MASTERING: EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUES

[online prowler]

The last year I have been swamping knowledge and possible equipment to purchase. As for funds go, there will be no gigantic investments in the near future. But instead of expensive pre-amps, compressors, etc, there are also more low tech methods one can use to enhance the quality of produced audio. For now, this is my interest. If some of you have suggestions in how to render 'poor man's mastering' or techniques for this feel free to make suggestions. Or maybe there is some good literature connected to the topic or websites?

Other than that treat this thread as a general topic on theme posted. No restrictions.  

[Jaakko V.]

This:

Bob Katz - Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science

[online prowler]

Thanx!

[pentd]

here some thoughts bout this topic

http://www.maniacsonly.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1272

bob katz - yeah well pro and all, but he really rubs me backwards cos hes such a whining maggot.

[online prowler]

here some thoughts bout this topic

http://www.maniacsonly.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1272

bob katz - yeah well pro and all, but he really rubs me backwards cos hes such a whining maggot.

Thanx for the links. Some interesting aspects in that thread. Have to say, personally I am more interested in mastering in relation to tape. In the link you attached one guy was saying he'd recommend to place low end freq in mono. Anyone have comments on this? What is the strategy/function of this notion?

[pentd]

sorry slow reply here sir prowler... been on a serious ftw / internet blackout for a while

mono low end for vinyl = less workload on the needle in the groove = solid sound... base! how low can u go nigga!!

[online prowler]

Thanx Pentd for the info !

[pentd]

sounds good on tape too. hell, cant really imagine why there should be stereo low end anywhere on stereo sound. surround things are a different beast then...

[Jaakko V.]

Pentd, just curious - how do you make the bass go mono? Use a specific tool like Ozone or splice the signal to a couple of channels otherwise, or..?

[pentd]

theres many smaller modules than ozone .. you just collapse the low frequencies to mono. one should check also:

http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2011/10/28/bpb-freeware-studio-best-free-stereo-enhancerexpander-vstau-plugins/

ok in reaper like so:

insert JS/LOSER stereoEnhancer. turn down "width low". then find the good crossover spot. its wierd, specially with headphones, like a zipper on your brain..

[Henrik III]

Pentd, just curious - how do you make the bass go mono? Use a specific tool like Ozone or splice the signal to a couple of channels otherwise, or..?

In Ozone the stereo width adjustment can be done per band (including mono-ing). Many other stereo image adjustment tools do it also, or even just a crossover with some patching (with possibly further bass tweaks).

[Jaakko V.]

In Ozone the stereo width adjustment can be done per band (including mono-ing). Many other stereo image adjustment tools do it also, or even just a crossover with some patching (with possibly further bass tweaks).

Yeah, I've been using Ozone for that, and devised some more clumsy techniques on my own... But I don't have Ozone at the moment and thought there must be other, easier ways than the DIY ones I came up with.

insert JS/LOSER stereoEnhancer. turn down "width low". then find the good crossover spot. its wierd, specially with headphones, like a zipper on your brain..

Regarding the mono bass, what crossover spot in general would you recommend for vinyl mastering? Also, there's no use for sub-harmonics, but is there a more specific Hz limit under which everything should go in your opinion?


Thanks for the tips!

[Henrik III]

Regarding the mono bass, what crossover spot in general would you recommend for vinyl mastering? Also, there's no use for sub-harmonics, but is there a more specific Hz limit under which everything should go in your opinion?

I think a common recommendation is somewhere around 70-150 Hz. Try with your stuff. Of course depends on the material but in general I don't see mono-ing necessarily a bad thing for how things sound like.

Normally there's a high-pass filter before cutter to cut subsonics off, so I don't see much sense to keep them.

So, apparently there's a vinyl in works? ;)

[FreakAnimalFinland]

cheers! Been meaning to look into moni'ing bass, but hardly ever done it - beyond simply methods of mixing/making the sound such.

[pentd]

theres also other modules in reaper for separate freq-ranges and their width