The turnaround time for mixing and mastering can vary depending on various factors such as the complexity of the project, the experience and availability of the audio engineer, the client's specific requirements, and the workload of the audio engineer.

Mixing:

Small to medium-sized project (e.g., a single song): 1-3 days

Large project (e.g., an album): 3-7 days or more

Mastering:

Small to medium-sized project: 1-2 days

Large project: 2-5 days or more

Please note that these are approximate estimates and the actual turnaround time may vary depending on the factors mentioned above. It's best to communicate directly with the audio engineer or music producer you are working with to determine a specific timeline for your project.

Mixing is the starting point of post-production. Put simply — you’ve made a beat, and recorded some vocals — it’s time to make an arrangement and turn it into a song. This is usually where a mixing engineer comes in. Their job is to make sure that everything sounds balanced and cohesive. They work with tools like EQ, compression, and reverb, and ultimately put emphasis on important sonic elements of the track/s.

A mixing engineer’s second job is to serve the song's emotional impact. To bring a song to life. You give them the material to work with, and they will give you a song.

Mastering is the final stage of audio production — the process of putting the finishing touches on a song by strengthening the overall sound, creating harmony across an album, and ultimately preparing it for distribution. A mastering engineer adds the final touches to the mix. They do quality control before your EP, album, or single gets released to the world. A mixing engineer will work with a multitude of tracks, forming them into a song. Mastering engineers work with a single stereo track, doing everything they can to make that track sonically shine on any playback system. 

By receiving our mixing and mastering via the internet, we can produce work beyond normal office hours. This in turn allows us to offer better pricing.

Recording vocals at home can be challenging, but with the right equipment, techniques, and attention to detail, you can still achieve a good quality vocal recording. Here are some tips for getting a good vocal recording at home:

1: Choose a suitable recording space: Select a quiet room with minimal background noise and good acoustics. Avoid rooms with hard surfaces that can cause reflections or echo. You can improve the acoustics by using blankets, pillows, or foam panels to dampen reflections and reduce unwanted reverb.

2: Use a high-quality microphone: Invest in a good-quality condenser or dynamic microphone that is suitable for vocal recording. USB microphones can also work well for home recording setups. Experiment with microphone placement to find the best position that captures the vocalist's voice clearly and minimizes background noise.

3: Reduce ambient noise: Turn off any fans, air conditioners, or other noisy appliances during recording. Close windows and doors to minimize outside noises. Consider using a reflection filter or vocal booth to further isolate the microphone from room noises.

4: Use pop filter and shock mount: Attach a pop filter to the microphone to reduce plosive sounds (pops) and sibilance caused by puffs of air. Use a shock mount to isolate the microphone from handling noise or vibrations.

5: Control recording levels: Avoid recording vocals too loud, as this can cause distortion. Aim for a healthy signal level without clipping, typically peaking around -12 dB to -6 dB. Use the gain control on your audio interface or recording software to set the appropriate recording level.

6: Use headphones for monitoring: Use good-quality headphones to monitor the recording in real-time. This can help you identify any issues with the recording, such as background noise, plosive sounds, or other unwanted artifacts, and make adjustments as needed.

7: Experiment and iterate: Don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques and settings to find what works best for your specific recording setup. Recording at home may require some trial and error, so be patient and willing to iterate to achieve the desired result.

By following these tips and paying attention to detail, you can achieve a good quality vocal recording at home. Keep in mind that the quality of your recording will also depend on the performance of the vocalist . With practice and experience, you can improve your home recording techniques and achieve professional-sounding vocal recordings.

In the context of audio production, "stems" refer to individual audio tracks that are derived from a multi-track recording or session. Stems are usually created during the mixing stage of music production and are used as separate submixes of specific elements of a song, such as vocals, drums, guitars, bass, etc. Each stem typically contains a group of related tracks or elements that are mixed down into a single audio file.

Mixing involves blending and balancing individual tracks or stems together to create a final stereo mix that sounds cohesive and balanced. This process includes adjusting levels (volume), panning (placement of sound in the stereo field), equalization (EQ), compression, and other audio processing techniques to achieve a desired sound. Mixing is an artistic and technical process that requires a skilled ear and knowledge of audio engineering principles.

Mastering, on the other hand, is the final step in the audio production process that prepares the mixed stereo track for distribution. It involves applying overall processing to the mixed track, such as equalization, compression, limiting, and other mastering-specific techniques, to ensure that the track sounds polished, balanced, and professional across various playback systems, such as different speakers or headphones. Mastering aims to achieve the best possible sound quality and consistency for the final release format, whether it's streaming, CD, vinyl, or other mediums. Mastering is typically done by a specialized audio engineer with a keen ear for detail and extensive experience in mastering techniques.

When you get your music mixed and mastered, you will typically receive several deliverables from the audio engineer or studio that performed the services. These may include:

1: Mixed Audio Files: You will receive a final mixed stereo audio file of your song in a common audio format, such as WAV or AIFF. This file will represent the final balanced and processed version of your music, combining all the individual stems or tracks into a single stereo file.

2: Mastered Audio Files: You will also receive a final mastered stereo audio file of your song in a common audio format. This file will represent the polished and optimized version of your music, with overall processing applied to ensure optimal sound quality and consistency across different playback systems.

3: Alternate Versions: Depending on your specific requirements or preferences, you may also receive alternate versions of your song, such as instrumental versions, acapella versions, or radio edits. These alternate versions may be useful for specific purposes, such as licensing or promotional use.

4: Communication and Feedback: Throughout the mixing and mastering process, you may have communicated with the audio engineer or studio, providing feedback and direction. You may also receive notes or feedback from the engineer regarding their decisions and processing choices during the mixing and mastering process.

It's important to discuss and clarify the specific deliverables with the audio engineer or studio beforehand to ensure that you receive the desired final products for your music. Different engineers or studios may have different workflows and deliverables, so it's crucial to have clear communication and understanding of what you can expect to receive when your music is mixed and mastered.

KG likes to work with a hybrid setup, using industry's top analog gear and digital plugins we can insure your record will be ready to distribute across all major platforms.

Analog gear refers to audio equipment that uses analog circuitry and components to process and manipulate audio signals. Analog gear uses continuous electrical signals to represent audio, in contrast to digital gear, which uses discrete numerical values to represent audio. Analog gear is known for its unique sound characteristics and warm, organic, and often sought-after "analog" sound quality.

Analog gear includes a wide range of audio equipment, such as:

1: Analog mixing consoles: These are large consoles used in professional recording studios for mixing audio signals from multiple sources, such as microphones, instruments, and synthesizers. Analog mixing consoles typically have analog faders, knobs, and equalizers to adjust audio levels, tonal balance, and other parameters.

2: Analog tape machines: These are reel-to-reel tape recorders used for recording and playback of audio signals on magnetic tape. Analog tape machines are known for their unique sound characteristics, including tape saturation, compression, and harmonic distortion.

3: Analog compressors and equalizers: These are audio processors that use analog circuitry to adjust the dynamic range and tonal balance of audio signals. Analog compressors and equalizers are often used for shaping the sound of individual tracks or the overall mix during recording, mixing, and mastering.

4: Analog synthesizers: These are electronic musical instruments that generate sound using analog circuitry, typically with voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers. Analog synthesizers are known for their warm and rich sound quality, and are popular in various music genres.

5: Analog outboard processors: These are standalone audio processors, such as preamps, compressors, equalizers, and reverbs, that use analog circuitry to process audio signals. Analog outboard processors are often used in recording studios and live sound setups for their unique sound characteristics and flexibility.

Analog gear is often preferred by audio professionals and music producers for its characteristic sound, tactile interface, and artistic possibilities. However, it also requires careful maintenance, calibration, and handling due to the nature of analog circuitry.