mastering for orchestral music - recommendations?

[crystallions]

We are releasing a CD with the film score from Pendragon (woo hoo!!!) and I am in charge of finding a place to get it mastered. Any suggestions? ~ Lydia

[ernstinen]

May 9, 2009, 8:01am, crystallions wrote:We are releasing a CD with the film score from Pendragon (woo hoo!!!) and I am in charge of finding a place to get it mastered. Any suggestions? ~ LydiaHi Lydia!I master my orchestral music, and even re-mastered a "mastered" symphonic recording of my composition "Elegy" which was recorded over in Europe. I just felt the dynamic range was too extreme, so I fixed it!Here's a link to my "Re-mastered Master":http://www.box.net/shared/irn1fxxiopHere's my Midi version of the same piece which I mastered:http://www.box.net/shared/7atshmf8dfHere's another, more dynamic Midi piece I did with samples: "Power Of The Sun"http://www.box.net/shared/15on53qri1Is your soundtrack a real orchestra or a sampled orchestra?If you go for a local mastering house, make SURE they're experienced in mastering orchestral music and not just brickwalling things like how most pop/rock mastering is done these days. Two totally different kettles of fish.Where are you in Oklahoma? I know a really good mastering engineer in Austin, TX if you want to drive a bit and sit in on the sessions.BTW, I got my Masters in Mastering at Masters College. Good luck,Ern

[mazz]

I don't know what your budget is, but these guys did some big film scores:http://www.cupsnstrings.com/cdmasteringI've heard of them before but have never used them. I don't know how much they charge, but expect to pay any decent mastering house at least 1,000.00.Cheers!Mazz

[ragani]

Hi Lydia!I've worked with Trevor Sadler at Mastermind Productions for years now: www.mastermindproductions.net. He's been mastering for 20+ years, having started years ago as the mastering engineer for Narada Records. I don't know what experience he has with symphonic productions, but he's done a ton of mastering projects for the pro's, both nationally and internationally. They also did an interview with him a little while ago in Recording Magazine. And we know that everyone they interview is super top notch. Heh Heh. He might be something around $500-$1500 (just a good guess), depending upon your project. Congrats again on the film score! Raags

[crystallions]

Ern, Mazz & Raags - Thank you for all of this information! This is great! I am planning to go over all of this tomorrow so that I can properly present it to the main composers who will make the final decision on where to get it mastered. If you have anything to add before then please let me know (and if I have questions as I look closer at these posts I will let you know)Ern - you asked if it is midi or live. It is mainly midi. It has some cues that are mixed midi and live but it is mainly midi.Thank you so much!~ Lydia

[k o star]

hey Lydia,I'm not in a geographical position to give suggestions on where to master but just wanted to say... Awesommmeee!!! =)Peace is Cool,Kel

[crystallions]

Kel - your comments always makes me smile! Thanks! ~ Lydia

[spaceeagle]

Hello Lydia I try a do some orcestral type stuff and master my self. A different aproach is needed from say a rock track but I do tend to put more compression and limiting on what you would find on a clasical CD that had been purchased for home listening

[mojobone]

If your budget is between $0 and $200, I can help, but I don't recommend it. Best of luck!

[crystallions]

Thanks Spaceeagle for sharing what you do when you master orchestral music. I will definitely keep that in mind.mojobone - You always make me smile.