Mastering is the intermediate step between your final mix and preparing it for replication and/or distribution. Almost every commericially-released CD is mastered no matter the budget, label, mixer, or studio behind it. The difference between a mastered and un-mastered song can be quite profound; dramatically improving the over-all sound quality, clarity, consistency, stereo image, spatial depth, volume and portability of your mixes. It is both a technical process and an art form that relies on an individual's skill, experience and good taste. No set of tools or a device will automatically "master" your music... no plug-in preset can craft the best results for your unique and original mixes.
The amount of money you spend on a service is not necessarily proportionate to the quality (just look at your favorite federal bureaucracy) and you dont have to know somebody over at Bernie Grundman to get the job done right and on a reasonable budget. We provide custom and affordable mastering, tailored to your specific needs and tempered with our friendly and professional demeanor. What do you have to lose? PROVIDE US ONE OF YOUR SONGS AND WE'LL MASTER A FREE SAMPLE! We encourage our competition to do the same.
Please inquire regarding other services (production, mixing, restoration, editing, sequencing, vinyl transfers).
Hans DeKline is a Los Angeles based mastering engineer. He has mastered songs for Tim Finn (Crowded House), Joey Santiago (the Pixies), Morcheeba, iTunes Exclusives, Warner Music, Nettwerk Records, Partyshank, Greg Richling (Wallflowers, Fiona Apple), So Sweet Records, Domingo Siete (incl. members of Ry Cooder's band), Motel, Global Connection V.1 (feat KRS ONE/Masta Ace/Killah Priest), Cassie Steele (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Shannon Hurley (Rolling Stones Top 25 Myspace Artists of ‘06), Miranda Lee Richards, Dopesnake (feat. members of Faster Pussycat, Motochrist), One Cell Records, Racquel Roberts (Brownstone), Hello Morning, Gallatone Records, The Minor Canon, Cleopatra Records, Sleepwell, Susie Suh, Ethospine Noise Records, Dolman, Castor Pollux, Red Parlor Records, Tularosa, Paul Wright, The Holograms, Don L Castor, and many others...
TESTIMONIALS:
"One of the best engineers in L.A.! Period. Working with Hans was a great experience for me. My album sounds fuller, as loud as mainstream hip-hop albums and all the levels are consistent. He was able to give each song what it needed... from neo-soul to my rock tracks he definitely had the ears and expertise to polish the Bentley."
-Octavia Harris www.octaviaharris.com
"I just used Hans (Sound Bites Dog) to master a full album project and he did a fantastic job. I've mastered a number of albums over the years at top facilities and I can heartily endorse his work."
-David Rice www.davidricemusic.com
"I am totally happy with the mastering that Hans did. One of the most difficult things to do when you send your baby out to get mastered is to trust the mastering engineer to understand the sound you're been working so hard for. I trusted Hans, and I'm so glad that I did. He reaffirms my belief that the mastering engineer is truly an artist as well as an engineer. From this day forward, my decision on who will master my album will be a quick one: Sound Bites Dog. Thanks, Hans, for good work and being a great guy too."
-Jon T www.thecedarsoflebanonmusic.com
"Extrememly professional, quick and reliable. Hans has as an excellent command of pro audio equipment, both analog and digital."
-Stan www.myspace.com/innohurry
"It sounds so wonderful... considerable thanks go to you. Working with you was very easy and you gave me exactly what I was looking for.
I've worked with mastering engineers who completely missed the ideas presented, decided to add this or that, or what have you. Your work will be completely transparent to the audience, which I think is a key element of a good Mastering Engineer."
-Kendrick www.instrumentalsoul.com
"Hans is great, no bullshit. He mastered our album for us in LA while we waited at home in Dublin. We've never met the guy but we would like to think that he is now one of the Lebowski familly and we will come back to Hans for his advice, mastering, and honesty."
-Buzz Lebowski www.lebowskiband.com
"The difference between my un-mastered and mastered songs is phenomenal. Hans has transformed my collection of songs into a cohesive and beautiful EP."
-Shannon Hurley www.shannonhurley.com
"Before working with Hans I thought that big mastering only comes from big studios. When I contacted Hans I wasn't completely sure what to
expect. Now, I don't ex-pect, I re-spect! His attention to detail and flexible approach allowed him to work effectively, while incorporating my opinions within the process. Hans has taught me that big sound comes from big knowledge, not big studios."
-Da Shiek www.dashiek.com
"Hans, your the best. Keep on cranking-out quality masters!"
-James Book www.topsecretproductions.net
"Its hard not to gush about this man Hans. I live 6,000 miles away and he treated me like a neighbor talking over the fence. When it came to the music we exchanged thoughts and out of the mastering came exactly what I had hoped for. Exactly. It was amazing."
-Andy Fosberry/Ironlight River www.myspace.com/ironlightrivermusic
"Hans is a true professional, and has a great attitude during each session. He did an amazing job on the tracks he mastered for me, and I would definitely go back to him again for future projects. Keep up the great work."
-Emo www.emodagger.com
"Wow Hans - firstly, thank you very much for your speed - I was shocked to see your email saying they were done.... Secondly, the
tracks sound AMAZING....I cannot believe how great they sound! (You must have invested heavily in that 'Studio Magic' button). Thanks again for an incredible job and on such short notice."
-Pete www.myspace.com/skyhillmusic
"Everything sounds great. Every sound is up front and the music is nice and loud. Hans made my CD READY!"
-Dimdalytes www.myspace.com/dimdalytes
"Being new to the art of mastering, we needed someone who could walk us through the process. Hans did just that -- he made sure that the final masters were exactly what we wanted, letting us listen to before-and-after samples until we were satisfied. The final tracks were professional and radio-ready: one of the songs he mastered was played on Indie 103.1 only days after we mailed it. I would recommend him to all of my musician friends, and plan on having him master our next recording. Thank you Hans!"
-Shola/Divisible www.divisiblemusic.com
"Hans has a well-trained set of ears... He can make a badly mixed song sound good; can make a well-recorded song sound great! I would
recommend him to everyone I know!"
-Ritchie LaPaz www.myspace.com/ritchielapazmusic
"Hail to Sound Bites Dog Mastering!! You did a stellar job on the new Graves of the Endless Fall record!! Sounds excellent!! A very professional service (and damn fast!!). You were true to the recordings, adding just enough to bring out the best qualities without "over-hyping" the mix. I highly recommend you to all of my clients. Expect more work from The Ensomberoom!"
-Geoff Montgomery www.myspace.com/theensomberoom
"I cant believe the difference in the feel and overall sound quality of our mastered songs. Hans gave our music that full, powerful, commercial-quality sound. All in all, he is VERY talented, easy to work with, and will make your music sound much better."
-Matt/Righteous www.myspace.com/righteous
"I had no idea how bad the $200/hr mastering houses were ripping me off until Sound Bites Dog. Hans, you are truly a talented engineer. I appreciate you catering to my meticulous taste. The masters are actually a better quality than whats up on the top 40 charts! I look forward to more business in the future. Thanks."
-MObonix/Miami Tape Club www.mobonix.com
"My debut solo, Walking Backwards Thru the City, is all mastered up. Special thanks to Hans Dekline, the outstanding mastering engineer at Sound Bites Dog (LA). Hans did a fantastic job mastering the album and exhibited much appreciated patience with my anal retentiveness..."
-Daniel Bon www.thefutureghosts.com/
View more testimonials
here.
Hey Sound Bites Dog,
NEW VIDEO ~ a new Psychedelic Gothic video for your pleasure!!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Amphetamine" on our page.............enjoy!
Thank U and Welcome to our space!!!
ML
Hey thanks for mastering our CD. I'm very excited to hear it. You did a great job on the one song we got so far.
Lurking Corpses?! Yikes! How have you been? Not working too hard I hope :)
The Catalysts Autumn Everywhere EP is available now on Cloudberry Records
Come on over to TheCatalystsSpace for a preview
Hi Hans,
It was the least I could do! I am very glad you made that article available. So many poor people are falling for the Hitt Music Group scam, and it's such a shame. Even if they did provide the most basic of services, it is quite clear that their business practices are deceitful. Placement companies should never have to *solicit* people to sign up, especially not by pretending they're music has been reviewed and considered perfect for a huge motion picture. Come on, right?
Oh yeah, and they have ignored all inquiries from the BBB, so they have an F rating.
I could go on and on, but let's just hope people are smart and do a little research before signing away all that money!
Best,
Jillian
HEADS UP! OUR LA SHOW WAS MOVED TO...
Hey Hans! Looks like you're keeping yourself busy. The CD's getting great feedback from the folks who heard the unmastered mix, btw.
we're working on a full-length and there's only one place i would dream of taking it to be mastered...so we'll see you soon...
Thanks again for the mastering Hans, it sounds great
Dear Friends
Just a little note from us ,that our Album ; Ugochill - Theory of Relaxivity ; has been released.
Best of Regards.
Ugochill crew.!!
Hola! How are things on the sunny coast? Done anything aside from work lately? I have a new puppy and she is exhausting *YAWN*
Check out what's new and coming soon !
Support Your Local Scene!
WAT UP FAM...THANX 4 ADDN DA KID...RESPECT YA HUSTLE N DIS MUSIC GAME!!! STAY N TOUCH AN KEEP ME UP ON YA HUSTLE GAME...STAY UP AND GET MONEY!!! BE NICE BUT STAY NASTY!!!
-TRACY TYLER
TRACYTYLERBEATS. COM
"GET AT ME!!!"
SOUTH FLORIDA'S HOTTEST NEW PRODUCER!!!
Thanks! B-day was alright. You know what they say about all work and no play.....!
Sound Bites Dog bit into our songs and mastered them. They sound so KICK ASS! Thank you so much Hans, we'll be back!
It's a pleasure doing business with you.
The focus of my studio here in Denver has always been to keep the rates affordable enough that any serious band or songwriter could feel free to experiment and still really be sure that they are happy with their performances, the sound, and the mixes, without watching the clock and freaking out about the cost. Even as flexible as my rates are it is still always a stretch for Independent artists to budget for a quality project.
That said:
I have never understood how some engineers can record, mix and then switch hats to master a project. In my mind I have made my decisions at mix and am ready to pass it on to someone with a different (hopefully broader) perspective, different ears and different gear to bring out the best in my mixes. Unfortunately this has often been cost prohibitive to my clients forcing me to "try to Master" their releases. Your online service has been delivering me the kind of quality I have come to expect from other "World Class" mastering facilities I have used in the past, but at a price that is virtually impossible to resist!
I see our business models as very supportive of each others and the resulting synergy very beneficial to the ultimate listening experiences of our clients fans.
Thanks Hans!
Happy Valentine's Day! Sounds like you are staying busy. I am ready for spring =)
HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT VOLUME 11 TAVERN FOR ALLIED THREAT'S FIRST SHOW WITH A NEW LINEUP INCLUDING DUANE PIERSON FORMERLY OF SIDESHOW GOSSIP, KEN MacKENZIE OF DROWNING SUN, CHRIS PARKER, AND ORIGINAL FOUNDING MEMBER MAT QUIRING. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!!
Looking forward to hearing the masters...brad is doing an amazing job...can't wait man...was great meeting you the other night!!!!
Really though, who doesn't like to get scammed? It's 2008!