Analog and digital mastering ~ what gives ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter grimtraveller
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grimtraveller

grimtraveller

If only for a moment.....
I'm trying to increase my understanding of mastering.
What are the differences between mastering on analog gear and digital gear ? Is it common to master digitally recorded stuff on analog mastering gear and vice versa, analog recorded stuff on digital mastering gear ? And is it unusual to master albums that were mixed straight onto CD ?
Or am I more confused than I think I might be ? :confused:
 
1) The differences are up to the engineer (I'm very much in the "go ahead and TRY to take my analog gear" corner -- Although I'd submit that 99% of us analog guys are "hybrid" guys using analog and digital processing).

2) Yes (analog mastering on digital sources).

3) Sure, why not (digital processing on analog sources) but analog is used on that also.

4) If CD was the mix medium, certainly. If it's digital files, a thumb drive, 1/4" tape, 1/2" tape -- Whatever the medium.
 
grimtraveller said:
I'm trying to increase my understanding of mastering.
What are the differences between mastering on analog gear and digital gear ?
Click to expand...
Digital "In the Box" - All processing is done with ones and zeros in the computer via software (plug-ins) or through outboard digital processors (Weiss - Zsys etc).. - the signal does not reach the analog domain until the DA converter that feeds your speakers amplifier.

Analog - processing goes through a da-ad loop that is routed from the computer through analog gear and back into the computer.

The analog processing when done right can introduce distortion that can be pleasing.
...taking the edge off the harsher digital sound

Many dedicated mastering facilities use a combination of both analog and digital processing.

grimtraveller said:
Is it common to master digitally recorded stuff on analog mastering gear and vice versa, analog recorded stuff on digital mastering gear ?
Click to expand...
Yes

grimtraveller said:
And is it unusual to master albums that were mixed straight onto CD
Click to expand...
It is not unusual but it is also not common to master from 16 bit audio files. It's always best to master from the native sample rate and bit depth (usually 24 bit) of the mix session.
 
serenitynow said:
what exactly does mastering do?
Click to expand...

It's a secret process and only members of the mastering guild know what it is.

If they reveal it to anyone outside the guild....all who learn of it will be killed and the mastering engineer is then kicked out of the mastering guild and forced to mix Mongolian Throat Singers for 1 year as penance.
If you never heard Mongolian Throat singing...it sounds a lot like trying to pass some serious gas when you are constipated.
 
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