mastering q

  • Thread starter Thread starter FALKEN
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FALKEN

FALKEN

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tried this in the mastering forum and got no response so im trying here.

Suppose I mix down to tape. And suppose I want to release vinyl and CDs. I want to have my tape mastered professionally. and I want the compression, etc to be analog.

-I am under the impression that I need it mastered differently for vinyl and for cd. Is this true?

-should I have it "mastered" onto another tape before I take it to be transferred to vinyl and/or CD?

thanks.
 
As far as the question for should it be differant for cd or vinyl you might want to call the masteing people that is going to do the job and ask them.
And I would make sure they have done vinyl before trusting them.
And dont use any mastering house that cant give you a sample of their work.
I just did a 14 song 60,s band and they got the cd back from the mastering guy and he butchered the whole thing. :(
It makes me sick everytime I listen to it. Plus he charged top dollar to do the job.
 
In the context of vinyl, mastering is cutting the master disc. The compression and low end that we are used to hearing on CDs is impossible to get on vinyl. You will have to send the master tape to the vinyl guy, let him do his stuff. Then send the master tape to the CD mastering guy and let him do his thing. Mastering for CD and vinyl are two completely different things.
 
when you say sent the "master" tape off, do you mean my mixdown?

or do you mean have it 'mastered', and then send THAT to be put on CD and vinyl?

sorry I am brick headed I need things spelled out.
 
I mean your mixdown tape. The vinyl mastering process happens as it is transfered to the acetate. It involves compression, stereo narrowing (in the low frequencies) and groove angle. The CD mastering process is a whole different animal and will need to be done independantly of the vinyl mastering process. You need to send both mastering houses the same (unmastered) mixdown tape to work from.
 
would you recommend having 2 decks, or buying studio time to dub tapes? and what processes are used in the dubbing process? add more eq?
 
Having 2 decks would be best. If you are making analog transfers, you are loosing a generation between the master and the copy.
Another idea would be (if the CD mastering house is local) would be to take the tape to the mastering house and have them load it into the computer while you wait. Then send the mix tape off to the vinyl place.
 
Farview said:
Having 2 decks would be best. If you are making analog transfers, you are loosing a generation between the master and the copy.
Another idea would be (if the CD mastering house is local) would be to take the tape to the mastering house and have them load it into the computer while you wait. Then send the mix tape off to the vinyl place.
Click to expand...

k. so I will probably pick up 2 decks. I want all of the cd mastering to be done analog. this is just a personal preference, which you and I have disucssed before. thanks for the advice.
 
FALKEN said:
tried this in the mastering forum and got no response so im trying here.

Suppose I mix down to tape. And suppose I want to release vinyl and CDs. I want to have my tape mastered professionally. and I want the compression, etc to be analog.

-I am under the impression that I need it mastered differently for vinyl and for cd. Is this true?

-should I have it "mastered" onto another tape before I take it to be transferred to vinyl and/or CD?

thanks.
Click to expand...

Vinyl and CD get treated differently, but you don't need to do anything differently on your end in how you record your mixdown tape.

The low frequency roll-off, compression, etc for vinyl, and the filtering, compression/limiting, etc for CD will be done at the mastering/duplication house.

It can be confusing because the term master is used at different stages. The master that's made from your master mixdown is a duplication master, and it will be handled appropriately for the end product -- vinyl or CD.

-Tim
 
Thanks Tim.

Its funny that you say "mastering/duplication house" because I had always thought I would separate those. Do you really use the mastering at Oasis or Discmakers? or a local mastering/duplication house?
 
FALKEN said:
Thanks Tim.

Its funny that you say "mastering/duplication house" because I had always thought I would separate those. Do you really use the mastering at Oasis or Discmakers? or a local mastering/duplication house?
Click to expand...
A lot of mastering houses will handle your duplication as well. Replication is always farmed out.
 
FALKEN said:
Thanks Tim.

Its funny that you say "mastering/duplication house" because I had always thought I would separate those. Do you really use the mastering at Oasis or Discmakers? or a local mastering/duplication house?
Click to expand...

I produce and master my own work. If you want to have your work professionally mastered then you can bring in your raw multitrack format to a local studio.

When I say duplication master I mean the dup master they create to make all the other CDs from. They make that from whatever 2-track master you send them.

-Tim
 
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