Q - What Is The Best Method Of Contact
A - The easiest way, to contact the studio is through email. Our email is VintageAudioStudio@gmail.com (The caps are not necessary, they are just there for ease of reading). Due to the fact that I run the business by myself and many times in a session, I can not just stop what I am doing and answer the phone. I am also a touring engineer, and again can not answer the phone while I am working or traveling. BUT, many times I can answer an email within the hour or even faster. This also allows us to have a visual log of contact.
Calls are also welcome, but again, it may be hard to answer at times.
PLEASE, if you do call, and I do not answer, LEAVE A MESSAGE! I do not call back numbers that do not leave messages.
Q - Do You Charge By The Hour?
A - No, I offer my services by Project Rates - This means that I work by song (or tape for transfer sessions). Every song is considered a project. If you want 3 songs mixed those are considered 3 separate projects. Mixing, Mastering, Audio Transfers and Audio Repair are four different projects. If someone wants a song Mixed and Mastered, it would be two separate services and prices. Please contact us or a quote.
Q - Do You Offer Recording Services?
A - No, This is purely a Mixing / Mastering house. Due to the fact that I own and work with a lot of tape and Mix / Master from and to many difference sources, I also offer Media Transfers, and due to the nature of older recording mediums, I offer Audio Restoration services.
Q - How Do You Accept Payment?
A - We accept payment through Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal. This is for both the safety of our customers and our records. We do not accept cash payments.
Once you have been delivered a Quote and agree upon the service(s) to be done, you will then receive an invoice through email where you must pay a 50% deposit up-front before any work can begin. Then, when the work is finished, Mark will contact you to pay the other 50%. At that point, once the payment has cleared, he will deliver your files through email.
Q - How Long Of A Turn-A-Round Should I Expect?
A - It usually takes about 2 weeks for the initial turn-a-round for a single service, and then if there are any revisions to be made, about another week (if that). Mark tries his hardest to get everything done in a speedy and efficient manner.
Please, when booking or requesting a quote, let us know of time requirements, and we will let you know if we can accommodate you. If you are looking to have an album mixed and mastered, this can take a while; after the initial listen through of the raw tracks, we will try to estimate the time.
Q - How Should I Deliver Revisions To You?
A - Please deliver revision requests to vintageaudiostudio@gmail.com. In your email, please separate each track and give time stamps (00:00 - change to be made). The more detail you can give us, the faster we can give you a revision.
*Be aware that revisions are made after the full 100% payment has been given. No tracks are delivered without full payment!*
Q - Can I (The Client) Mix / Master On Your Equipment?
A - No, This is a private studio, owned and operated by one person. It is not a visiting studio or open to the public to use. I work alone in my studio. The client sends their zeroed and condensed full resolution files / stems or tape to me with the 50% deposit, at which time I begin to work, and deliver the finished mix or master once receiving the other 50% of payment. All contact is made through email or phone calls.
Q - Can I (The Client) Be Present During Mixing / Mastering / Transfers?
A - No, I work much faster by myself, and many times I work sporadically from one project to the next at awkward hours.
* Only in extreme circumstances, when a layer is present due to the tapes being of extreme value have I allowed the client to be present - but this is an abnormal case, and legal documents must be in order to do so.
Q - Do You Pick-Up or Deliver Tapes / Cassettes / Discs?
A - Yes, Pick-Up and Delivery of transfer or new physical mediums can be arranged. This service comes at an additional charge of $30/hr of travel plus any tolls. Please contact us for more information for the possibility of pick-up or delivery.
ATTENTION - Please DO NOT use subways or similar electric trains when transporting magnetic media! You run the risk or possibly damaging the information or even full erasure of the tapes.
Q - Do You Repair Vintage Audio Equipment?
A - No, the name Vintage Audio refers to the music and style in which I mix and master. I also prefer to work in the analog realm when possible. I do not repair equipment or instruments as a service.
Q - Do You Transfer Video?
A - No, we only transfer audio from audio formats. We do not transfer or capture audio from DVDs, VHS, 8mm, 16mm, MiniDV, or any other video format currently. Possibly in the future we will expand to do some video as well.