“The art of listening translated to a sound aesthetic through technology. It is beyond beautiful, it is alchemy.”
Sage Sevilla (after a mastering session with Alan)
As an artist working in today’s new normal of self-released recordings, it’s challenging enough to guide your music from concept to final mix, now you’ve got to find the right situation for mastering – a key decision that can make or break your project.
It’s especially daunting to choose a mastering engineer when this critically important final step is offered by practically anyone with a workstation.
Unless you’ve experienced mastering at its best, it’s hard to distinguish one offering from another.
Mastering at its best is an art, not an algorithm.
It is a passion, not a preset.
It is full-time, dedicated commitment to the craft, not an add-on.
I would like to share a few of the endearing responses from my artist clients:
“I felt as though I had heard my recordings for the first time.” Judy Collins
“This was the most satisfying mastering experience of my life. Exquisite master, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
JD Souther (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Eagles, NASHVILLE)
“Thank you! You are such an artist. You could eat the sound!” Patricia Barber
“You did such amazing things with the sound — you are practically a member of the band!” Nora York
“Wonderful! I’ve never heard mastering do what yours did. The music jumped off the page. What you do is breathtaking and magnificent.”
Jane Ira Bloom (Best Soprano Sax – Down Beat)
“The masters sound so full and yet dynamic they made me choke up I swear!! The mixes were great but the sound you gave them is insane!”
Charlie Rosen (8-Bit Big Band, TONY- nominated orchestrator)
“Hey Alan, I love these masters, I love hearing greater individual and group intention of the musicians. It was a blast hearing and feeling that depth and all the detail.” Jeremy Kittel (2019 Grammy Nominee)
Reactions like these are the product of a lifetime career of deeply focused mastering experience. I feel fortunate and privileged to be the recipient of messages like these and I am grateful to the artists who place their trust in me.
“What is the secret for an artist to have a long career? Quality – of everything you do. Make quality the priority, not speed. Speed is marketing, but you have to have something great to market.”
Jimmy Iovine (Apple Music / Interscope)
For the ultimate quality of your record, mastering born of deep experience is key. You’ll have the full advantage of my experience working on close to 10,000 tracks in my career, including over 80 Grammy nominated and winning albums, and a history of prestigious, ground-breaking, successful releases.
This level of work can go for rates well above my indie track deal. I get that indie artists face tough budget realities and I will work with you accordingly, open to the unique needs of your project.
You’ll have direct contact with me, not a booking manager or front desk person. Part of the responsibility to the art of mastering is having direct communication with the artist. Without this communication, a project can’t reach its fullest potential.
As a long-time client quipped recently:
“Why would I risk not getting the most out of all that I’ve put into my music.”
I hope that we will work together to make your music sound the way it was meant to!
To get started reach out to aerialsound(at)aerialsound(d-t)com
Best,
Alan Silverman
Founder – Aerial Sound