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What We Do?
Based in Dundee,Scotland, Skeptic Towers is a professional audio mastering studio with unmatched convenience and affordability. Our low rates make high quality mastering accessible to independent artists and labels of all sizes. Our informal, no-nonsense style of customer service has earned us hundreds of repeat jobs over the years, from small unsigned artists to large independent labels alike, we aim to please!
FAQ
What is mastering?
Mastering is the final step taken to bring your musical expression to its fullest potential. The mastering process maximizes the quality of your mixes so that they sound the best they possibly can on the widest range of playback systems. After mastering, your songs will have the presence and power to stand comparably next to other commercially produced material.
Why have your songs mastered?
At Skeptic Towers, we listen critically to each track to assess its specific needs. There is no predefined approach to the mastering process -- every song has a unique personality. The mastering engineer brings a fresh and objective pair of ears to ensure that the essence of each song is brought forth and intensified while maintaining the original vision of the artist. Your mastered tracks will have a greater sense of depth, presence, and power and will provide a more engaging and pleasurable listening experience.
In what format should I send my songs?
Send only the final stereo mixdown for each song. (Do not send the individual instrument tracks). Please ensure that there is no clipping on the mix. A resolution of at least 24bit/44.1kHz is recommended for optimum results.
Can I send a reference song along with my own tracks?
Yes, you can send a reference mix from another artist in a similar style to your own in order to demonstrate the sound you hope to attain with your own recording after mastering.
Should I apply any effects to the stereo mix?
Any processing applied to your final mixes will limit the options available during mastering. Please allow any processing for purposes of increased loudness to be performed during the mastering phase. In other words, do not normalize, compress, or limit your stereo mixes before sending. If mix compression is part of the sound you are trying to achieve (e.g. compressor pumping effects in dance music) then careful use of compression may help the finished product to be closer to your vision.
Can mastering fix a bad mix?
Fundamental mix imbalances are best dealt with by remixing the track. If it is not possible to remix a track, mastering can alter the perceived levels of certain individual tracks to obtain a more pleasing sonic balance. A rough guideline is that mastering can improve the quality of a mix by about one letter grade, so a B-grade mix would result in an A-grade master, while a D-grade mix would result in a C-grade master. If you have a troublesome mix, we can advise you on how you might improve it. If it is not possible to remix the track, we can still greatly improve the quality of your recording within the stated limitations.