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[Viitalahde]

I still do samples, but they're actually surprisingly rare here, I don't even do them weekly. Maybe just 2-3 a month.

Sometimes I feel the people have already decided to hire me, but they just want to double check I won't do something stupid like add +12dB @ 50hz & 15khz.

[blip]

We currently only offer samples to clients with a replication job in house, so luckily that weeds out a lot of the less than serious people who have no finished mix/money and are just taking advantage of a free offer on the net.

We offer mix evaluations, and a high percentage of those turn into mastering jobs, but the conversion rate on free samples is even higher. There really is nothing like having the client hear the difference to convince them that mastering is beneficial and necessary.

We would probably never open up free samples to anyone who happens across our website, we're pretty booked year round with 5 guys mastering.

[carlsaff]

Been over a year since my last response to this thread... I'm still offering free samples, even tho I definitely don't need to anymore. They are offered with a stipulation that they will only get done in my free time (such as it is), and I'm under no obligation to get them done according to any kind of schedule.

The reality is that I can only get to about 10% of the tracks I receive, and most clients have to make a choice before I can get to their track. It feels weird to offer something that I usually cannot deliver on, but then again, it *is* something for nothing. I don't feel too badly.

[Noah Mintz]

I try to charge $100 and then credit them back should they choose me for mastering.

I just can't do the best job if I'm not getting paid for at least some of my time. (unless I'm doing charity mastering)

[KAyo]

blip wrote on Fri, 18 December 2009 21:07

We currently only offer samples to clients with a replication job in house, so luckily that weeds out a lot of the less than serious people who have no finished mix/money and are just taking advantage of a free offer on the net. We offer mix evaluations, and a high percentage of those turn into mastering jobs, but the conversion rate on free samples is even higher. There really is nothing like having the client hear the difference to convince them that mastering is beneficial and necessary. We would probably never open up free samples to anyone who happens across our website, we're pretty booked year round with 5 guys mastering.

Now that makes sense to me..
Shows appreciation to both parties, I think.. It’s a no brainer and simple..

You busy “means your reputation precedes you, and maybe you don’t need to dwell with trial master runs.. But, on the other hand, if you gaining momentum, like most… then it does make sense to embark on trail or free samples etc. It’s a form of advertising one could embark on with sincere clients and not any off road hiker, I believe..

KAyo

[djwaudio]

Noah Mintz wrote on Sat, 19 December 2009 12:37

I try to charge $100 and then credit them back should they choose me for mastering. I just can't do the best job if I'm not getting paid for at least some of my time. (unless I'm doing charity mastering)

This is where I am on the subject now as well.  It just doesn't feel right to give production time away.   If there isn't a high level of trust going in, then it's not something I want to be a part of.

If it's a major project, often they will be happy to cover my time anyway.

[jdg]

i _just_ had a guy try to send multiple samples with different email addresses, trying to get free mastering.

its not like i couldn't tell it was the same vocalist.

told him to just book some mastering, he replied he found someone online to do it for $99 for the 14 track album

i gotta re-think this sample thing too

[Viitalahde]

jdg wrote on Mon, 21 December 2009 02:54

i gotta re-think this sample thing too

I just updated my website and I tell there my sample tracks are not complete, they're cut from the end. I also state there will also be only one sample.

So far the sample thing hasn't got out of hand, but if it does, I'll re-think it too.

[Thomas W. Bethel]

I do samples if asked but I too wonder how many people ask 10 different mastering engineers for "samples" only to use the samples as their complete album??? I usually only send them a minutes worth of mastering or if they want the whole song I use the "beeper" from Voxengo http://www.voxengo.com/product/beeper/.

[jdg]

personally, i cant treat ppl like they're criminals and give them a sample that is faded early or have beeps.

i'd rather just not do it...  

i think im going to change my site to say "samples available only upon special request"

[carlsaff]

jdg wrote on Mon, 21 December 2009 09:50

personally, i cant treat ppl like they're criminals

Same. I have a real issue with it. I've only ever been screwed over by band managers. Musicians, by and large, I trust. They're surprised that I do, and the good will pays dividends.

[cass anawaty]

Voxengo beeper goes in every track that is a "sample" (about every 15 seconds or so).  That way I can give them the whole track in it's entirety.

It's either that or none at all.

[dcollins]

jdg wrote on Mon, 21 December 2009 07:50

personally, i cant treat ppl like they're criminals and give them a sample that is faded early or have beeps.

Exactly.  

Besides, such a high percentage of test masters turn into sessions, it would be dumb not to do them............



DC

[Viitalahde]

I don't know, no-one has ever complained. People even send me short pieces of audio to to the sample of, and seem to get the idea. If I state beforehand that the sample will not be complete, I don't see the problem.