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anonymous 28 March 2005

I posted in another topic, but maybe I should have posted here.
I reciently downloaded trial versions of Bias Peak LE-4 and T-racks analog modeled mastering plugin . I have no intension to do mastering, but I have learned so much on how to mix for mastering, that I purchased both as they were both on sale. Peak installed no problem, but the IK after half way thru downloading stopped and a window popped up stating that my hard drive has no system folder.
When installing, there are 2 options one for Pro Tools, and one for VST plugins. I chose the latter because Peak uses VST, and thats how I did the trial. Obviously there is a system folder on my HD or I wouldn't be here. Any thoughts ?

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anonymous Thu, 03/31/2005 - 17:37

Man are you guys hostile.
A while back I read an article in TV Technology mag. by David Moulton who has written several articles on audio for video for this mag.
I have followed Dave's career for almost 40 years even before R.E.P. mag. (Recording Engineer Producer), and Mix was just a small newspaper. Any ways he mentioned about Peak-4, and T-Racks.
Untill I used these I never really understood why I mix without compression, and the way my mixes relate to the world but over time and working with mastering houses I have adapted to what feedback the ME's tell me. Again I didn't really understand it but the mixes work and thats all that matters. It's almost like something you use every day like a refrigerator, a computer, electricity, or your car. You know how to use it, and thats all you know. What I like about this business is theres always something new to learn, so I intensionally mixed for a local low-budget band that was not planned for mastering. We mixed with multi-band comp and tried to retain as much dynamics as possible I flew it in to Peak and T-racks and had a hard time doing anything with it because it was squashed too much. I later did a mix as usual and found that so much more can be done if you use as little as possible before sending to be mastered. When I said " I have no intension on doing mastering, I personally feel that you can't serve two masters I feel more comfortable having an out side set of ears do that. Someone who is not related to the project. Again, I can't understand the hostile attitude here, sure I still have the old Neve board I bought new 25 years ago, and I still monitor on the old 4311 monitors, but I know my gear and how it relates to the world. I did however switch to a Mackie HDR to replace my old 3-m 24tr.
The bottom line is I want to have a better product to give the ME's, and useing these 2 programs gives me a better understanding of what the ME's want to make their job easier. I have heard some real horrer stories of what is expected of a mastering engineer

Reggie Fri, 04/01/2005 - 09:05

J-MADD wrote: yeah really people, lighten up.

I agree, but good luck getting an actual mastering engineer to endorse T-Racks, or Ozone, or etc. Perhaps this place needs a Home Mastering Software forum? After all, there are probably a lot more "home masterers" around than there are "mastering engineers."

Now that I think about Chances original post, he seems to have an OK idea using T-Racks to help him understand how things effect his final master, but I don't think he will learn that much about how his mixes would be effected by an actual mastering engineer. Software doesn't have highly trained ears and brains, which is mostly why one would go to a mastering eng (and also because they have cool gear :wink: ).

anonymous Fri, 04/01/2005 - 11:09

WOW thats a switch. Thanks for the compliment (brains & ears ) I gues I have been fortunate to see and expierience the evolution of our industry. I can still remember in 1961 an engineer telling me,with regards to EQ and panning, to look at a mix like a photograph. Every freq and pan should occupy its own real-estate in the audio spectrum. ie.
In a family photo, you don't want six foot uncle Harry standing in front of 2 year old mary. Also mixing in mono to make sure everything is heard, and to check phaseing, then pan accordingly. I can truly say that I will keep trying new gear if not for any other reason just to keep up with the new technology and to keep on top of things. I know everyone here is not hostile, and I appreciate input and feed back and I have learned a lot in this forum. people with hostile attitudes will be left in the dust as technology passes them by. Any one remember the Webcor wire recorder? or the presto cutting lathe? Anyone want to take these paper-weights out of my garage?

Michael Fossenkemper Fri, 04/01/2005 - 21:22

well these pieces are AN approach but not most professional ME's approach. It's not really a comparison IMO. You can see how your mix will translate if someone uses t-racks but it won't be the same with an ME using real gear. I think some guys are harsh but not untrue. It's also completely dependent on the guy using the gear. Lots of people drive the same cars, just some are better at it than others.

anonymous Mon, 04/11/2005 - 01:57

thanks michael f.
yepp, some drive the same car differently, or driving a ferrari doesn't make you to a michael schumacher!

i think peak is fine, loaded with with the best plugs when it comes to software, not to shure about t-racks, hardware rules, if you know "how to drive it" which applies to software the same way, the knowledge of the trade is usually more worth then the gear, both in balance is obviously best!

a.!

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