SH Spotlight Steve's Mastering Secrets, Part II

You're talking about a digital recording, correct? Well, other than one or two I don't usually work with digital stuff. Can't really recall at the moment.

I thought you were speaking of a digital master made from an analog tape. Different animal.

 

It's not the flat transfer but using the correct tape that counts.

OR:

It's not the transfer, it's what you make it FROM that counts.


(Which sounds more like a line from THE WILD BUNCH?)

 

Do you really need an answer?

 

No, user choice.

 

A very valid question. As you know, in my DCC and later stuff I only remixed something if I felt it needed it. For example, most stuff on Capitol recorded in stereo from 1956-61 sounds wonderful on the three-tracks. It's the "reduction" to two channel that drenched it in reverb, had the orchestra out of phase, had too much compression, EQ and other weird stuff done to it. OK for a 1958 phonograph but nothing to write home about compared to the actual three-track tape. So, I do a new transfer of the three track and there you have it.

Now, a studio like UNITED/WESTERN did that stuff right on to the three channel tape for the most part, in other words the EQ, compression, reverb and murk/goosh stuff is right on the three track. The three to two reduction is simply that, a transfer to two channels with basically the same sound. Sometimes the three sounds better than the two but not always. At CAPITOL the three always sounds 80% better than the two. Around 1961 this changed a bit and the mono room and stereo room became one room with matching sound on both.

So, does that help a bit? If not, I can blather even more..

 

Steve: This is fascinating, and, as usual, I am learning. As someone else posted above, please blather on as you see fit. Thanks!!

 

Does this mean my Merle Haggard Capitol Collector's Series ('66-'76) won't sound as good as my Hank Thompson Capitol Collector's Series ('47-'61)? The Thompson disc sounds fantastic! The Haggard sounds pretty damn good too.

 

Thanks, great album. Didn't have to do much to it. You can turn our Gold CD version up really loud and it holds together. A big plus from other versions I've heard..

 

Duets? Blocked it out of my mind, sorry. Not a flat transfer though..

Lush Life. Three different sessions on that tape (it being a bunch of leftovers from various Prestige sessions). You can hear Rudy's recording technique evolve (or some would say devolve) when you compare the songs. Best sounding to me (been awhile) is the sax/bass/drum recording. It sounds the most pure. Have not heard in a long while though..

 

Early Haggard on Captiol has the over-echo sound that I dislike but I've never worked with any multi so I have no idea how they sound. By 1968 or so they went to 8 track which was a new ballgame.