Punching Dolphins

For our unique analog mastering process we want to work with your stems. We found over time that being able to slightly tweak and control the stems as we sum the audio while running and analog master allows us to get the most of the master. We typically work with only 8-12 stems at most. More information about stems can be found on our Analog Mastering page.

We compile the stems with analog summing utilizing our custom analog summing hardware. We have summing options to apply a tube harmonic color or a clean solid state summing. The analog summing helps with providing depth and openness to the song that most digital summing does not provide.

At this stage, we will run your song through our analog mastering equipment with a focus of keeping the master as much in the analog domain as the song allows. We will control the dynamics, imaging, tonal balance, limiting, and overall color of the track with our hardware. This process really gives the song a lot of unique sonic character.  

At this stage we will correct and enhance anything else that needs it. This is when the final overall shape of the master takes place. Once we think we have something locked in we will start moving the final volume push with analog limiting. It is a good idea to give us a reference point of how loud you think you want your master to be.

During this stage, we finalize volume pushes to what we feel works best for the sound of the record and the content of the music. We will then send you a master proof at that point. If you wish to go louder or softer we will make adjustments to the loudness until we lock an approved final volume for your master. 

Once the master is complete and proofed by you we will finalize the masters. Since we run your mix stems through summing and mastering hardware captured on DSD audio it allows us to create different sample rate/bit depth master prints. We can make any file formats you may need.