Thomas W. Bethel wrote on Sun, 11 November 2007 10:49 |
I have been doing a lot of mastering lately. I have also been aware that my room does not sound the same way that it did when Don Mitchell, my acoustical engineer, had finished tuning the room a couple of years ago. We had added some additional sound modifying devices with his approval and added some equipment since the last time he had checked out the room with his sophisticated equipment. I decided, on whim, to check out the room and found it lacking so after a couple of very productive days and lots of time with my AKG measuring microphone, an RTA and some pink noise my room is back to being the way it was before. This got me wondering how often others on this forum take the time to check out their monitoring system/room and what, if anything, do you find that needs tweaking. Since we all use our spaces as our final checkout for how something sounds it seems that we should also be checking the room for changes on a more or less scheduled basis. Is that the case or do you instantly know when something is amiss? Any thoughts would be most welcome. Thanks in advance. |
Thomas W. Bethel wrote on Sun, 11 November 2007 13:49 |
I have been doing a lot of mastering lately. I have also been aware that my room does not sound the same way that it did when Don Mitchell, my acoustical engineer, had finished tuning the room a couple of years ago. We had added some additional sound modifying devices with his approval and added some equipment since the last time he had checked out the room with his sophisticated equipment. I decided, on whim, to check out the room and found it lacking so after a couple of very productive days and lots of time with my AKG measuring microphone, an RTA and some pink noise my room is back to being the way it was before. This got me wondering how often others on this forum take the time to check out their monitoring system/room and what, if anything, do you find that needs tweaking. Since we all use our spaces as our final checkout for how something sounds it seems that we should also be checking the room for changes on a more or less scheduled basis. Is that the case or do you instantly know when something is amiss? Any thoughts would be most welcome. Thanks in advance. |
Thomas W. Bethel wrote on Tue, 04 December 2007 11:08 |
When our studios were built there were some HVAC compromises that had to be done to get the studios constructed and functioning in a given time period. Over the years we have updated these compromises and yesterday we finished the project with the removal of some round diffusers that had been part of the original installation but had long since been abandoned. I was never happy having this 16" diffuser located about 3 feet back and 6 feet above my head (when seated). When it came out and I went back to listen I was amazed at the difference that appendage had made in the overall sound of the room. We also removed the same diffusers from our other studio but because of the placement it made less difference to that studio but you could still tell the difference. Anyway it will take me a couple of days to get use to the new "sound" of the room and then things will hopefully be back to normal. The room is so well designed that even small changes in accoustics are readily apparent but this was more than a small change. It is something we have been working with our HVAC contractor for months on how to do it correctly and with a minimum of fuss. They have a whiz kid on their staff, Brian, who came up with the final solution and did the tear out and install himself. If you EVER need a good HVAC contractor in the Nothern Ohio area contact these guys http://www.gogeisel.com/ they are the BEST..... Anyway this is the last tweak we have to do to the acoustics and the HVAC so for a while things can get back to "normal" |
Greg Youngman wrote on Tue, 04 December 2007 10:28 |
I'm thinking of some great old studios I've spent some time in... A&M, Devonshire, Sound Factory, United, Wally Heider, Westlake, MGM, Kendun, Sunset and some others. I don't care how much or what kind of treatment a room gets... sound perception changes with changes of weather or temp/humidity in a room. Your ears also change day by day. I don't get too anal about dumping money into room treatment. |
Thomas W. Bethel wrote on Tue, 04 December 2007 16:43 |
A good room and good monitoring speakers are the two things I don't think you can do without and call yourself a professional mastering engineer If you can't hear what you are doing you can't master it correctly. |
crna59 wrote on Tue, 04 December 2007 17:18 | ||
I couldn't have said it any better. The 2 days that I spent with Bob Hodas was the best investment I could have ever made. I'll probably start some sh*t, but in the larger cities, what is the percentage of ME websites that show the actual room... 5% ? That new comp or EQ is a helluva lot cheaper than a proper room... |
bblackwood wrote on Tue, 04 December 2007 19:16 |
It's true the room is vital, but in my experience most every serious mastering room/facility has pics online. IOW, I don't think anyone that enjoys a good reputation is in a poor room... |
bblackwood wrote on Tue, 04 December 2007 18:16 |
It's true the room is vital, but in my experience most every serious mastering room/facility has pics online. .. |
crna59 wrote on Tue, 04 December 2007 23:43 | ||
I guess I was a little too quick to speak. Brought up the NY Mastering directory. There were 36 listings... 4 websites had room pictures. Guess these guys need to get busy... or maybe they're too busy mastering? |
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That would be cool to see your room Brad. I like to see the working environments. Maybe I can pick up a few pointers on how others work. |
crna59 wrote on Wed, 05 December 2007 00:43 | ||
I guess I was a little too quick to speak. Brought up the NY Mastering directory. |
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There were 36 listings... 4 websites had room pictures. Guess these guys need to get busy... |
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or maybe they're too busy mastering? |
TotalSonic wrote on Wed, 05 December 2007 12:45 |
Bruce - What directory are you talking about - do you have a link? I've been wanting to expand advertising my place and I realize I'm most likely not listed there! Anyway some places here in the area that off the top of my head DO have pics of the room(s) on their website: Sterling Masterdisk Jigsaw Scott Hull Mastering Ed Littman Mastering Total Sonic Media Turtle Tone Studio Salt Mastering Trutone The Cutting Room Foothill Digital Engine Room Audio I think it's important to note that Bernie Grundmann Mastering is one place that has no pics (or even info beyond an address and telephone!) on their website. So having pics of a room on a website doesn't qualify a place as being good! |
crna59 wrote on Wed, 05 December 2007 15:39 |
I was just looking at all the "high-end" rooms that are advertised everywhere. I guess anyone can put up a shingle. Like Brad says above, most every serious mastering facility has pics online. |
crna59 wrote on Wed, 05 December 2007 16:39 |
Here is the website directory I went by. http://www.newyorkmusician.com/pgs/mastering.html |
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I know Bernie doesn't have to justify his business by putting up photos, but it would still be nice to see the rooms. We put most of our money in the rooms anyway so we should show them off! |
TotalSonic wrote on Wed, 05 December 2007 15:56 |
I disagree - I think most have put money into rooms in order to get functional work places that are acoustically accurate. There's things in my room that isn't necessarilly cosmetically "pretty" and doesn't make for a good "show off" I'm more interested in having a place that's layed out in a way that makes it comfortable for me and my clients and that I know I can do good work in - and one that I didn't need to go into debt (or have a day job) in order to open. |
crna59 wrote on Wed, 05 December 2007 17:15 |
What's beside/behind you? Equipment? |
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Stripper pole? |
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I have a wine cellar behind me. I think that's cool! |
TotalSonic wrote on Wed, 05 December 2007 16:34 | ||||||
yup. couple of racks of digital tranpsorts and digital routers, and the MCI JH110M
Hee hee - there's actually a pole that's in my room in fact - it's unfortunately way too close to the wall for a stripper to actually use it though - you can see a good shot of it at http://www.totalsonicmastering.com/image/gaberoth.jpg
Got to admit I like the idea also! Hard to beat Millbrook Sound Studio's full brew pub though - http://www.barfungul.com/ Best regards, Steve Berson |
Silvertone wrote on Mon, 10 December 2007 10:01 |
Here is a shot of the front... |
JLaPointe wrote on Mon, 10 December 2007 18:51 |
How did you arrive at that arrangement? |
JLaPointe wrote on Mon, 10 December 2007 11:51 | ||
How far are you from the speakers in the sweet spot at the console? It might just be the angle of the photo but it looks really close! I've often thought of trying a closer listening position than my current 10 ft or so. How did you arrive at that arrangement? Best, - J. |