Well, the album project I've spent the last 14 months on is now a wrap on my end and in the can, and files have been sent to Tom (Thomas W. Bethel ) for mastering.

Tech specs: All files are 44.1/32 bit float. When prepping the final mixes for upload, I adhered to a LUFS standard of -20 to -23db for RMS, with true peaks not exceeding -4db. Samplitude proved that not only was it a great multi track production platform, but that it was also a fantastic program for this final pre-mastering prep work with levels. ( thanks to both Chris and Tim Dolbear ( TimDolbear ) for making me see the light with Samplitude. :)
( I don't believe that the album would have turned out like it did had I used my old Sonar PE platform).

There were times along the way that I felt challenged beyond my abilities, times where I felt as though I was stepping out of my comfort zone in relation to arrangement, performance, and engineering, but, I think that I learned a lot, too... I think this project has made me a better musician, a better engineer and a better arranger. but... perhaps the most important thing that I learned, was finding out that my own everyday problems weren't anywhere close to that of my client's... ( and great friend)... with Terry battling the MS. He actually became a kind of role model for me; watching him stick with this project - even when he was having terrible days with the disease - I felt inspired to be working with him. He taught me things that had nothing to do with recording, but at the same time, I feel as though it positively effected the recordings.

Right up until the last minute, before uploading the files to Thomas, I was still going through some of the mixes with a fine-toothed comb - wanting to be able to tell myself that I had done the best I could to put Terry in the most positive light possible. Certainly, this project is no Sgt. Pepper or DSOTM, but I still think it's a pretty good album, and that it represents Terry in a way that is the most honest to who he is as an artist, and if this album makes him happy, then that's what matters most.

I wanted to publically thank some people here on RO, who were very helpful along the way, with educated and professional advice and suggestions, and who took their valuable personal time to listen to mixes, and to help me along when things occasionally became difficult and frustrating...

Chris (audiokid), Bos (Boswell), Marco (pcrecord) ( Marco actually provided some very nice string samples for one of the tracks ;) ). Thomas ( Thomas W. Bethel), Kyle (kmetal), Brien (@Brien Holcombe ), Andre ( avare ), DM60, Tony (@Makzimia ), Kurt (Kurt Foster ), Peter (PJH), Chuck (@eternalsound ), and Smashh . along with other members who gave a comment or two long the way... All gave of their time and talent to provide experienced suggestions, alternatives, critiques, and problem solving posts that I found to be golden.

RO is a wonderful place, and I am continually reminded of that every day. (y)

FWIW,
-donny