Did anyone hear the Program on Radio 4 around mid-day today about this subject in general? They had some early analogue synthesiser clips too. Quite fascinating - even for a luddite like me! George. -----Original Message----- From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tim Burgess Sent: 30 November 2010 17:15 To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ddots-l] Re: the mysterious world of mastering I'e talked to a few mastering engineers at seminars and the like and asked this exact question. The answer they've all given me is to talk to the engineer you're working with to see what he likes to be given. Best wishes. Tim Burgess Raised Bar Ltd Phone: +44 (0)1827 719822 Don't forget to vote for improved access to music and music technology at http://www.raisedbar.net/petition.htm -----Original Message----- From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shawn Brock Sent: 30 November 2010 16:48 To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ddots-l] the mysterious world of mastering I'm always the first to say, I don't know when it comes to answering most questions about mastering. And it seems that the longer I live, the less I know. You would think it would be the opposite right? Mastering has never been my cup of tee, and that aint ever going to change as far as I can see. Its a lot like great visual art, I have a great appreciation for it, but I know my talents lie elsewhere. I was reading back through several years of Sound On Sound Magazine, and found some articles from great engineers who make a living on both sides of the fence, those who record and mix, and those who master. My reason for reading up on this is because the mixing of my record is complete, and the mastering session will take place on December 13th. Its been a long time sense I was the party responsible for delivering files to a mastering house, and I see the game has changed, or maybe it hasn't. I'm working with Robert Hadley and Doug Sax of The Mastering Lab Inc www.themasteringlab.com The credits and knowledge these men possess of there craft is quite astounding! Needless to say, this is costing me a fare price, and I want to give them the best product I can to work with... Anyhow, in the interest of providing the best possible files to them, I wonder if any of you have any tips? I'm uploading split stereo 24-96 files to them a week in advance, and will also be taking the files down on a hard drive. My questions are all about the meter. When I look at the master busses output meter, my objective has been to get it to stay below 0. You know how it goes, you start mixing on a tune, add some compression, turn the kick up, and bla bla bla. The next thing you know, the output meter is bouncing between minus 4 and plus 2... So in your collective opinions, what kind of output numbers do you like to see on a tune that's ready for mastering? I don't want to go to the point of obsession, and line A Coleman Audio 2-channel VU meter into my chain, like David Rideau does... But I want the mastering house to have the best product they can get from me. Any thoughts and advice is always appreciated. Shawn PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE! To leave the list, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type unsubscribe For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq or send a message, to ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type faq PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE! To leave the list, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type unsubscribe For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq or send a message, to ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type faq PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE! To leave the list, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type unsubscribe For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subjectúq or send a message, to ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type faq