Mixing: $35.00 per hour. I will mix the instrumental as well as the vocals for the song. This process yields a prefessional result* as the vocals can be placed within the mix of the instrumentation. This allows the vocals to "sit" in the mix as they should, rather than attempting to make them fit in an already mixed environment. This is the prefered method.

Vocal Mixing: $35.00 per hour. This assumes mixing vocals to be placed over a stereo mixdown of an instrumental. Please provide all vocal tracks in wav format from location zero.

Instrumental Mixing: $35.00 per hour. I expect each instrument to be recorded on a separate track. Mixing of combined tracks (i.e. kick and snare on one track) cannot be expected to yeild a professional mix.

Album Mastering**: Contact to negotiate pricing. Please include total number of tracks, current recording state of audio (24 bit at 96Khz/ 16 bit at 44.1Khz) that you'll be sending, and a numbered tracklisting. It is preferred to receive all tracks with volume peaks at or below -6dbFS for optimal headroom during the mastering process. All tracks will be mastered so levels and frequencies accross the project are in line to give you the best, high-impact sound available. Professional results at an indie price!

Single Track Mastering: $35.00 per hour. This includes a full master track formatted in .wav or .cda. You'll be sent an MP3 at 192 kbps (CD quality) for approval.

Business Rules and Ethics:

1. 50% Deposit Due Up Front:
I won't touch a project unless I have 50% Paid Up Front. The other 50% due upon completion to YOUR satisfaction. I have been cheated by many artists in the past, and I won't allow it to happen again. Without full payment, you WILL NOT receive your finished project.

2. Two Week Minimum Turn Around, Rushed Projects will cost 25% More:
If you want your project quicker than 2 weeks, you'll need to pay for it. You are not my only client, and likely not the only project I will be working on at that time. Patience is a virtue, and it yields a better product. Typical project turn around is 4 weeks for mixing and mastering completion. Time will vary by length and complexity of project.

3. Services Trading:
If you and I have a verbal agreement for trade of services, your end of the bargain must be completed before I will release project masters. This is a preventative measure to keep from being cheated on my end. It's business, nothing personal. If a monetary amount + services is a part of our trade agreement, the monetary portion of the agreement is due as your 50% Deposit before project work begins.

4. Quality in, Quality Out:
You are responsible for the quality of your recordings and production. If you supply me with mp3's for tracked out sessions, you will not receive professional quality after mixing and mastering. Full quality wav or aif files are expected from you.

5. Mastering Loudness:
In a digital environment such as mine, it is impossible to achieve the same loudness as a commercially released album. This is the price you pay as an indie artist. Analog equipment used to achieve such loudness on commercial releases costs upwards of $100,000.00 or more. I cannot match their volumes in mastering, and I will not attempt to. My masters will be approximately 4 to 6 db lower in volume than a commercial release on average. Usually around -9db RMS. This equates to one or two notches on your stereo volume. If this is unacceptable to you, I can refer you to another mastering engineer who has the equipment to achieve commercial results. They charge a minimum of $400 per song. If 4 db is worth $4000 to you, so be it.

6. Communication:
Please do not send me 3 emails a day asking about my progress on your project. I have a very healthy work ethic and will work on your project as promised. I will update you and provide mixes/masters for approval as we go. Your input is extremely valuable when asked for. When opinions are impressed upon me as an engineer, you squelch my ability to give you the best product possible. Please don't waste my time or yours. Be professional.

All artists seeking services must submit a studio contract: The Den Studios Contract

Album Cover design: $50.00 minimum. Includes 2 page booklet design, with song credits and artist’s “Shout Out” pages. $50.00 price is based on minimum design implications, with photos provided by the artist. CD design (designing the face of the disk for printing and duplication) is an additional $10.00. Intense design and processing at a higher cost is available.

Website Design: $100 Flat fee. This includes all graphical and HTML layout and 8 pages of content. Additional pages of content can be provided at $10 per page. Hosting can be provided for an additional fee based on your needs. Website maintenance is the assumed responsibility of the client, but can be provide for you at an additional monthly charge.

*Professional results are expected on the assumption you, the client, provide vocals tracked at a professional quality level, and supply professionally crafted instrumentals for mixing.

**Full albums can be mixed and mastered by Change at a 10 song minimum per album. For artists requesting a full album, special pricing can be negotiated based on number of songs and number of hours required for mixing and or mastering. If you have a special request, please contact change via e-mail: change@changehiphop.com to iron out all details. Payment accepted via money order, or PayPal (we accept credit cards).