Audio examples
If you want your album to stand up next to the competition on the world stage, you need mixing and mastering that can take the sound to that level.
These days anyone with a computer can mix and it can be tempting to let a friend who does some mixing do your album. Or it might be convenient to let the small studio where you recorded it mix your album. But it’s probably unrealistic to expect either of these scenarios to result in an album that sounds, world-class.
We are the mixing and mastering studio of choice for the Downbeat Hall of Fame nominated, NYC jazz record label MoonJune and Boston Greydisc Records (world renowned for their audiophile sound) for a reason. Making jazz records sound great is what we do and what we are known for.
You’ve put all that talent, time, sweat and inspiration into your album, why settle for less than great when it comes to the mixing and mastering?
Below are some before and after examples of what we can accomplish with mixing and mastering at Heron Island Studio.
Mixing – Hearing is believing
Example 1
Dwiki Dharmawan’s Pasar Klewer – Downbeat Magazine awarded Best Album of the Year “Masterpiece”.
Here is an audio file which switches between two versions of a track, the “Heron Island mix” and the “basic mix” version. Keep in mind that the panning and levels of each instrument are identical in each version. So in a sense both versions are identical “mixes”. But there is so much more to mixing than panning and levels as you’ll hear. You’ll need to use decent speakers or headphones.
A/B comparison – First you’ll here a few seconds of the “basic mix” then it will switch to the “Heron Island mix”, then back and fourth between the two so you can clearly hear the difference.
Notice the increased clarity, richness, detail and depth of soundstage in the “Heron Island mix” version. Now compare it to the “basic mix” version, notice how closed in and distant it sounds, notice the lack of detail space and depth.
Hi-Res audio (24 bit 88.2 kHz). (Note: not all phones can play Hi-Res audio)
MP3 (320 kbits/s)
Track info: Dwiki Dharmawan won Downbeat Magazines “Masterpiece”, Best Album award for this record. Dwiki is one of Indonesia’s most well known and celebrated musicians. We mixed his latest album Pasar Klewer which features some of London’s best known jazz musicians. Dwiki Dharmawan – piano, Yaron Stavi – bass, Asaf Sirkis – drums.
Listen agin to the “Heron Island mix” version notice the sonic space around each instrument and the sense of the group being in a “place”. Notice that there is enough space between the instruments that you can hear every detail, yet it still feels intimate. Notice how you can hear the detailed tone of the bass and there is a greater sense of dynamics and richness in the piano.
On the “basic mix” version it sounds like the instruments are on top of each other, there is no space, no sense of “place” it sounds muddy and it’s hard to hear any details. Can you hear the delicate ride cymbal work in the “basic mix” version? Barely. In the “Heron Island mix” version you can hear every subtle detail of the ride cymbal. This is the sort of detail and sound stage that’s expected in a world-class production.
Don’t sell yourself short by accepting a mix which doesn’t live up to these standards. Your music deserves the rich, warm, detailed audiophile sound that serious jazz fans around the world have come to expect.
We are proud to have mixed and mastered three Downbeat Magazine “Masterpiece Albums of the Year”.
Example 2
Vocals and piano
Here we have a vocalist and pianist playing a standard. A/B comparison – First you’ll here a few seconds of the “basic mix” then it will switch to the “Heron Island mix”, then back and fourth between the two so you can clearly hear the difference.
Notice the increased clarity, richness, detail in the vocal on in the “Heron Island mix” version. Now compare it to the “basic mix” version, notice how closed in and distant it sounds. Notice how the “Heron Island mix” actually brings out the emotion in the vocal performance, the performance sounds intimate and the the voice is silky smooth.
Hi-Res audio (24 bit 88.2 kHz). (Note: not all phones can play Hi-Res audio)
MP3 (320 kbits/s)
Track info: Catt Turney vocals, Ellie Westgarth-Flynn piano.
In the USA, preeminent Hi-Res reviews site Mediaversal describes the sound of this album as: “…taking on a open and airy feeling… shine with remarkable depth and tonal quality. An aspact that is immediately apparent in the mix is how natural sounding every part is, with plenty of space surrounding each element. The drums are subtle and pure rising and falling as called for by the dynamics”.
Get in contact and see what we can do for the sound of your next album.
Mastering
Example 1
Softworks with Allan Holdsworth.
This recording came to us sounding distant and muffled, the drums in particular were too far in the background. Normally in a case like this we would suggest a remix, but in this instance that wasn’t possible. The client asked if we could make the drums louder and bring out the detail and depth in the mix. Making the drums louder in a finished stereo mix isn’t normally considered possible, but we managed to achieve it with a few magic tricks we have up our sleeve. Notice that we also managed to archive a very significant increase in clarity, detail, presence and depth in the sound. By the comparison the unmastered version sounds like a veil has been put over the music.
A/B comparison – First you’ll here a few seconds of the un-mastered track then it will switch to the mastered version, then back and fourth between the two so you can clearly hear the difference.
Hi-Res audio (24 bit 96 kHz). (Note: not all phones can play Hi-Res audio)
MP3 (320 kbits/s)
Track info: Softworks featuring Allan Holdsworth, Elton Dean, John Marshall and Hugh Hopper.
Example 2
Beledo’s Dreamland Mechanism with Gary Husband.
NYC guitarist and band leader Beledo wanted a bigger sound with more depth and punch.
A/B comparison – First you’ll here a few seconds of the un-mastered track then it will switch to the mastered version, then back and fourth between the two so you can clearly hear the difference.
Notice how the sound stage expands both side to side and front to back in the mastered version. Also listen to how the music sounds bigger and moves forward in the mastered version. By comparison, the unmastered version sounds distant and closed in. We also added more space between the instruments and a nice smooth top end in the mastered version.
Hi-Res audio (24 bit 96 kHz). (Note: not all phones can play Hi-Res audio)
MP3 (320 kbits/s)
Track info: Big Brother Calling, Beledo – electric guitar, Lincoln Goines – electric bass, Gary Husband – drums
Example 3
Power trio Ligro’s high energy Dictionary Three.
A/B comparison – First you’ll here a few seconds of the un-mastered track then it will switch to the mastered version, then back and fourth between the two so you can clearly hear the difference.
Notice how the mastered version of this track has significantly more power and punch. The music sounds more present and there is more depth and a sweeter top end and mid range. Another happy client.
Hi-Res audio (24 bit 48 kHz). (Note: not all phones can play Hi-Res audio)
MP3 (320 kbits/s)