As far as cdr goes, get a

plextor premium drive

Thats what most ME's use for there cdrs.

TuBlairy wrote: Hi, I have a huge workload, low budget project involving 53 CDs of dialogue. and "incidental' music for kids. I need to get it out quick and the budget isn't high so I am planning to buy a Tc electronics finalizer and do everything myself. I know DYI is not a great idea for music, but for this many discs and the nature of the material, volume and clarity are most important. Anyway, first any thoughts on the finalizer? I've only ever worked around this one, (watched someone use it). Other preferences?

Secondly, help, I have no idea of the following process: how do I prepare the CD for the manufacturer? What happens after the finalizer, do I go directly to disc bypassing the computer altogether? If so machine would one use (buy). Or can I just my regular MAC and toast? I've heard this isn't a great option.

Thanks in advance
Blair

I will quote the usual. "a lawyer who defends himself has a fool for a client" For what you will spend for the Finalizer you could find someone on this board to do the preparation for you and have it done correctly and with no problems down the road. If you want to DIY it then I suggest you look at the dbx Quantum II instead.

If these are really important and you want to get them done correctly then I would turn to some pro help. Only you can decide what is best but an important project is NOT the time to start on a steep learning curve.

I would be happy to talk to you about this project off list.

Thanks!

Blair, I might suggest this workflow?

A product manufactured by I. K. multimedia called T-Racks version 2.04 standalone software. It will set you back around $300 US.

It is an all-encompassing piece of software with an easy-to-use graphical user interface. The software contains a fairly comprehensive 4 band equalizer with an additional high and low pass filters. This equalizer can be inserted pre or post the broadband compressor. After that it goes to the multiband limiter. At the output section you have the ability to choose a maximum output preset level along with controllable nonlinear analog tape like saturation. The software is offered with a huge amount of presets that I personally feel sound " too over-the-top". With this software, LESS IS MORE but it will completely optimize both the spoken word and incidental music you mention.

The finalizer is an excellent digital processor but of course costs considerably more than the I. K. multimedia T-Racks software which basically does nearly the same thing as the finalize or does. Just remember that you can easily "over optimize" with either the finalizer or with T-Racks, so go easy.

Easy broad
Ms. Remy Ann David

As a third option (perhaps a blend of Remy and Tom's advice), consult a professional for at least getting you up and running. (Yeah, he/she just might be THRILLED (not!) at the thought of helping you put them out of work, but....)

Seriously, if you're planning on DYI'ing this yourself, then any good engineer will probably help you get it started and make some sensible recommendations - for a fee of course. Once you've gotten everything setup and running, you can keep the same engineer around as an occasional consultant.

If these recordings all came from the same source, with similar problems on each one, then you may luck out and find a good, fast, workflow to let you do this in "macro" fashion. Sounds like you don't nec. want to become an engineer full-on, but you've got a limited budget with a job to be done.

I am not a big fan of T-Racks because I have seen what it can do to a mix n the hands of an inexperienced user. For the same reason I am not a big fan of the t.c. Finalizer since most people using it never get past the presets. In a pro's hand both of these can do some very nice things. The problem is gaining the ezperience to use them properly.

I would go with what JoeH said and do the stuff yourself and consult with a pro to get you started if that is what you want to do.

Best of luck!

Thanks to all for the advice. I'll go the consultant/DYI route as JoeH suggested. Found a used Finalizer for $1200.

Remy - I know what you mean by "over the top" I'll be careful with that with the finalizer as well. Last night I listened to a little of a recording of Shostakovich recorded in Moscow - not sure the details - but it was absolute mud. The recording may not have been great, but I suspect that something in the mastering process fused everything together - especially in the quadruple forte parts.

Point well taken, Thomas. on this project, one issue is money the other is time, I have need a two day turn-around on some the deliveries. I can't even get it together with a local guy sometimes, which is what just happened, which is why I have to do this.

Incidently, in reference to JoeH's comment about not wanting to be a full time Engineer ... HELP! I just want to be a guitar player!