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Mastering - Recording - Restoration - Consultancy/Tuition - Duplication
 
Mastering
Mastering is often thought of as the first stage in the duplication process but it is equally true to call it the last stage in the creative process. Mastering may simply involve 'topping and tailing' the start and end of each track, matching volumes and adding the correct subcodes for the master CD. On the other hand, the mastering studio is where a dull, lifeless track can be transformed into something far better.

I am also able to offer CDROM and combined Audio/CDROM mastering.

See the What is Mastering page for more information.
 


 
Restoration
If you have an old tape or record that you would like transferred to CD or DVD then I can help. I have the technology to remove clicks, hiss and many other interfering noises from all kinds of tapes and records.

I can handle the following audio formats:

  • Cassette Tapes
  • Reel to Reel tapes in stereo, quadraphonic or mono in all popular formats with speeds from 1 7/8ips up to 30ips.
  • LP's, 45's  and 78 rpm records.
  • Mini Discs
  • DAT's
  • ADAT's
  • Tascam DTRS 8 track.
  • CD's / DVD's
  • 1/4" multitrack tapes, 4 or 8 tracks
  • 1/2" multitrack tapes, 8 or 16 tracks
  • 1" multitrack tapes up to 24 tracks
  • 2" multitrack tapes in 16 and 24 track format.
  • VHS Hifi Video or PCM format.
In addition I can translate multitrack tapes between all the above formats. I can perform Dolby A, Dolby B and dBX decoding in software if required while I can also decode Dolby A, Dolby B, Dolby C and Dolby SR in hardware. Dolby S decoding is also available on the 1" machine.

Transfers can be done to your preferred digital format at up to 96kHz sampling rate with 24 bit resolution. I can store the end result on either USB stick, CD or DVD discs.

Recording

I can offer both on location recording and recording in a purpose built studio. 

If you want to record a live event or at a rehearsal I can bring the 24 channel computer based live recording system along. While years ago this would have taken up a whole van, nowadays the whole recording system fits into a small suitcase sized package - the microphone stands and cables now take up more space! The recording system can be setup up to 30m away from the artists and the microphone signals can also be split so that they can also be sent to a PA if needed. Headphone or speaker monitoring can also be provided.

For studio based recording I have two recording areas - a dry sounding booth which can accommodate 2 instrumentalists or up to 4 singers at a time and a slightly livelier sounding area intended for a small drum kit or other instruments that would benefit from that sound. I have a variety of high quality microphones from Neumann, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, AKG, Shure, Audio Technica, VTL and Line Audio. While I normally record digitally to computer, I can also record to analogue tape through a fully analogue signal chain.

Consultancy / Tuition

If you are thinking of creating your own recording studio, upgrading an existing one or just have a nagging studio problem then I can help. I've built a number of studios - both professional and private, over the last 30 years and have wired miles of cables and thousands of connectors in the process. I have been at the forefront of the transition from analogue tape, to digital tape and then to computer based recording systems. I also have extensive experience of MIDI based systems. Having initially trained as an electronic engineer I understand what goes on inside all those boxes and how to get the best from them but I've also been involved in software development including a system to control and synchronise multiple machines from a single screen.

Duplication
I offer top quality CD copying at affordable prices. Using the latest Plextor CD recorders, I can produce CD's with the lowest possible error rates which are compatible with the widest range of players. I use Taiyo Yuden CD's which have proved to be extremely reliable and compatible with a wide range of players. I constantly monitor the quality of the CD's we produce using Plextor's Plextools XL software.

I can also print directly onto CD's.