» Mastering - an intro:
As you may or may not know, Audio Mastering is the last creative step in the audio production process, the bridge between mixing and replication (or distribution). It is the last opportunity to enhance sound or repair problems with an acoustically-designed room – under an audio microscope. If you'd like to learn more about mastering a good place to start is the Wikipedia entry on Audio Mastering.
» The Mastering Engineer:
Mastering engineers lend an objective, experienced ear to your project. We are familiar with what can go wrong technically and esthestically. Mastering will add the final touches that make a record sound finished and playable on a wide variety of systems. In mastering, meticulousness and attention to detail is the norm, not the exception.
A set of independent ears can make all the difference in hearing those anomolies that you might have missed during the tracking and/or mixing stage of your project. Mastering your own records is not recommended!! It is initially seductive to throw an off-the-shelf plugin onto your master buss and actually think it sounds 'better' - but in all my experience, this only destroys a perfectly decent mix.
» The Loud Devil difference:
Having been involved in the pro audio industry for the past 10 years, I have the experience, the professional tools, and the trained ears to bring your album to the next level for a fraction of the cost of some other facilities. Being a musician myself, I understand how important your art is to you. I am concerned about the most minute details of your mix and translating those tracks into a high quality master that will separate your mixes from the crowd.
In addition to having tracking, mixing, and post production experience - I am also a trained musician that studied theory formally for 6 years. I can provide you the professional results that are heard on major label records at a price anyone can afford.