| It is no surprise that mastering has changed over the | | | | Bands today know what mastering IS, and they know |
| years. We've come a long way from cleaning up audio | | | | they need it. The old guys, the so-called mastering |
| reels. The music industry as a whole hardly resembles | | | | experts, may not notice anything wrong, but the artists |
| the one we entered all those years ago. Post | | | | they are trying to reach have already hit the "back" |
| production studios and mastering houses all over the | | | | button on their browsers. They've moved on because |
| world are in a race to purchase the latest and | | | | they're looking for a studio that's in touch. These |
| greatest equipment in an effort to keep up. Mastering | | | | musicians are looking Online for these 5 things in a |
| engineers everywhere are asking themselves, "how | | | | mastering studio: |
| can I continue to deliver my (old) expertise in this new | | | | (1) a great website |
| market?" But, there is one big problem. | | | | (2) with simple, straightforward pricing and |
| The next generation of artists and listeners doesn't | | | | (3) an easy way to send in tracks, |
| want that old expertise. They want a new sound. The | | | | (4) a strong guarantee and |
| music of the future isn't going to come from an old | | | | (5) a commitment to taking care of the details. |
| studio. Even the bands that want a vintage-style | | | | In short, they are looking for good service. The most |
| recording will have an audience that plays their songs | | | | "current" thing a studio can do is to take these indie |
| in car stereos, from computers, and on mp3 players. | | | | artists seriously, because times have changed. Bands |
| The new mastering studio must be different. | | | | have more power, and more power to choose. That's |
| There are several things that will separate the new | | | | how it should be. And for those of us who own |
| studios from the old, and consequently the relevant | | | | studios, the fun is just beginning. It isn't about the |
| albums from the rest. And there is one place to look to | | | | expensive gear anymore, or who we know in the |
| see which is which - one place to go to tell who's who | | | | music business. It's time for us to stop listening for the |
| - the Internet. We all saw it coming...or did we? Search | | | | potential each song has to fit in on the radio. Our |
| for "audio mastering" in Google and see what pops up. | | | | future, and the future of radio, depends on our ability to |
| You'll find one junk website after another of mastering | | | | listen to these bands, listen to their music, and hear their |
| engineers showing off their equipment and blabbing | | | | potential to be new. |
| about what mastering is! This is the disconnect. | | | | |