Vinyl Mastering Fixture Ron McMaster to Retire After 38 Years in the Capitol Tower

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Myke, Jun 19, 2018.

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  1. Myke

    Myke Trying Not To Spook The Horse Thread Starter

  2. c-eling

    c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

    Did a nice job on the US Pet Shop Boys-Please, 1986
    Happy retirement Ron :cheers:
     
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  3. edenofflowers

    edenofflowers A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular!

    Location:
    UK
    *salutes*
     
    Myke likes this.
  4. zongo

    zongo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Great mastering. I almost always prefer his CD masterings of the jazz stuff to later versions.
     
    Ódoligie, E.Baba, Ridin'High and 5 others like this.
  5. telepicker97

    telepicker97 Got Any Gum?

    Location:
    Midwest
    Happy retirement, Mr McMasher!
     
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  6. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

  7. Carl Swanson

    Carl Swanson Senior Member

    He's had his fair share of hits and misses . . . but mostly good work.
     
  8. RSteven

    RSteven Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brookings, Oregon
    I just ordered Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas album that he remastered in 2000 for the Capitol Jazz Blue Note label based on it having the original album cover and his renowned remastering credentials. Wow, he had a great name for a remastering engineer didn't he?
     
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  9. Bigbudukks

    Bigbudukks Older, but no wiser.

    Location:
    Gaithersburg, MD
    I guess I'm just lucky in that regard. I don't have many of the albums he mastered but the ones I do have are all well done. Not sonic marvels, but well done nonetheless. No sloppiness or buried instruments, or anything like that.
     
  10. hockman

    hockman Forum Resident

    It is ironic that McMaster's work is now highly regarded. The commentary above did not mention that he did almost all the standard Blue Notes when they first got reissued on CD. I remember that he was much criticized by audiophiles for putting out poor sounding remasters although I found them to be well-balanced. Nowadays they are well-regarded for being nice flat masters. OTOH I find his vinyl remastering to be OK and I've certainly heard better ones from others.
     
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  11. Carl Swanson

    Carl Swanson Senior Member

    Most of what I have by him are Blue Note reissues.
     
  12. 0476pearljam

    0476pearljam Forum Resident

    Location:
    Belgium
    Is it now well established that the cutting chain at capitol is all analogue if needed by the client who is providing a tape to cut from) or is there a digital step involved ? There have been contrary reports on that matter in the last few years on this forum..;the last comment I saw was there is no digital step involved now if needed but the question remains since when ?
     
  13. GetHappy!!

    GetHappy!! Forum Resident

    Location:
    NYC
    Don’t know if this counts as definitive, but I believe if McMaster was given tape to work with, he could keep it completely analogue. I believe he’s been quoted as saying he has a preview head. Again, probably depends on what source he was given for a particular project.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2018
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  14. c-eling

    c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

    Most if all the later remasters he has done that I have were most likely sourced from the digital remasters. Probably not his fault but some aren't very good.
    Since this thread is a nod to his career I was trying to remain positive :laugh:
     
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  15. ukrules

    ukrules Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kentucky
    I love all my original Blue Note “McMastered” CDs!
     
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  16. sgtpppr84

    sgtpppr84 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midland, TX
    McMaster’s remastering of The Knack Capitol albums is disappointing. I guess you get good and bad with all mastering engineers.
     
  17. longdist01

    longdist01 Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL USA
    Thank you very much Ron McMaster for many titles you prepared for Cutting and Mastered for release!

    Now the best to you and yours on your retirement!
     
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  18. aoxomoxoa

    aoxomoxoa I'm an ear sitting in the sky

    Location:
    USA
    RIP Ron...

    Oh I mean happy retirement Ron
     
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  19. CWillman

    CWillman Senior Member

    Location:
    L.A., CA
    longdist01 likes this.
  20. latheofheaven

    latheofheaven My Pants are FULLY Analog...

    :laugh:
     
  21. Congrats but I hope he didn’t cut the latest Steve Miller and Band records. They weren’t very good. .
     
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  22. latheofheaven

    latheofheaven My Pants are FULLY Analog...

    Hmmm... I've seen your comments on other threads and from others too about him. I'm kind of getting the impression that for vinyl he was exactly the 'Most Wanted' :) I was considering the Rhino remaster of The Jesus & Mary Chain Psychocandy, but it was done by him, so.... o_O BUT... the original 1st US is SO damn bright and horrible, it likely should be better I guess...
     
  23. Didn’t know he did any Warner's releases like that Jesus , thought only Capitol. But with all the label mergers I’ve lost track.

    Haven’t heard those
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2019
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  24. latheofheaven

    latheofheaven My Pants are FULLY Analog...

    Yeah, the Rhino reissue does have 'Mastered by Capitol' in the deadwax (2004)
     
    Mazzy likes this.
  25. jon9091

    jon9091 Master Of Reality

    Location:
    Midwest
    I believe all those Steve Miller reissues were remastered by Kent Hertz.
     
    latheofheaven likes this.
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