OT: Starting up mix and mastering service, what to charge?

[Hepha Luemp]

Hi all!

I'm starting up a mix and mastering service, and I wonder what to charge.
Last time I did a remix for a record-company, back in 2003, I got €1200, last time I produced a track for a movie I got €1900...

I've done some top 10 mixes and songs, although it is some years ago, and I'm slowly coming back to the commercial side of the music again, and starting up a production company...

At the moment I just want to get my business up and running and getting some clients, and don't won't to charge to much, and don't want to look like a fool and charge too little either...

So - help me out and vote at the poll!

Thanks!!



Hepha Luemp

[rarr]

hey

will you be mixing and mastering each individual track that makes up the song, or just a single track with all the song mixed down??

[Hepha Luemp]

Well, the idea is to deliver a radio-ready stereo track mixed & mastered.

So, the client sends me single tracks - that is - every track as a single file, I mix them, and deliver a stereo-track, and do revisions until the client is happy...

Hepha Luemp

[rarr]

hmm good good

well i would personally only pay the 100 euros to start with and if i liked your service i would then increase to probably no more than the 150 mark, so maybe have an offer of the first 1, 2 or maybe 3 songs, for 100 euro each then after that 150?? (although i know this can cause problems with people pretending to be others to get the 100 euro price etc), or start low to gain customers and when you get more clients, do more jobs and have loads of mastered tracks that youve done under your belt you can then raise the price??

look at the competitors see what they charge, there might be alot cheaper than you, they may not master as well, but then again they could do

so yeah i would personally only pay the minimum and if you do great jobs i wouldnt mind a small increase in price after a while

its hard because you dont want to under value your work, yet you dont want to charge alot that it puts people off

edit: ooh i forgot to say, the price obviously depends on what people will do with the song, if your mastering a track for commercial release you can get away with charging more, if its just for a "bedroom producer" and just to be used in dj sets then probably not as much, all depends on the producer and their status

[Hepha Luemp]

Hmm, just one vote...
Guess this might be the wrong place to ask, guess everyone here is mixing themself...

Still - if you're in a good mood - leave a comment - could help also.

Appreciated.

Thanks.


Hepha Luemp

[cosmosuave]

Robert Babicz cahrges 150 euro a track...

[Hepha Luemp]

Robert Babicz cahrges 150 euro a track...

- for mixing?

Went to his page, I see he's doing mastering for €80 + vat, didn't' see the mixing offer...

Hepha Luemp

[cosmosuave]

Robert Babicz cahrges 150 euro a track...

- for mixing?

Went to his page, I see he's doing mastering for €80 + vat, didn't' see the mixing offer...

Hepha Luemp

Sorry I did not see your part about mixing and I guess I was wrong about Robert's rates...

[jesso]

I voted 100bucks, but I thought it was just for mastering....
Id say 300 per track at least for mixing. Depends on how long you spend on it I suppose. If you spend a day, you would have to charge more again. Like €500.
Its a tough one, most people I know would be unlikely to get a full remix of their tracks, but if they were getting one they would usually want to be there. Its just to get a fresh set of ears involved. My friends recently remixed an album with a well known engineer/producer in Dublin, and I think the rate was €300 per day. (They did 20 days!) in a top studio in the City. Thing is, most people writing music on their computers are wana be producers themselves, and dont really want to send away their stuff to be remixed (unless its very cheap, by a friend, or for free!).
I could be completely wrong. I often am.

[minimal]

rob acid has fucked up ears,

I listened to something he mastered it joust sounded horrible

[Hepha Luemp]

jesso, thanks for your thoughts on this.

I think you have a good point regarding people making music and wanting to be producers and mixers also.

So - maybe I would have to focus on those wanting to be singer/songwriters, or something, that is - people wanting to have great mixes but wants to be the artist and not the mixer or producer...

Any tips for targeting those kind of people is appreciated.



Hepha Luemp

I voted 100bucks, but I thought it was just for mastering....
Id say 300 per track at least for mixing. Depends on how long you spend on it I suppose. If you spend a day, you would have to charge more again. Like €500.
Its a tough one, most people I know would be unlikely to get a full remix of their tracks, but if they were getting one they would usually want to be there. Its just to get a fresh set of ears involved. My friends recently remixed an album with a well known engineer/producer in Dublin, and I think the rate was €300 per day. (They did 20 days!) in a top studio in the City. Thing is, most people writing music on their computers are wana be producers themselves, and dont really want to send away their stuff to be remixed (unless its very cheap, by a friend, or for free!).
I could be completely wrong. I often am.