Chapter 10
Before the Mastering Session
Preliminary Dialogue With the Client
Before beginning a mastering project, it’s important to discuss with the client (artist, engineer, producer, manager, or label) about their expectations, your mutual understandings of the specific genre, their current impression(s) of the recording and mixes, and some examples of successful projects that are comparable to theirs. This alleviates surprises and clarifies downstream expectations about the fidelity of the project. If they can send you a near-final mix, it is beneficial as you can verify that it is ready for mastering, or address any concerns before the mastering session. As your reputation and discography builds, clients will rely on your input before ...