Stereo Mastering
Our experienced engineers, armed with cutting-edge technology, will work meticulously to ensure your tracks reach their full potential. Whether you choose to take an active part in mastering your tracks with an attended session, schedule an unattended session or opt for our convenient online booking service, our experts will elevate your music to new heights, ensuring it shines amidst today’s competitive landscape.
Lacquer Cutting For Vinyl
Our mastering engineers have decades of combined experience in lacquer cutting for vinyl and know how to get the very best from the format. As the format continues to enjoy a well-deserved resurgence, our specialism in professionally produced vinyl results in stunning sound quality which comfortably holds its own against CD and other digital formats. We have two lovingly maintained Neumann VMS 80 cutting lathes, which have been further modified for optimum results.
Half-Speed Vinyl Cutting
Vinyl cutting at half speed is a highly specialised process, and we are one of the few mastering studios in the world capable of this superior cutting method. Both the playback system and the cutting lathe work at half speed, putting less stress on the vinyl cutter head. This produces a louder, cleaner cut that far surpasses what is achievable on a standard speed cut.
Atmos Mastering
Experience the future of audio with our cutting-edge 3D atmos mastering service and Dolby-certified studio. This technology allows for a truly immersive sonic experience, where your material comes to life in a three-dimensional space. Our engineers have been specially trained in the art of 3D atmos, ensuring that every element of your mix is optimised for spatial audio, transcending traditional mastering.
Remastering/Tape Transfers/Legacy Formats
Re-mastering a much-loved, classic album requires the sensitivity, respect and expertise that can only be found in a confident, seasoned mastering engineer who doesn’t have a point to prove. With a wealth of experience and a credit list that speaks for itself, our engineers have the ability and judgment to take an album to new heights whilst staying true to its original spirit. With an array of exquisitely maintained analogue tape machines, digital tape players and the best analogue to digital converters money can buy, we can provide the optimum results regardless of format.
Live-To-Vinyl
A live, direct-to-lacquer vinyl cut is a truly unique undertaking in this day and age. It is a highly labour-intensive and intricate all-analogue process, harking back to the days before tape recording was introduced midway through the last century. Synchronised, simultaneous live performing, engineering, mixing, mastering and cutting of the record eliminates all scope for hiding behind modern production techniques, and is not for performers faint of heart!
The process is so intricate that it requires a team of specialists to execute, and Metropolis Studios is one of the very few places on the planet still doing it. Capturing an artist’s live performance directly to a vinyl master, completely bypassing any digital processing and any other recording processes produces a truly unique and ‘real’ sound that is impossible to replicate.