Mixing and mastering question

[antispatula]

When you mix and master w/ analog equipment, you mix down to a stereo 1/4" then take that tape and master it down to another tape right? So that means you need 2 stereo recorders.....So my question is, are some stereo recorders better than others? I mean, there are so many of them, they all look the same to me.....except those pioneer ones, they look freaking sweet 'cause they're all metalic and stuff......anyways! Any specific models, or do any of them do the job?

 

[The Ghost of FM]

You only need a second machine if you want to make copies of your masters for editing, safety and alternate playback mediums like LPs which require different eq, roll-off and compression characteristics.

You can still make copies by mastering the same mix off the multi-track master to a different roll of tape.

Cheers!

 

[PHILANDDON]

Well, I don't see why you need to mix and master in two steps and degrade your quality. Why not mix, patch in the compressor/limiter/eq/whatever and master to quarter-inch.

Or, do what I've been doing which is mix and master your analog tracks straight to digitial.

 

[Farview]

Every time I've mixed to analog, it was mastered to digital. That is really what mastering is/was. Converting the analog mix to digital and sequencing the CD. Mastering from tape to tape just adds another step to the process and more generation loss.

 

[antispatula]

Or, do what I've been doing which is mix and master your analog tracks straight to digitial.

NEVER! I haven't gone this far and through so much headache to use digital!

But with mastering, don't you want the same settings for the entire album? Never masterd anything before, I haven't even started a serious recording project yet. So when you're done mixing a song, do you just patch in the compressor and eq and then use those settings for the whole batch of songs?

 

[Farview]

What are you going to play it back on?

If you are just going to listen to te 1/4 inch, just play the master (or make a copy) Mastering is the process of putting your mixes on to CD, vinyl, cassette, etc... and making them 'fit in' with the standards for those formats. It used to be that the mastering engineer would try to do as little as possible to the mix while still getting it to the industry standard.

 

[FALKEN]

YEAH;

you could do a lot if you had two decks...

like use one for delay while mixing...

or "mastering" as you put it..

not necessary.

but it would save a lot of time.

but then again, so would digital.

 

[Beck]

I master to analog half-track (Tascam 22-2)... from there copy to CD (Fostex CR300).
I may on occasion make a second master mix to Super beta Hi-fi.

 

[cjacek]

When you mix and master w/ analog equipment, you mix down to a stereo 1/4" then take that tape and master it down to another tape right? So that means you need 2 stereo recorders.....So my question is, are some stereo recorders better than others? I mean, there are so many of them, they all look the same to me.....except those pioneer ones, they look freaking sweet 'cause they're all metalic and stuff......anyways! Any specific models, or do any of them do the job?

I'm not sure about mastering BUT I'd recommend you mixdown to 1/4" half track. This method adds rather than detracts from the overall sound of the tracks. All instruments tend to combine quite nicely when mixed down to another half track recorder. You can get a nice TASCAM 22-2 for about 100 bucks on eBay and it's really all you need for mixdowns (and likely mastering too). Right Tim ?

 

[Beck]

I'm not sure about mastering BUT I'd recommend you mixdown to 1/4" half track. This method adds rather than detracts from the overall sound of the tracks. All instruments tend to combine quite nicely when mixed down to another half track recorder. You can get a nice TASCAM 22-2 for about 100 bucks on eBay and it's really all you need from mixdowns (and likely mastering too). Right Tim ?

Absolutely right, but I would be willing to pay $200.00 maybe more for an excellent condition 22-2 from a knowledgeable seller, preferably original owner. You can get things fairly cheaply from the "I-Sold-It" type sellers, but they can't tell you anything about the machine -- its history or condition.

If you get a dogged out 22-2 or 32 for beans, you may ultimately have a greater total cost getting it up and running. New belts, roller, and head relaping (if needed) and labor will cost you more than machine is worth.

Now and then a little-used deck comes along. When you see one, grab it! Tascam 22-2, 32, Fostex E2… whatever.

One eBay lesson I’ve learned over the years is it can cost you a lot of money to save a little money. Be choosy and serious when scanning the listings.

Of course if one just likes tinkering and restoring stuff, that's another story. But if you are a musician/artist first, you don't want to get bogged down with devices, when your objective is to make music. Life is too short.

 

[FALKEN]

But if you are a musician/artist first, you don't want to get bogged down with devices, when your objective is to make music. Life is too short.

dude, tell me about it..............i want to throw my 32 off of the roof like daily.

 

[mfdjuve]

excuse my ignorance but is there a difference in mixing down to a cassette deck then putting into a computer to make CD's, then mixing down straight in a comp?

 

[hungovermorning]

NEVER! I haven't gone this far and through so much headache to use digital!

But with mastering, don't you want the same settings for the entire album? Never masterd anything before, I haven't even started a serious recording project yet. So when you're done mixing a song, do you just patch in the compressor and eq and then use those settings for the whole batch of songs?

Dump to digital? Not when I can dump ON digital!

I do everything analog too. What's your final product?

 

[HomeGos]

Im in the same ballscene

got 5 songs mixed and recorded on a 388 , its for a friends band , Im gonna master to a PC using Wavelab ( some waves and UAD plgins not sure yet ) external gear : using a digitech reverb and an alesis comp 3630 into the kickdrum track and into the bass track, reverb in stereo, it sounds pretty nice

taking care of the mix is the key for me, equing and leveling things

stereo reverb did a lot for the snare and overhead tracks.

wish I had a tascam 32 or similar to mixdown before reaching the PC

In the end u or your client/friend, will probably want to hear your project from a CD, most probably from a mp3. but not allways

 

[ofajen]

When you mix and master w/ analog equipment, you mix down to a stereo 1/4" then take that tape and master it down to another tape right? So that means you need 2 stereo recorders.....So my question is, are some stereo recorders better than others? I mean, there are so many of them, they all look the same to me.....except those pioneer ones, they look freaking sweet 'cause they're all metalic and stuff......anyways! Any specific models, or do any of them do the job?

If you are recording to vinyl, you can assemble your "mix" cuts on one machine, usually separated by paper leader tape and then play that tape with final EQ and limiting or compression right into the lathe to cut the lacquer "master" disc. If you are recording to digital, you can run the mix tape output through EQ and dynamics processing and then through A/D or do the processing in the digital world. In all those cases, you wouldn't have to have two stereo recorders.

As far as the machines, for the most part, they all have that "thing." However, they vary widely in specifics of their audio performance, and the same recorder can sound rather different depending on the tape speed, eq setting, bias setting, input level and so on.

Cheers,

Otto

 

[RocStar]

Holy thread revive...

Ask Massive about the mastering process. He's got the gear and the experience to finalize your project. I personally would never go 2-track tape to 2-track tape for mastering unless I was looking for a specific effect. Unless you've got great converters it's completely worth it to send your tapes to a reputable master house for the conversion at the very least. Your ears will thank you.