing … perfect 😩😩😩😩😩🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

SABMAG + TEDD Producer + Dj

We are all happy with the master. No need to change anything 🙂

Chris Sen Producer | Mixing Engineer | Dj

Im really happy Des, ive been forced to use many self claimed mastering engineers and you are on another level. I will be sending you more work.

Master Mello King of Soulful House

Thank you for taking it to the next level

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.

 

LATEST RELEASE

DOLBY ATMOS

CORNELIUS SA & DEE CEE FT VILLA

YAFASO

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.

  1. Download the file named surround sound to a USB thumb drive.

  2. Play the track on a home theater sound system.

  3. On the TV remote, press the ‘Source’ button.

  4. Then press USB Device or Connected Device. 

  5. 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

Stacy Smith

STUDIO MANAGER | ACCOUNTS