Mastering Tips
Some advice on preparing your tracks for mastering.
Mixes done in the digital domain, such as in ProTools, Logic, etc., should not clip at Zero dB. Ideally, they should come in around -1.1 dB at the highest transient peak and approximately -18.5 RMS.
It can be useful to use an analyzer to determine these levels. If you choose to use a limiter on the Stereo Bus, use it sparingly. The purpose of analog mastering is to use high end analog gear to make your music louder without hearing the effects of digital plug–ins.
The most common problem mixes have in mastering, has to do with the low–end. Mix Engineers often load up too much energy at the bottom of the mix, in order to approximate the sound of modern releases. It is better to allow for a small amount of low end to be added by an analog mastering engineer, rather than cutting.
Delivery of the final master can either be done digitally through ftp, or as a Redbook compliant PMCD.
— Thanks Jon MacLennan
Stereo Mastering
Technovoice is completely set up to master all stereo audio formats, either analog or digital. These include 1, 2, 3, & 4 track analog tape, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz and 192kHz files. Stereo tracks are mastered with pristine analog and digital audio chains, depending on the sound desired.
Our custom George Augspurger analog monitors provide an extremely accurate listening environment, especially for the most demanding critical listening sessions. All PMCD masters are created using a PlexMaster cutting system. Every master is verified with a Clover CDX CD analyzer and must receive an “A” rating. Clients are also offered the choice of 1630 or DDP production masters for final delivery to the replication house.
Surround Mastering
Technovoice is fully equipped for mastering all high–resolution studio formats, from DVD studio and video to SACD, including 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz, PCM and DSD studio.
Stereo and Surround sound formats are mastered with other of our pristine analog and digital audio chains, depending on the sound desired. Our custom George Augspurger designed room and Augspurger analog monitors provide an extremely accurate environment during critical listening sessions.
Technovoice has its own secure ftp site on the premises, capable of uploads and downloads at better than T1 speeds. We also provide refrerence discs for DVD audio, DVD video and SACD releases. Our encoding department is capable of delivering Digital Dolby 5.1 and 2.0, MLP encoded DVD audio and DTS encoded files typically within twelve hours of completion of the session.
Please contact Bob Lanzner for more information about our audio CD mastering, CD mastering, music mastering and digital mastering.
View the Technovoice Mastering Rates giude, a brief outline of our pricing structure.
