First time mastering

[suddentwigs]

Hi there. I am coming to the end of my first solo production project. It is acoustic in nature, utilitising a range of orchestral instruments but largely within the realm of the folk ensmeble, with rarely more than 6 instruments playing at once. I am about to finish recording and mixing. My mixer is a Mackie 1642, and the processor I have bought to accomplish the mastering is the Art Pro VLA II, and I am intending to master to a Revox B77 stereo 1/4" tape deck. My question is this: how is it best to hook up the mixer, compressor and reel to reel? Any idea what settings would be wise, given the material I have described? Trying to keep it natural yet punchy. I have done a lot of levelling on individual tracks, but tried to avoid in-box compression as far as possible, as I am trying to keep as analog a sound as possible. I may also wish to adjust the EQ of the mix using the mixer's pots, is this a reasonable course of action? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Massive Master]

[STREAM OF THOUGHT]

You do what the mix asks you to do.

(this is usually why self-mastering can be self-defeating)

The Pro VLA is quite a decent compressor -- Very "LA2A-ish" -- which is something you don't see in mastering rigs very often.

DISCLAIMER: I used to use a VLA here for parallel work and it was rather decent at the task. But rarely ever in line with the source.

You're going to need to hook it up however you need to hook it up. The settings you need will be the settings you need.

Are you using the Revox as a layback unit or is the R2R actually going to be the master (for subsequent R2R's)?

I wouldn't want the EQ's on the 1642 anywhere near anything. Just about ANY decent plug is going to outperform them.

What's the source? What's the final medium? Is it already on tape?

[/STREAM OF THOUGHT]

 

[suddentwigs]

The signal is coming from my computer to the mixer, and then to be recorded to tape via the compressor. I will then play it from the tape back into the computer, at which point it should hopefully be done. The final medium will be the sadly necessary CDs and mp3s. Maybe someday it will be on a slab of vinyl. Thanks for the advice on the EQs - I shall avoid them. I mainly need to know whether it's best to go from mixer - compressor - tape, or mixer - compressor - mixer - tape, simply in terms of plugging. Are all the outputs of the 1642 going to be the same quality? And presumably, since it's for a whole mix, fairly mild settings on the compressor?

 

[Massive Master]

There isn't a right answer here -- YOU need the connections YOU need.

First off, I'd highly suggest [interface > deck > interface] keeping proper levels and voltages in mind of course (you're not going to get "typically commercial levels" to or back from the deck without a converter calibrated to the task, so there will probably be processing post-layback) -- and see if you even like it.

You're going to have better luck (IMO/E, keeping in mind that I am and analog nut) with EQ and dynamics 'in the box' over running it through what you're looking at.

That said -- If that's what your gut is telling you, then go nuts. And there's certainly plenty of room for experimentation and what not.

 

[suddentwigs]

Cool, I guess I'll just get going on trying stuff out, and see what sounds best to my ears. As you say, there is no right answer, just different settings for different tastes. Thanks for the info!