Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
You're going to take a line level signal down to a mic level signal and use a preamp to bring it back up to a line level signal --- for "signal processing" of what sort exactly?
M
mixich
New member
Actually to be more specific I was going to use the line/instrument inputs from my preamp...
"Signal processing" ... I meant adding some of the coloration that the preamp have.
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
If that's what the mix is telling you to do, go for it. If you're doing it "just to use outboard gear" then by all means, don't do it.
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
And I'd add that not all preamps are created the same. Just saying you're running a signal "though a preamp" is like just saying "I'm racing my car". That statement means two rather different things depending upon whether your car is A Chevy Corvette or Nissan Leaf. If your preamp is closer to a Leaf than a Vette, then the advantages of running a master through it are questionable.
G.
G.
M
mixich
New member
A lot of sense in your statements guys.
And I know this is not the right thread for this questions of mine but however...
To be honest with you I'm not even close to a Nissan Leaf and not to mention the Chevy. I'm close maybe to a Yugo 55 or a Renault 4 with my curent gear.
Anyway I'm going to make a significant gear upgrade soon so I'd like to know some nonconventional details that will help me choose my new preamp and stuff. Thats the reason why I've asked is there a good point of running a master or a mixdown through a preamp.
Because if there is a good point I'd like to catch two flies with one stroke and I'd go for the two channel R. Neve Design Portico preamp or I'd buy two same channel strips (thinking about TL audio A3, SSL Alpha Channnel and SPL Channel One ) and two channel AD/DA like RME ADI 2 or something similar to that.
If there is no significant improvement of the signal through any of these devices I'd go for a high quality one channel preamp in that price range and I will wait my next gear upgrade to purchase some mastering toys.
Any sense in what I've said? Or any suggestions?
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SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
My personal opinion ( and that's all it is) is that you're jumping the gun in your concerns a bit.
That's all fine gear you mentioned, as I'm sure you know. But I think worrying now about whether you should or could use them as part of your mastering process is fruitless until you actually get to that point.
You may find that just the additions of that gear to your tracking stage is enough. That you don't want/need to use them as a mastering effect because they are already doing their jobs in the way they are intended to early on in the process. But that would still make them just as worthwhile.
Or you may find, perhaps, that the quality of input chain is not your problem, rather that it may be something else such as your mic selection or usage, or your room acoustics or your mix monitors and your mix station setup, or aliens beaming theta rays from space into your house and messing everything up on you. In such cases, the top shelf preamps may help, but won't actually completely solve your problems, even if you do stick them on both the front end and the back end.
The bottom line is, IMHO, if you think a "gold channel" is indeed the answer, it will be the answer for what it is, a golden input/recording channel. Maybe such a recording chain sometimes it might be gravy on the potatoes to use occasionally in mastering as well, but I wouldn't consider that as a make/break reason for getting one or as a make/break solution for your recordings.
G.
That's all fine gear you mentioned, as I'm sure you know. But I think worrying now about whether you should or could use them as part of your mastering process is fruitless until you actually get to that point.
You may find that just the additions of that gear to your tracking stage is enough. That you don't want/need to use them as a mastering effect because they are already doing their jobs in the way they are intended to early on in the process. But that would still make them just as worthwhile.
Or you may find, perhaps, that the quality of input chain is not your problem, rather that it may be something else such as your mic selection or usage, or your room acoustics or your mix monitors and your mix station setup, or aliens beaming theta rays from space into your house and messing everything up on you. In such cases, the top shelf preamps may help, but won't actually completely solve your problems, even if you do stick them on both the front end and the back end.
The bottom line is, IMHO, if you think a "gold channel" is indeed the answer, it will be the answer for what it is, a golden input/recording channel. Maybe such a recording chain sometimes it might be gravy on the potatoes to use occasionally in mastering as well, but I wouldn't consider that as a make/break reason for getting one or as a make/break solution for your recordings.
G.
M
mixich
New member
I know I'm way out of the topic for this thread btw :S
Sorry for that guys
Sorry for that guys
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
That's alright, I think the original thread had pretty much run it's course already anyway.
G.
G.
M
mixich
New member
You got a point...I'm seeing the picture upside down...
anyway I'm not saying that I have some issues with my mixes that i want to get rid off in the mastering process I just want to raise the volume and add something unussual in a musical way from that preamp to the master (if something like thatwill happen at all).
I know its kind a unusual but I have to ask... Lets say I skip the preamp...could I use the comp and the eq from two channel strips? as a some sort of mastering tool?
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
You can always try it -- But if it's "eh" stuff, you're going to get waaaayyyy better performance and value from plugs.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a hardware nut. But there's "hardware" and there's "hardware" -- Using hardware just to use hardware isn't a valid reason.
There isn't a channel strip I can think of out there that I'd want to be strapping on the 2-buss without having an awfully specific reason...
Don't get me wrong - I'm a hardware nut. But there's "hardware" and there's "hardware" -- Using hardware just to use hardware isn't a valid reason.
There isn't a channel strip I can think of out there that I'd want to be strapping on the 2-buss without having an awfully specific reason...
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
Anything that can be used in tracking or mixing can be used in mastering. And vice versa. An EQ is an EQ, a compressor is a compressor, a limiter is a limiter, noise reduction is noise reduction, a reverb is a reverb, all regardless of when and wherever you use them. And therefore, there's nothing that says you cannot use the processors in channel strips in mastering.
The $64,000 question, however, is just where they will have the greatest effect. Let's say you have Channel Strip X. If you're using it to track and/or mix most of your music, will you really need or want to use it in mastering also? Maybe. But there's also every chance that you'll already have the sound you needed/wanted to get out of it and won't need/want to add another layer of it in mastering.
But if that's where you're looking to use them for their compression or EQ because you really happen to like the sound of them, knock yourself out; there's no electronical reason why you can't.
G.
M
mixich
New member
Guys THANKS A LOT !!
You've said a tons of usefull things in the few kilobytes of your messages !!
God bless
You've said a tons of usefull things in the few kilobytes of your messages !!
God bless
J
JB's Studio
New member
I got this link today: Basic Mastering for a book on the mastering process. In any case you need to start with a good mix. Just realize you're not going to become Bob Ludwig for a long time. Your first masters (just like your first mixes) are going to suck, but if you keep at it and keep working to improve they will get better.