To begin, you have two choices: you can attend the mastering session, in which case an hourly rate applies, or you can submit your material with complete written instructions, in which case the rate is fixed based on the total number of tracks.

>> IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND THE MASTERING SESSION <<

HOURLY RATE: $140.00 per hour

The "average" album project contains 12 to 15 tracks totaling 50 minutes to 1 hour of material. These sessions normally take about 7 to 8 hours in mastering time. However we've seen cases where as much as 15 hours was necessary to master an album of this length. Obviously, the more tracks that you have and the longer the running time, the more mastering time is required.

In addition to the mastering time, your materials will run:
Red Book Standard Production Master CD (PMCD) with PQ sheets & documentation ready to send to your manufacturer -

Up to 20 minutes total length: $30.00
21 - 40 minutes total length: $50.00
41 - 60 minutes total length: $75.00
61 - 80 minutes total length: $90.00

Reference disc - $10.00 (you need at least one)

>> IF YOU DELIVER OR SEND YOUR PROJECT FOR MASTERING IN AN UNATTENDED SESSION<<
PRICE IS DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:

$100.00 initial set-up plus $50.00 per song.

For example, if you have a 12 song project, the cost would be $100.00 set-up plus $600.00 (12 songs x $50.00) totalling $700.00.

In addition to the mastering cost, your materials will run:

Red Book Standard Production Master CD (PMCD) with PQ sheets & documentation ready to send to the manufacturer-

Up to 20 minutes total length: $30.00
21 - 40 minutes total length: $50.00
41 - 60 minutes total length: $75.00
61 - 80 minutes total length: $90.00

Reference disc - $10.00 (you need at least one)

Layback mastering to 2-track - If your project needs the final touch that only mastering to an analog 2-track can achieve, add $10.00 per song, .So in the 12 song example above that would add $120.00 for a total of $820.00. For an explanation of this mastering method Click Here.

Digital Editing Services will NEVER oversell on the layback technique unless we truly feel your project will benefit from it. If you have chosen the layback method, but after analyzing your masters we feel that no benefit can be had by using this technique we will not hesitate to contact you with this information. This is not a slam on your recording at all; some recordings just do not benefit, and in fact become murkier, if they are recorded to analog tape.  Conversely, if we feel that you are making a mistake by not using this method, we will also contact you.

If you choose the layback mastering option, your Production Master is still a Red Book Standard CD or DDPi. If you wish to purchase the analog masters the cost is $75.00 per reel.

MASTER TAPE/DISC SUBMISSION

We can currently accept original masters in the following formats:

ANALOG FORMATS
1/2" 2-track reel-to-reel 3.75, 7.5, 15 or 30 i.p.s.
1/4" 2-track reel-to-reel 7.5, 15 or 30 i.p.s.
 Dolby SR and Dolby A noise reduction for either 2-track format above.
And of course, cassette.

DIGITAL FORMATS
24 bit & larger audio files - These can be delivered on data CD-R (Yellow Book Standard), DVD-R or a firewire drive. We can accept most standard, and many nonstandard, file formats including WAV, AIFF and SDII --- Click Here for further info.
CD-R audio.
DAT - standard 16 bit or Tascam 24 bit.
Beta or VHS PCM.
You also have the option of uploading your mixes to our server. Contact us for details.
.

Your package containing all materials as described above should be sent to:

DES MASTERING
1409 S. Lamr
suite 100
Dallas, TX 75215

We would recommend Federal Express for shipping.
Be sure to phone ahead to let us know the package is coming.

Please contact us regarding payment methods.

Our normal turn around time is one week from the day we receive the materials. We will ship your material to you via FedEx unless otherwise instructed, F.O.B. your location. If you do not have a FedEx number we can calculate charges for you to include in your payment for the session.

Be sure to include all of the following:

-- Your billing address (the name and address you want to appear on the invoice).
-- Your physical shipping address if different from above.
-- Name and phone number of main person to contact.
-- Name of the artist and album title.
-- Song order with complete titles. If you are having us create a CD-TEXT
    master be sure everything is spelled exactly the way you want it.
-- Original masters clearly marked and distinguishable from each other.
-- If you are submitting DATs include timing sheets or J-Cards for each DAT master     clearly indicating tracks to be used by ID number and start/stop time.
-- Notes on any ideas you have regarding song spacing. Otherwise we'll assemble
    it the way we hear it.
    BE SURE to include notes on anything you've heard in your mixes that you find
    objectionable, either in general about the overall sound or specific by song.

HAVE YOUR ORIGINAL DIGITAL MASTERS PROPERLY CLONED AS A SAFETY COPY BEFORE YOU SEND THEM.
Even though Digital Editing Services strives to have the best quality equipment available, we cannot be held responsible for tape damage due to mechanical failures in DAT machines or other tape decks. Nor are we responsible for damage incurred in shipping. At most, if tape damage is deemed to be caused by malfunction of our equipment, we will be responsible for the cost of the blank media ONLY. We are not responsible for the recorded material contained on that media.

If you are attending the mastering session:

All of the above applies. If you used any particular CD's as references while you mixed, it is helpful to bring those to the session.