Mastering with empathy
We don’t just hear frequencies - we hear your artistic intent.
With a deep appreciation for the raw, the weird, and the wonderful, we enhance what’s powerful in your music without erasing the rough edges that make it real.
Professional mastering that respects your creative risks and vision.
We speak fluent DIY
Welcome!
My name is J. LaPointe (yes, it’s pronounced “Jay”, short for Jonathan), and I’ve been mastering music professionally since 2003. Throughout my career I’ve mastered thousands of albums, working primarily with independent, DIY-focused bands and individuals, and by extension the engineers, producers, management, and labels that also operate within that sphere.
I’ve been fortunate to work with Gold and Platinum sellers (as well as hundreds of JUNO, Polaris Prize, CFMA and ECMA nominees and winners), but my impetus remains the community of creators in the cultural underground for whom music is an essential part of their life's work, and not necessarily their sole livelihood.
You can read more about the history of Archive Mastering here, and have a look at our mastering packages below.
I’m alway happy to hear from you to discuss your project, either via text/phone at +1 9024619992, or email to info@archivemastering.com
Thank you for visiting!
Mastering packages
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Mastering for Streaming
$150 CAD per track
A comprehensive set of masters for streaming release.
✓ 44.1kHz 16 bit streaming masters
✓ 96kHz 24 bit hi-res streaming masters
✓ Apple Digital Masters
✓ 320kbps MP3 for radio and promo
✓ Option to add-on a DDP master for CD manufacturing
✓ Option to add-on alternate mixes
✓ All revisions included
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Mastering for Streaming + Vinyl
$200 CAD per track
Masters for vinyl release plus a comprehensive set of streaming masters. Everything you need for a full blown streaming and physical release.
✓ Hi-res masters for vinyl manufacturing
✓ 44.1kHz 16 bit streaming masters
✓ 96kHz 24 bit hi-res streaming masters
✓ Apple Digital Masters
✓ 320kbps MP3 for radio and promo
✓ Option to add-on a DDP master for CD manufacturing
✓ Option to add-on alternate mixes
✓ All revisions included
Questions? Let’s talk!
Our studio - a spaceship in the woods
We work in a mastering suite designed for us by the world’s leading studio designer, Thomas Jouanjean of Brussels-based Northward Acoustics. Sitting at the helm of one of the most technically advanced mastering rooms on earth, while observing nature through a massive glass front wall, there’s really nothing else quite like it.
Northward FTB rooms are renowned worldwide as the holy grail of listening environments, and our workspace gives us the distinct advantage of being able to make bold decisions with absolute certainty - whether that’s pushing your music into new territory, or knowing when to leave well enough alone.
Our analog signal path is completely custom. Designed by J. LaPointe to work as an integrated system with our Merging Technologies converters, it features a dual signal path with the option of colourful tube, transformer, and inductor based eq, or a completely passive design that achieves full analog eq capabilities without adding a single amplifier to the signal path, outperforming any off-the-shelf mastering equipment available today.
Weiss EQ1 MK2 and DS1 MK3 digital hardware complements the analog chain, and we use the Merging Technologies Pyramix system for editing and master production.
Analog tape playback is via a custom ATR Services ATR-102, with both 1/2” and 1/4” capabilities. Supporting infrastructure includes dedicated transformer isolated electrical service, and numerous network, AES, and analog patch points for easy client connections.
