MASTERING at Son Set Beach Productions
"Each recording is unique, and requires careful planning to guarantee the best sound quality and the most appropriate use of time and finances for your project. Here are some guidelines to help with your planning..."
WHY SON SET BEACH MASTERING?
"What is Mastering?"
- Mastering is the process of optimizing your recording for its final medium. Mastering will bring out the detail of your music for the final CD master by skillfully applying equalization, compression, and limiting. Mastering can take a group of songs and transform them into a cohesive flow of music that plays well in a variety of formats and sounds consistent on any playback system.
- You may have noticed that certain records just plain sound better on the radio than others. The mastering of the music can make the difference between an OK sound, and a Grammy-winning sound. Today's mastering process is able to make the most of the overall sound of your recordings, shaping and molding the frequencies and dynamics to provide the best sound possible. Virtually all of the recordings you hear today have been mastered.
- Mastering can be the single most important part of the sonic impact of your recording project, and should not be the place to try and save a few dollars. There is good reason why those who know, trust experienced mastering engineers with dedicated mastering tools. If the best masters could be made by just anyone who has a simple software plug-in, or from an "all-in-one-mastering box" device, then that is what all the best-sounding recordings would be using. There is good reason that competent mastering engineers don't just all have the same plugins or magic black box. A variety of special EQ, dynamics, and digital-conversion tools are used as necessary, and more importantly they must be used correctly. "Chops" for mastering are not bought; they are earned from years of recording experience and thousands of hours working with the right tools.
Mastering
Experienced mastering engineers have the edge over most home studio engineers. Mastering engineers have years and years of experience at their craft, which is an art form unto itself and completely different than just mixing a recording. They also have state-of-the-art equipment in their completely isolated and tuned rooms, so they can discern even the slightest difference in sound. They know when to leave well enough alone, and when to add the right amount of equalization, compression, or any other signal processing to your overall mix. They know all the tricks of the trade, and they can make the difference between a decent-sounding record and a phenomenal-sounding record. They also can deliver your masters in the proper format for manufacturing and/or duplication so that you can be assured of the best-quality CDs.
Sir Rupert Neve
The Completely Up-Graded Soundcraft 1824/2400 Sweet!
- This was used on YES's "Big Generator" Album -
The Pristine Studer Mastering Deck and one of our Favorite Avalon Stereo Compressors with EQ
Waves MAXX BCL another Secret Mastering Weapon of Choice..
For the Best in Reverb and Sound FX we at Son Set Beach Choose Eventide
The Eventide Flagship - The H8000FW
Eventide proudly introduces its new eight-channel processor, the Eventide H8000FW Ultra-Harmonizer brand effects processor. Designed for ultimate flexibility, the H8000 provides the highest quality audio performance combined with over one thousandof our best preset-algorithms culled from over thirty years of developingeffects for live sound, broadcast, post-production, and music recording.
Overview of CD Audio Mastering
With the digital revolution and explosion in home recording popularity, just about anybody can record an album. If you're content with sounding like just about anybody, then don't worry about doing cd audio mastering. If you want your music to stand out from the crowd however and sound radio-ready, then finding a great cd audio mastering engineer is an absolute must. The good news is that there are many more affordable mastering options than there were even a few years ago- a good portion of them catering specifically to the needs of independent artists. Whatever cd audio mastering solution you go with, make sure you have confidence in the engineer you're giving your music too.
Son Set Beach Mastering is a definite way to go. Some of the Best EQUIPMENT and over three decades of experience will make the difference for your project.
Thanks Guyz!
