Mastering
David has mastered several top 10 charting records, gold selling records, and mastered records in the past with George Graves (Peter Gabriel, Rush, U2), Rick Hutt (Red Rider, David Foster). David has always learned to absorb from his surroundings and experiences, all the way back to his father’s teachings, of literally being raised, recording music every day. With this David brings 30+ years experience, of being surrounded by some of the most brilliant ears on the planet. This, added to his own take and musicality, have provided a mastering alternative, that has becoming a regular occurrence, to being picked over a few world renown pro mastering facilities.
Standard CD Mastering
Provide us with the highest resolution Wave Files, UPC and ISRC Codes with any special instructions for Cue / Pause / ID and we’ll master your mixes, sending you references of the audio along the way, in the end, author your Pre Master for duplication, and provide 2 copies to you.
Digital Download Mastering
The Blue Loft is one of the first mastering services to offer specific Codec mastering. We understand the importance of representing your music in the best quality for the format it is intended to be listened to. 98% of Digital Downloads are STILL created from an automated compression process, taking the full resolution Wav File, and ripping it to MP3, MV4, or a list of other formats. the end result…. the Audio sounds different then how it was intended. Even high quality MP3 rips.
We’ve found, that once we’ve mastered a project for CD, DVD, and broadcast, that by “Realtime Codec Auditioning”, we ALWAYS change our mastering compression levels, and EQ settings (Albeit slightly sometimes), to compensate for the file compression effect on the audio.
The results of the separate mastering process, for Digital download media, is a much clearer, more transparent, punchy MP3 (Or digital Download) then a “Rip”. If you don’t believe us… we’ll show you the difference. We’ve been doing this well over a year, as have a few others begun offering separate mastering for these mediums. This is becoming standard protocol in mainstream Mastering, (And we’re already here), as digital distribution is here to stay. As the rest of the industry catches up, companies like Sonnox have already begun development of “Codec Auditioning Products” for this kind of service. http://www.sonnoxplugins.com/ws/pub/plugins/products/pro-codec.htm
Mastering for Vinyl
David started out Mastering for Vinyl, as that was the main delivery format when he started Producing, Mixing and Mastering records. so, it’s not a “New School” approach to the resurgence of Vinyl released in the 2000’s where everyone seems to be taking their existing digital masters, reducing the level, and cutting straight to Lacquer from that.
On records David produces, he has been known to keep as many as 32 Mix Stems in the Mastering room, where for the Modern competitive CD version, It will be mastered, summed Digitally, using the latest, state of the art Gear, and converters.
Where this becomes special for a Vinyl release, is to use all 32 stems, however through an analog Console like a Neve 8068, into a couple of Pultec’s and an ADL CL-1500 Tube Compressor, Straight to 1/4″ Tape to make the Acetate from.
This process, even on records that were Multi-tracked to digital, offers a DRAMATIC difference in Dynamic range, and harmonic contribution to the end audio.
Lets Work Together.
Never had anything mastered by us? But would like to try us on your project? We’ll do one on spec. You use it… you pay us, you don’t like it? Didn’t cost a thing. Don’t be afraid to hit us up to HEAR the difference, with this deal, there’s nothing to loose, and much to gain.
Please contact Stacey to discuss potential spec offers, us Mastering your project, or arrange with her, by appointment to drop in, in Nashville for an A/B listening session.