I'm sure that we have all adopted various procedures distilled over time for the areas of our work that aren't ... well ... musical in nature. These include quality control processes, risk management strategies and administrative functions. All important aspects of the business of mastering.
These are talked about from time to time in various topics here. I wonder, though, if there would be a benefit in looking at a few of these sorts of things specifically, with a view to establishing topics of 'best practice' that users could conveniently refer to when searhing the site. Perhaps I could begin:
I'm lucky enough to receive referrals from a major replicator. Last week I worked on a referred project that had been recorded, mixed and already mastered in the USA. But, there were issues with the Pre- Master and I was asked to re-author it, which I did.
The CD had Text, EAN code and ISRCs. So, of course I do the usual QC and progress to professional risk management mode (they are going to press up around 10,000 of these I think).
It's at that point I begin to think about what 'best practice' actually is.
What we do ... particularly where there's CD Text ... is print the CD Info from Plextools and present this, along with a Reference CD and a detailed letter (generated from a precedent and containing all the predictable warnings and reminders to check details etc) to the client. We try to get them to sign off on it, but it is worded in a way that makes this academic if they don't get around to it.
So, what can be improved in this process? What's best practice for this stuff?
Kind regards,
Paul Blakey
12th & Vine Post
