Question, Which is more important?

[nononsensetype]

When trying to master audio tracks which is more important, the audio software or the cd burner? How much does each one play in the mastering process? Just asked because whenever I burn a cd the audio sometimes sounds different than it did previously to being burned.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

That depends on what point of the recording process you are calling "mastering"!

If you consider mastering to be the polishing of a final mix (as most do), then "your ears" is the correct answer. (Not to mention the $100K++ in mastering gear..........)



Bruce

 

[dobro]

I'd go for the software, in order to get the best master possible. Then if you didn't like the sound that came out of your CD burner, you could get a different CD burner somewhere maybe.

 

[regebro]

Just asked because whenever I burn a cd the audio sometimes sounds different than it did previously to being burned.

The biggest reason for this is most likely that you don't use the same equipment to play the music.

When you listen to a wav-file, you use the soundcards D/A converters, but when you listen to a CD, you usually use the CD-players D/A-converters.

Some soundcards and CD-players have digital connectors so that you can use th soundcards D/A conversion in both cases, and then you should not hear any difference between the mixed wav-file and the CD.