General Music Chat

I do all my recording at home using a 24 bit Roland digital recorder. I recently had a professional studio in California due some mastering for me. They used analog equipment for the mastering. They did a great job...I think...I told them I was looking for a hot sound up to commercial standards....they boosted the volume about 6db, but the overall sound is great...the only problem is that they charge 75.00 per song.

What equipment do I need to get this hot sound at home....what type of compressor, EQ, limiter, etc. shoud I buy....$75.00 per song adds up pretty fast!

All of my songs posted at www.myspace.com/fellowsinrock [except "I'm Lonely Thinking About You"] were mastered - you can see the 6db difference between "I'm Lonely" and the others.

My brother David Santos [who is a studio bass player in Nashville and plays bass for John Fogerty] says all I need to do is upgrade to a Mac using Protools 8, which has a mastering plug-in called "Maxim".

Is this as good or equal to "Analog Mastering" like the studio I used in California used on my songs?

I would like to do it all at home the cheapest way I can.

Appreciate any thoughts or viewpoints on this issue,

Richard Santos

I do all my recording at home using a 24 bit Roland digital recorder. I recently had a professional studio in California due some mastering for me. They used analog equipment for the mastering. They did a great job...I think...I told them I was looking for a hot sound up to commercial standards....they boosted the volume about 6db, but the overall sound is great...the only problem is that they charge 75.00 per song.

What equipment do I need to get this hot sound at home....what type of compressor, EQ, limiter, etc. shoud I buy....$75.00 per song adds up pretty fast!

All of my songs posted at www.myspace.com/fellowsinrock [except "I'm Lonely Thinking About You"] were mastered - you can see the 6db difference between "I'm Lonely" and the others.

My brother David Santos [who is a studio bass player in Nashville and plays bass for John Fogerty] says all I need to do is upgrade to a Mac using Protools 8, which has a mastering plug-in called "Maxim".

Is this as good or equal to "Analog Mastering" like the studio I used in California used on my songs?

I would like to do it all at home the cheapest way I can.

Appreciate any thoughts or viewpoints on this issue,

Richard Santos

Your brother is right, however it does take knowledge and experience and time......did I say 'time and patience" tricks of the trade can be found.

Have you ever heard the difference a BBE Sonic Maximizer makes to music? It's got a bypass switch so that you can compare the sound. It's not really mastering, but it gets you one step closer. It and a good dual 31 band EQ, a parametric EQ, and a compressor will do an excellent job if you take the time to learn them and have the ears for it. BBE 362 is a dual channel ganged together so that you have one master control. The 482 is true stereo with separate controls. Both of those have 1/4" in and outs. The 882 is true stereo with separate controls, but it also has XLR in and outs along with 1/4" ones.
362 is $99
482 is $179
882 is $249
all brand new at Musician's Friend.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=BBE

I just bought an old Yamaha EMX-300 integrated mixer and lemme tell you the analog goodness makes me want to salivate a little every time I hear it.

It's new skill to be able to use it well, but hey what's else did I have to do with my free time? lol