You've seen many producer/performer solo projects in your career. What advice would you have for these artists to get the best sound on their release?

For the best shot at a good mix to take to mastering, cross reference your work by playing it in as many places as possible, on as many different systems as possible. Play your mixes at home, in a club, in other studios, on a good car stereo, at friend's homes, and maybe at a good stereo shop. If the mix sounds good and consistent, with a satisfying amount of bass, treble clarity, vocal presence, etc., then the likelihood that they are ready for the final "touch up" at a mastering studio is good.

Is mastering always necessary?

YES! Mastering engineers bring a sense of perspective to your work. The Mastering engineer has "fresh ears" to hear your work. This is not possible to duplicate by doing "mastering" at your recording studio by the recording or mix engineer, or at home. A qualified, experienced mastering engineer has worked with many types of musical programs, can pinpoint areas that need work, and can usually enhance even the best mixes done under the finest recording conditions. That's why the world's top artists usually spend considerable time in mastering. When recording under less than ideal conditions, mastering is especially important. It can make or break a project. Equipment does not make someone a mastering engineer; experience, taste, and "fresh ears" do.

Vinyl is a special medium. Do you have any advice for producers who wish to press vinyl?

Vinyl mastering is vastly different from CD mastering. Hints: Please center the bass frequencies. Do not pan bass left or right. Please do not include loud level out of phase signals in your master. Please watch out for ultra high frequency signals. Do not over compress, over EQ, or over process your program. Make your mixes sound satisfying to you. The mastering engineer will make any changes necessary for a good cut to vinyl. Feel free to consult with me before making your final master.

These days, many independent productions are completed at home in project studios. What can mastering offer to enhance the final sound of these projects?

Often home productions are recorded and mixed under less than perfect acoustical conditions. I can make educated decisions and offer options to the producer that will translate well to the real world. My experience allows me to make major or subtle changes, while working in conjunction with the artist, producer or label, which really can improve the final sound of any project.

Why should I hire you, Don, to master my work?

Top 10 Reasons To Have Don Master Your Next Project: (drum roll, please) 10. His musical feel is unsurpassed. 9. There's nothing he would rather do. He lives for this. 8. He can be depended on to do it right. 7. He's a great guy to hang out with. Many clients are now friends. 6. You'll love his poster collection. You'll envy his record collection. 5. He can bring so much to the table, yet leave his ego at the door. 4. His rates are better than before with new competitive package prices. 3. Your music will sound better coming out than it did going in. 2. You'll hear things in the master that you didn't even know were there. 1. Mastering with Don is fun! But wait, there's more: He respects your opinion. The music will now sound great on all sorts of systems. You won't have to worry about the details any more. There's very little he hasn't dealt with before. You'll love staring at the walls in the studio. Dobbs Ferry is like scenic, old fashioned, small town America. The train ride up from Grand Central Station is beautiful all year round. You'll feel even better about the master a week later. Your project is very important to him. You'll get personalized service, beginning to end.