redfro wrote on Fri, 30 December 2005 11:50 |
So I finally got the 1/4" for the studio, and I'm just about ready to send it to mastering. Having only sent digital files to be mastered before, I've just got a couple of questions for you ME's out there. I assume 1k and 10k test tones are all I need at the front end. How long should the tones be? And I assume that the first tone is 0.0 for the track documentation. Tape brand, calibration and speed on documentation. Anything I'm missing?
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Hmmm.....
You want the works or just mustard and relish?
---If using NR, then include the NR tone. All other tones should be through the NR unit but with the NR in bypass or "out". Try to equate 0 VU with the Dolby level, you'll get best results, and there's no need to "push" levels when using NR
---Left/Right channel identification, slated
---All tones recorded for 30 seconds each at 0 VU on the machine. Measure the level of the tones on your console's meter, though. If from a digital console output into your analog machine you start to wonder why you're making a tape anyway.... If you are mixing in a digital console, then send both the files and your tape. If from digital, then decide what digital level will become 0 VU and use that as your test tone level.
If you have a loud percussive hit followed by silence somewhere that might develop printthrough, it's great to send a digital file as well which we might splice in sometime. Also useful for at tails of tunes to have a digital mix. There are usually ways around that, so don't worry if you don't.
--- Start with 1K, then 10K, then 15K, 20K, 100, 50. If you have the tape and the time, then add 5K, 700, 250, and a sweep at 2 seconds per Hz from 20 Hz to 500 Hz. I know that takes a lot of tape, hell, put it on a separate reel.
Include notes on format, e.g. : 2-Track Stereo, 15 IPS, NAB, +3 dB ref 200 nW/M. Tails out. Tones on reel 3 at tail (you don't have to put them there, just tell us where they are!).
Include bumper at head and tail, include head leader and tail leader to the music, but don't cut it too tight! An inch before the downbeat is a good idea... 20 years later you'll thank me for that. Leader between tunes is nice, too. Again, not too tight, you're not leadering it for spacing on the record, you're leadering it for identification.
Anything else I left off? Enjoy your mix!
BK