SH Spotlight Steve's Mastering Secrets, Part II

It must be maddening. You're playing DJ while trying to master at the same time.

 

Is it considered a no-no to cut up the reels and assemble your own album master?

 

Isn't that true with any album. I mean every album is assembled from mixes made at different times (at least rock albums are). Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

 

No, I mean like "Abbey Road". They assembled the album reels (or reels in this case) from all the mixes. Would you then have the same issues setting the tape up on the machine?

 

There'd be no reason to alternate between two decks, especially for an album like Abbey Road (where the engineers had high standards and followed the same protocol when mixing). Unless a record was mixed to multiple tapes, with different formulations or different tape sizes (1/4 inch, 1/2 inch, etc), you'd be good.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most records have Side 1 on one tape and Side 2 on another?

 

Along with a few other nuggets.

 

Well, whatever you did...that one sounds amazing. I'd take that DCC to a deserted island!

 

No, thank you for all your amazing sounding Lp and Cd gold releases.
(I also love your Donovan "Catch the Wind.")

Can you tell us anything about Tull's Original Masters Cd? Like did you have to get Ian's OK to include the whole first side of TAAB on there? (what a nice surprise treat!) At least one poster here listens to that particular piece before having to "go down" to the Mofi Cd for side two... high praise indeed...

 

Any other Tull audiophile releases in the pipeline, with your involvement or not?

And are there not two distinct versions of Aqualung (with ian's mid section vocals compessed?) and which did you use and why?

Finally, not Tull related, do you think Porky's are worth collecting like RL's?

 

Ok, let me explain. Aqualung, the song, has a midsection where Ian sounds like he is speaking thru a microphone. You did the DCC Aqualung, I think that version is on there, maybe on the original Lps as well, but there is also a version (on MU? maybe?) that does not have the vocals Compressed (I think it is compression..) I wondered which was used and why, maybe should just go listen...

As for Porky vs RL. I'm following the label/deadwax threads on here, and know many people collect Robert Ludwig mastered? (is that the right word?) pressing, and I wondered if you though Porky's sounds as good, or better, and were worth seekng out, and many here do... And how is your job different than theirs? As your name is never in the dead wax...

 

That should be MEGAphone...

 

OK,

I just did a mini~listening session comparing a few Aqualungs, the song. The DDC Gold disc of Aqualung's Aqualung and the version on Original Masters DCC Gold CD sounds identical to me. But the MU album I have, a british import Lp pressing, has a differing version, but same take. In this version there is no "MEGAphone" vocal midsection which ends with the frost beard bit and Ian saying "Hey". On the MU version, the vocals sound the same in this section as the rest of the song's vocals, but it actually seems more intimate, because they are not processed, or compressed?

Another noted difference, in Martin's well known, extended guitar solo, which Jimmy Page witnessed, Martin starts in both speakers, but moves to the right speaker for most of the solo, whereas on this differing MU version his solo stay in the middle throughout...

Any thoughts?

PS Ediquette~wise, should this be started as another thread, or is it still "Hoffman related"?

 

Tha Aqualung on MU is the quad mix.

 

Ah,

Thank you joelee, I had been listening to other Aqualungs trying to get the skinny. My US Reprise two-tone pressing and my WLP both sounded identical, if inferior to Steve's two issues. I had not gotten to my Quad pressing yet... Now I know... Nuff tull...


Steve, not to "press" the ediquette issue, I'll assume you mean a long Tull thread should be just that, but what about my other query, the difference between what you do and what RL and Porky do, is that to stupid a question?

 

Ok, Steve this may be a bit of a strange question and if too personal I understand.But on the less technical aspects of your craft...

Are there any pre mastering routines you go through to prepare for a session?

Do you stop listening to music that day to kind of "clear your ears?"

Do you go nuts and cram for the sessions reading everything you can about the album?Do you meditate? Whats going through your mind when you are actually sitting there?Are you taking the whole song in at once or concentrating on the bass while Kevin is concentrating on the vocals?

Sorry if this seems a little bit silly, but I hope you understand what I am asking.