Why pay for mastering?

With today’s digital music market open as it is, many producers/labels don’t see the need for mastering or do “it” themselves. However they forget or maybe underestimate the value a good mastering can bring to a release. Mastering can make or break a record.

Besides the fact that the mastering engineer will have a fresh, unbiased ear (which you will not have after spending hours, days or weeks on a song), he also has the equipment, the experience and the facility to hear the tiniest details.

His musical understanding enables him to recognize important details in your song and put the focus on those details.

With so many releases every week, good sound quality is more important than ever to stand out from the rest. (it’s not a coincidence that all “hits” sound as good as they do).

Professional mastering is a vital step which should be valued, respected and not be taken too lightly.

Here is a "do it yourself mastering" or "DIY" example you find on some labels.

The diy mastering is flat. All dynamics have been squashed or "slammed". The result might be "loud" but it sounds shallow and distorted. The 24Mastering example is perceived to be the same loud yet the sound is deep, wide and dynamic. Listen to the examples