Showcase | Price list | My process | Frequently asked questions | Contact
Welcome!
I am a Mastering Engineer based in the heart of England.
If you are looking to release your music on streaming platforms, vinyl or CD, I have the tools and the expertise to make it happen.
I create every master from scratch with my own hands using a variety digital and analogue gear. No AI, no algorithms, no pre-canned templates here, just a real person with a lifelong passion for music.
I am on a mission to make sure you leave with a great big smile on your face, and the confidence that you have produced something epic!
Showcase
Click below to hear examples of my work.
Price list
| Service | Self-funded | Indie | Major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stereo mastering, per track | £60 | £80 | £100 |
| Alternate version (same session) | £5 | £10 | £15 |
| Redo master from revised mix | £30 | £40 | £50 |
| Apple Digital Master, per track | £10 | £15 | £20 |
| Vinyl preparation, per side | £50 | £50 | £50 |
| CD preparation, per disc image | £50 | £50 | £50 |
My process
- You share your music and I listen in my studio
- We discuss what you are aiming for, how your mix sounds and how I can help
- You decide if you want to go ahead, and if so we agree a price and set a date
- You send me the final mix, and I do a quality check to make sure we are good to go
- I set to work with the actual mastering. Note: This is the only bit you pay for!
- I send you a private link so you can listen to the masters and give feedback
- If any changes are needed I’ll upload new masters so you can listen and compare versions
- When you’re 100% happy, I send you an invoice
- Once you have paid, I send you a link to download the master files
- I follow up on social media, promoting your release and sharing your content
Frequently asked questions
Why should I have my music mastered?
Mastering is the final stage of preparation before your music is sent out into the world. It’s a last chance to find and fix any problems, make sure everything is balanced just right, and ensure your precious production will sound amazing wherever it is played, whether on its own or back-to-back with other music.
Mastering starts with critical listening — a fresh pair of ears in a pristine listening environment to assess the music and check for any problems or opportunities for improvement. Your mix might sound great on your system, but if your speakers or room acoustics are not ideal, or if you have ear fatigue from hearing the same track a hundred times, there could be issues with the sound that you are not aware of. Having an experienced mastering engineer carry out a careful quality check gives you the assurance that there is nothing nasty lurking in the production.
Mastering also involves making subtle adjustments to the tone, dynamics, and presence of the music, and setting a loudness level that is optimal to make your music sound great across different playback systems. You might be surprised how much difference a few small but carefully targeted changes can make. I can also add “sparkle”, “glitter”, “punch”, etc., if you want!
Ultimately, the mastering engineer needs to deliver master files that meet the technical specifications required for distribution, whether that is for streaming, CD, or vinyl. All of these formats have their own tricks and nuances which need to be understood to get the best out of the medium. Attention to detail is crucial here!
I do not use any type of automated mastering, nor do I have pre-canned templates for different genres of music. Every track is different, and any tool or process that I choose to use is selected to solve a specific problem or achieve your desired goal.
How long does it take?
Once I have had a listen and agreed on a plan with you, the actual mastering normally takes about an hour per track. Sequencing albums takes a bit longer to make sure the whole set works together. However, I am not watching the clock — it takes as long as it takes, and the time spent does not change the price.
What if I don't like the master?
I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! This means I will re-work the master as many times as needed until you are absolutely happy with it, and only then do you pay me. At any time, you are free to change your mind and walk away, and owe me nothing. (Note: This has never happened.)
I treat my work as a collaboration. We are working together to make your music the best it can be. It’s not done until you say so, and only then will I ask for payment.
What do you need from me?
Once you are happy with your music and ready for mastering, you will need to send me a stereo mix. This should be an uncompressed WAV file at the original bit depth and sample rate of your session. There’s no need to convert sample rates or apply dithering — I will take care of that as needed.
- Levels: Don’t worry too much about levels — I can turn it up or down as needed. The important thing is to make sure it’s not clipping or too compressed. I recommend switching off any heavy limiting on your master bus.
- Format: MP3s are not suitable for mastering due to the digital artefacts of the compression process.
- Space: Please be sure to leave plenty of space before and after the end of the track to avoid chopping anything off
It’s worth taking a bit of time to think about what you want the final master to sound like and let me know what you have in mind. If you have some reference tracks that you like the sound of, let me know so I will have something to aim for. If not, please don’t worry — I will use my judgment to deliver a master that I think you will love.
You can send me your file using this upload page, or paste a link into the contact form below, or send an email to hello@markhammondmastering.com — whatever works for you.
I'm still undecided, I might shop around
Great idea! I can recommend these excellent mastering engineers:
Chris Pavey
Elaine Rasnake
Izzy McPhee
Katie Tavini
Mike Hayes
Nicky Howard
Stephen Kerrison
Toby Campen
Contact
Ready to connect? Fill in this form and tell me about your project. I promise not to share your information with anyone.