The most interesting -- and frustrating -- thing about this "mastering" discussion is that, unlike LP records, it is so incredibly simple for CD.
1. Does the final studio mix sound like the artist & producer want it to? If so, go to step 2. 2. Using good equipment, transfer the final studio mix to the digital CD format taking care to keep peaks below maximum level. Do not compress. Do not equalize. Do not sprinkle with magic pixie dust. 3. Make CDs. The exasperating aspect of this is the common tendency to declare that the studio mix isn't good enough, so the mastering engineer takes it upon themselves to "improve" things. That isn't always bad, for example, digitally removing the tape hiss from an old analog master, but once the equalization, highlighting, enhancing, compression and volume maximization get underway, the odds increase that the listener will not be hearing what the artist recorded, but rather a modern version of what the mastering engineer thought should have been done. Unfortunately, most of our talk is simply tilting against windmills. For as long as it's existed, the music industry's main theme has been maximizing sales. Sometimes that effort lines up with quality sound, but often it doesn't. Heated discussion on this or any other audio forum aren't going to turn that dial even a notch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ mlsstl's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9598 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=98249 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
