Mastering Tips

     
 
  • When the mastering engineer receives your master tape, the only knowledge he will have of your project is the information you provide. Any information you supply is useful in obtaining the best possible product.
  • Always give your phone number, or fax number where you can be reached during normal business hours. The engieer may start work on your project and need to communicate with you. If you cannot be reached, your project may be delayed until contact is made.
  • DAT start and stop points are very important. If there are two songs without silence between them, the engineer needs to know where you want a spread or band inserted. In this case you need to give some information as to where the song's start point should be.
  • DAT program numbers should always line up with the number of songs on a DAT.
  • DATs have a control tract recorded along with the music. It is important if you start and stop recording on your DAT that you do not break this control track. A broken track may cause digital glitches or tracking problems.
  • Unreliability of DATs is common. DATs may play back problem free on the deck that they were recorded on, but show some type of problem when played on another deck. Always have a backup made before shipping your master tape.
  • Keep in mind the playing time that is available for the size and speed of record that you have selected.
  • Always remember, your vinyl pressing will very seldom match your DAT or CD for level and extreme high frequency due to the nature of disc cutting.