Few engineers would disagree about the benefits of sending their DAW mixdowns back into the analog domain for final CD mastering. Analog EQ and compression effects the music in a more musical way than any digital signal processing (DSP) can. At Cave Audio Productions we use an Avalon AD2055 Mastering Equalizer and the 8-tube Manley Vari-Mu Limiter in conjunction with an Apogee PSX-100 to create a pristine analog mastering chain.

Prices are $39per hour or $299 for a full CD (up to 12tracks) which includes two Red Book masters. Singles can be mastered for $29 a song.

It is necessary to have adequate headroom on the premaster to allow for the increase in overall gain which occurs with the addition of certain desirable frequencies and compression.
Typical pop/rock premaster levels should be between -4db and -12db with some major peaks up to -2db. If you find that you must turn the volume up slightly on your CD to match the loudness of commercial albums, but it still lacks the punch and sparkle, then you're probably right on target.