budget "mastering' tool

[cjogo]

So----narrowing down to a simple mastering tool....(not tracking/inserting +++just stereo buss) We know there is not a "cure-all" for one single piece of gear to bring a mix to a masterpiece..but for a survival kit of under $2000 -what is your pick?#?#?#?

P.S. {used on the 1969 & 747}

Drawmer 1969
Avalon 747
or a RNC with Speck ASC-T

CJOGO
http://fp2k.redshift.com/cjogo/crystalrecording.htm

[Ted]

I haven't tried them all, but the 747 seems to be one of those boxes that, although it doesn't have a huge amount of variables for you to tweak, seems to add that special something to everything that passes through it. And not leaving every parameter adjustable is not a bad thing...that's why they say the classic Neve EQ's sound so good, because they didn't give you enough rope to hang yourself with.

-Ted

[Dix]

Originally posted by Ted
because they didn't give you enough rope to hang yourself with.

-Ted

Gee... what ever happened to a good old-fashioned sense of adventure? LOL

[EjbsMusicRoom]

From what I have heard, the RNC is a great buy. I never used one though. I like the AVALON and would love to get one but I`m not crazy about graphic eqs.

For the money, the RNC is a very tempting piece.

If you have the cash...

MANLEY MASSIVE PASSIVE & a VARI MU. This setup will cost you about $9000.

Ouch but sweet,
Ernest

[Matthias Powerbomb]

Would I get made fun of if I said I master with software? I don't go out to a finalizer. I'm sure they are nice, but I can't afford one. The positive side of that is that I can get good masters using just software. They are not quite as loud as some commercial CD's, but my masters are pretty close. They are as loud as some, but not the really loud ones. Volume is not the only issue. The commercial CD's and my master CD's sound pretty close to the same quality when played on the same stereos, so I guess I'm doing well. I'm comparing mine to some of the best out there and I'm coming close, so I pat myself on the back. Is anyone else mastering with software only? And out of those, how many of you are happy with your results?

[midlandmorgan]

I use Ozone for some things, and it works well. For others I use Samplitude's mastering tools (multiband compression, eq, etc...)

You may want to do your final work using several different listening systems...for example, I will audition my final passes through nearfield Tannoy Reveals, then thru some bookshelf speakers (RCAs...actually good little boxes!), car audio speakers in a box for home use, and through the home stereo (Bose and Pioneer speakers)...instant switching really helps to get an A/B comparison...

I make sure to listen to everything through both stereo and mono playbacks, too, to correct any phase issues. What sounds great in stereo may just disappear in mono

[Matthias Powerbomb]

Thanks for the reply. I monitor through a pair of Event 20/20's. They are really nice. I've been thinking about getting some headphones to monitor with in between to check quiet noise, etc... I burn my masters to CD using CD Architect and try them out on every stereo I can find and they sound good on about all of them. My vehicle, my home, my parents stereo, some of my friends' stereos, etc... How would I check my mixes in mono? I use Vegas Video 3.0. Vegas Pro use to have a mono switch, but I don't think Vegas Video does anymore. I don't think my mixes are having any phasing problems, though. I use to be in a band and I did our album. We had it on a radio show around here and I was listening to it outside of the booth on a clock radio and it sounded good. Clock radios are in mono right? Thanks.

[Ted]

Most recording consoles have mono switches for checking mono compatibility...another way to to it is to pan your L/R channels to the center if possible. If you're going right out of your computer to a speaker system it may be harder, but Samson't coming out with a new little box that is basically the control room section of a recording console. It's called "C Control" and should be shipping in about a month (they tell us). It'll run about a hundred dollars. Pretty slick little box...outputs for two pairs of powered speakers (or amplifiers) with individual volume controls so you can match your levels. Mono and dim switches so you can check your mono compatibility or drop your level easily and then get right back to where you were. It's got a talkback microphone and headphone amp built in as well, as well as three sets of two-track inputs for hooking up tape decks, CD burners, computer outputs, etc (along with routing so you can make dubs). I think a ton of DAW users will get these who are tired of having to adjust their volume in the computer, but don't want to buy a mixer just for a volume control for their speakers. There are also several higher-end devices in a similar vein available from companies such as Coleman and Furman (the Furman was actually discontinued recently).

I also do a lot of mastering in the computer (using Spark XL and Waves plugins mostly) although I also have a dbx Quantum which I use quite a bit. I get great results out of either. Whatever works...I once mastered an album using an Alesis 3630 compressor and one of their graphic EQ's. It wasn't my idea...the guy in the band pulled them from their road rack and wanted to try running everything through them. I thought it would sound horrible, but to my surprise their aggressive nature actually fit the music (it was fairly loud punk rock) rather well. Don't know if I'd ever do it again, but it worked fine in that situation...

-Ted

[Matthias Powerbomb]

Thanks again. Since I am going straight from my Darla 24 to my monitors, I think I may get that Samson C Control. That is what it's called right? I forgot to mention that I was using T-Racks 24. I have Ozone too, but I prefer T-Racks. I think it sounds better than Ozone. I don't understand how the pros get their CD's so damn loud. StaticX has a song called "Cold" That song is loud as hell. My mastered wavs look like bricks. I don't see how they could get any louder. Oh well. I'm still happy with the sound, and my masters are pretty loud. I hope to get that C Control soon. Thanks for the tip!

[Ted]

One thing to consider is that the pro's are generally using mastering engineers who not only have decades of experience behind them, but also have some of the best analog and digital equipment available (often custom handbuilt stuff) as well as monitoring systems that let them hear every subtle nuance. However, there's a lot you can do to get your CD's as loud as possible...if you're thinking loud from the beginning, it can make it easier in the mastering stage. Try compressing your individual tracks more as you mix, or even as you track. Of course, this isn't always possible if you're just handed the 2-track mixes to master. There's still a lot you can do, though...EQ, enhancers/exciters, compression (multiband especially) and peak limiting (try to get your hands on Waves's L2 from their Masters bundle...it's amazing how much more level you can squeeze out with that thing) all help.

On the other side, it's nice to hear a recording with some actual dynamic range once in a while...

-Ted

[paddyopossum]

The HHB BurnIt Plus is getting real high marks,,enough so to make me consider getting one of them instead of a Masterlink. In DP3, which I have, there is a decent mastering application, too, though I've yet to use it. I'll explore that first,,for financial reasons, and because I have it, and do my burning on my Mac, in iTunes2, which is a really decent program itself.

As stated, using a dedicated Mastering House is never a bad idea,,these guys know what they are doing,,and have the experience and wherewithal too.

[Ted]

The BurnIt Plus is a great machine, but I'm not sure if I'd use it as a dedicated mastering burner...the advantage to the Masterlink and a computer is you can try things out, and if they don't work, you can undo them. You can also set your playlists up and tweak everything to be exactly the way you want it to be on the final CD. Using the BurnIt Plus, if you make a mistake you've pretty much got to go back and start over, which can be a pain...

-Ted