ABOUT
cutandboost Mastering is an independent audio and cassette mastering service founded by Simon Uter-Kirschey in 2018 with location in Berlin that focuses on enhancing and finalizing records for release. cutandboost embrace the specific needs for the independent and D.I.Y. music community.
Mastering is the finishing touch on a recording process that takes a final mix and optimizes it sound as good as possible on as many different playback systems. To put it simple, it is about listen critically, set of steps needing and communication to get the best result possible.
Does your project still lack a little transparency, punch, homogeneity or healthy loudness?
I would be glad to be your man for this last pinch of production, regardless of style – from punk to jazz!
I am always careful not to push records outside of their reality and never turn a record into something artificial through the mastering process. I have the tools and, more importantly, the skills to let shine your records in the best light possible with a classic impact to the sound.
Short Background
As an adolescent, I began recording chummy punk/hardcore bands or rather this kind of bands which I played in or with. During the study of Audio Engineering at School of Audio Engineering in Berlin in 2012, I became a recording and mixing engineer/assistant on various projects, with Moses Schneider (Producer of Pixies/Beatsteaks/Turbostaat) for instance, from rad indie to fuzzy tunes.
I also have had the opportunity to work for about 12 years with inter-national bands regardless of type as a FoH-Engineer for different venues and television stations.
Out of this point of experiences, I got interested in mastering records. So, I had studied a lot mastering by trial and error by myself within the last decade. Now, I am having the skills of setting the most suitable needs possible to work on making your records ready for release.
SERVICE
cutandboost can accommodate all of your audio mastering needs: CD mastering, digital distribution formats, vinyl preparation for laquer cutting elsewhere and physical cassette mastering and duplication. For individual information and specifications, please click the format below.
REFERENCE
Labels/Studios
Audiolith :: Blackstone Studio :: Duchess Box Records :: Rood Woof Records :: Späti Palace :: Zeta Studios
GEAR
The acoustical treated mastering room is equipped with analog gear by Sound Performance Lab, Buzz Audio, Gyraf Audio and Overstayer. The equipment is linked in a very short signal path by Vovox cables to get the best performance out of it. I listen on APS loudspeakers and Antelope A/D/A conversion. For cassettes, I use a Tascam cassette deck. If surgical processing is necessary, I use plugins by iZotope, DMG or TDR ; Hofa for create DDP-Images.
The Passeq Model 1650 is a masterpiece of gear by Wolf Neumann. This very musical beast of an EQ has 72 frequency points to work with. That’s why this unit is absolute versatile in working with the source material. Moreover, the Passeq gives a huge headroom in level, because of its 120V technologie. This powerful tool is useful in taming and boosting frequencies in the most musical way an EQ can do it. The Passeq is called as the king of passive equalizers.
The SOC-20 M is a renowned class A optical compressor by Tim Farrant. The optical type of compression gives the material a touch of creaminess and at the same time a huge amount of clearness and punchy transients in the lowrange and upper midrange frequency. The unit is often useful to place the instruments right on stage and fit them even more as a band. Moreover, it has the opportunity to work in Mid/Side mode which brings the material to another level.
The G14 is a parallel passive and true stereo 5 band tube equalizer by Jakob Erland. EQing is one of the most important thing in mastering, just little steps could nail it to an astonishing result. This is what the G14 is made for – little steps with the most musical moving in given frequency range – This one is modified by Jakob. That’s why the unit is more tidier and punchier in lower frequencies. Besides, this EQ has the smoothest high frequency boost in universe.
The Overstayer Model 8801 is a two channel Multi Analog Stage out of Los Angeles, California and a spectacular one-button-hit-wonder. This unit is a positiv beast – push one of the suitable button, increase the input level a little bit, blend in the source again, et voilà – So, it is very helpful to give the material source the last pinch of harmonic and leveling that it needs to be ready for release. It is an absolute gorgeous sweet sounding unit on the way back from analog to digital.
CONTACT
Don’t hesitate to drop me a line for a test master or to say hello –
info@cutandboostmastering.de
If you handle material through online transfer I would please you to use the email based wetransfer.com to keep transfer safe.
In general, I will respond your request within several hours at the same day.
RATES
Stereo Mastering:
€9/minute of materials lenght
STEM-Mastering: + €7/song
Print Run Of Cassettes: depends on quantity
Reference Cassette: €3
Test Master: free of charge (digital)
ORDER
If you need to get your record mastered ready for release, or are having work that I mastered printing to cassettes, please click the link below to receive your quote and schedule date.
