Two most important pieces of gear to a mastering engineer

[SASman]

Monitors / EQ

I assume we are talking audio equipment as opposed to biological attributes.

[Herbeck]

A chain is no stronger than the weakest link.
Every piece of gear you use is important.


Cheers,

Herbeck

[Scott Chae]

Telephone and address book.

[Herbeck]

Telephone and address book.

Good and important angle.


Cheers,

Herbeck

[bigtree]

Well, I'd say my SPL MixDream and Dangerous Master. Without those two, I wouldn't have gotten motivated in the first place. Until I got into hybrid audio, I didn't know what I was missing or have a clue why I was in the dark.

Then, everything else falls into place for me.

Room, monitors, converter, cable, hardware, Sequoia, power etc.

[Herbeck]

Well, I'd say my SPL Mixdream and Dangerous Master. Without those two, I wouldn't have gotten motivated in the first place.

Gear that inspire you and fill you with enthusiasm is truly important.
I wish I had that feeling with the telephone and address book.


Cheers,

Herbeck

[Scott Chae]

Well, I'd say my SPL Mixdream and Dangerous Master. Without those two, I wouldn't have gotten motivated in the first place. Until I got into hybrid audio, I didn't know what I was missing or have a clue why I was in the dark.

I absolutely agree with Dangerous Master. I feel no (or less if any) change in sound with gaining up or down as opposed to using makeup gain on many compressors. And t.c. System 6000 is also a great weapon for parallel compression.

[Massive Mastering]

A chain is no stronger than the weakest link.
Every piece of gear you use is important.

True to some extent, but the monitoring chain (and the room) are the final arbiters of every other piece. Every decision, every gear choice, every setting is based on how the monitoring chain translates.

Just like in photography -- You can have the best camera on the planet - But your photos are only going to be as good as the lens allows (on any camera body).

[Herbeck]

True to some extent, but the monitoring chain (and the room) are the final arbiters of every other piece. Every decision, every gear choice, every setting is based on how the monitoring chain translates.

Just like in photography -- You can have the best camera on the planet - But your photos are only going to be as good as the lens allows (on any camera body).

True, without a good room/monitors you can't judge the other links in the chain.


You seems to know a thing or two about the visual arts too.
Your homepage looks great.
This is also an important tool, everything is connected.

(off topic)
Betty Edwards has some good and interesting techniques for developing your visual perception.
Learn to Draw: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.


Cheers,

Herbeck

[J-MADD]

I'll agree with most: Monitoring environment (room) and Monitors. You can do more with a low end EQ in a pristine monitoring environment than a top of the line EQ on a pair of crap monitors in your bedroom.