Be careful not to "double" dither. I accidentally dithered the master tracks after they had already been dithered. The result was very subtle. It caused a "psychoacoustic" feeling that the CD was running slow.
Additionally... and importantly... don't change the volumes of the audio samples after the dithering step has been completed. This also messes up the quality of the audio... though it appears to not be as bad as double dithering.
Brad is going to give me a new set of 24 bit files and I'll dither down to 16 bit after adjusting the volumes as the final step to creating the CD master.
We are still waiting on the artwork... but we should have something next week...
Monday, June 27, 2005
Friday, June 24, 2005
CD to be released real soon...
We're very close to releasing our first CD, "Strip Mall Heaven". The final product should be completed and in our hands by mid-July.
This week Brad and I completed mastering all of the tunes and I used CD Architect to make the CD master. I went through a number of CD writing/burning applications before I bit the bullet and purchased CD Architect. I highly recommend it. It's a well written application, intuitive and easy to use, and has every feature I can think of that you need to complete that final step of creating a master CD to send off for duplication.
So now we're just waiting on the artwork to get completed and then off to the presses...
This week Brad and I completed mastering all of the tunes and I used CD Architect to make the CD master. I went through a number of CD writing/burning applications before I bit the bullet and purchased CD Architect. I highly recommend it. It's a well written application, intuitive and easy to use, and has every feature I can think of that you need to complete that final step of creating a master CD to send off for duplication.
So now we're just waiting on the artwork to get completed and then off to the presses...
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Analog Mastering?
Well after my seeming dismay at the state of digital audio I have started to explore the analog realm a little again.
I've experimented with bouncing down the 24 bit 48 kHz mixes processed through Ozone 3 to the SX-980's AUX input and recording onto the Pioneer RT-707. Funny I have managed to scrounge these two pieces of vintage audio equipment. I had the Reel to Reel for years and M2 broguht the SX-980 by the other day. So I am well on my way of putting together a "silver face" 70's vintage system. I also bought a JVC KD-10 Cassette deck. Not fancy by any means just a solid classic deck and I also have coming a 79' vintage Hitachi turntable. Nothing fancy their but it's direct drive and seems like a solid unit.
Pioneer Model SX-980 Details Page on www.classic-audio.com
Pioneer Model RT-707 Details Page on www.classic-audio.com
I am playing these units through some simple vintage Kenwood two way speakers. they sound surprisingly good. They handle 100 Watts and the SX-980's 80 watts per side send a delightful signal to these low Kenwoods.
Well any way I have some new Qauntegy 456 1/4" tape on the way and I have already did a little repair work on the RT-707. The left recording input RCA jack had broken loose from the PC board. I attempted to solder it back but it failed to fix the issue without wedging a cassette tape case in the back to keep pressure on the jack. So I guess I will try todo a more thorough
fix another time. It works now....so?
I recorded a test track by playing "Shove" on the Mac and running the signal from the MOTU 828 to the AUX input on the SX-980 and recording it with the RT. So far it is quite interesting. I can only think of non-fatiguing. Something has for sure happened to the sound and it is not bad by any meams. The sound though slightly more bassy (the stereo is more bassy as the speakers sit on the hard floor) it is "warm" well defined and actaully quite smooth. Running the tape at 7 ips (the highest speed without changing the speed knob) the songs takes on a classic sound that is quite pleaseing. the next step will be to return that recording back to the Mac as a 24 bit/48 kHz stereo file and do some analysis of the same song . If it not a big hassle and the organic analog tone is acceptable then maybe we'll master all the tracks like that. Hard ot say.
I've experimented with bouncing down the 24 bit 48 kHz mixes processed through Ozone 3 to the SX-980's AUX input and recording onto the Pioneer RT-707. Funny I have managed to scrounge these two pieces of vintage audio equipment. I had the Reel to Reel for years and M2 broguht the SX-980 by the other day. So I am well on my way of putting together a "silver face" 70's vintage system. I also bought a JVC KD-10 Cassette deck. Not fancy by any means just a solid classic deck and I also have coming a 79' vintage Hitachi turntable. Nothing fancy their but it's direct drive and seems like a solid unit.
Pioneer Model SX-980 Details Page on www.classic-audio.com
Pioneer Model RT-707 Details Page on www.classic-audio.com
I am playing these units through some simple vintage Kenwood two way speakers. they sound surprisingly good. They handle 100 Watts and the SX-980's 80 watts per side send a delightful signal to these low Kenwoods.
Well any way I have some new Qauntegy 456 1/4" tape on the way and I have already did a little repair work on the RT-707. The left recording input RCA jack had broken loose from the PC board. I attempted to solder it back but it failed to fix the issue without wedging a cassette tape case in the back to keep pressure on the jack. So I guess I will try todo a more thorough
fix another time. It works now....so?
I recorded a test track by playing "Shove" on the Mac and running the signal from the MOTU 828 to the AUX input on the SX-980 and recording it with the RT. So far it is quite interesting. I can only think of non-fatiguing. Something has for sure happened to the sound and it is not bad by any meams. The sound though slightly more bassy (the stereo is more bassy as the speakers sit on the hard floor) it is "warm" well defined and actaully quite smooth. Running the tape at 7 ips (the highest speed without changing the speed knob) the songs takes on a classic sound that is quite pleaseing. the next step will be to return that recording back to the Mac as a 24 bit/48 kHz stereo file and do some analysis of the same song . If it not a big hassle and the organic analog tone is acceptable then maybe we'll master all the tracks like that. Hard ot say.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Analog Retreat
Well they went and did it. Jobs drank the kool-aid. Hell has frozen over...
Intel inside....my ass.
I am sick of relying on computers for EVERYTHING....I mean blogs and the internet is one thing but to have to record music with a computer is almost too much. It was bad enough to have to buy new hardware and revamp software because of innovation, but to have to do so because of changes to hardware based on dollar signs and someones pending retirement...that just sucks.
Jobs has sold out. Oh sure I won't have to to change any hardware for a year or two. I was planning on a Dual G5 if this CD is succesful for the next project. Now I don't think so for the same amount I could get a 8 or 16 track recorder and a nice 1/4 mastering deck. then plop any old crap computer and interface to read in the analog for 16 bit/44.1 kh...CD mastering.
the learning curve is almost to much....each new multi track software version is like tearing your entire studio out and replacing it. All the controls are complely different and the behavior changes. Features are buried and and become more and more complex.
got it right the first time
for ages you could walk into a studio in in a few minutes be comfy with the console and controls because the controls have changed little. EQ is EQ. A fader is a fader and pan knob is a pan knob. Compression, pre-amps all work relativly the same. The digital realm has caused and explosion of processing and editing that before was unheard of. And bizzare interfaces are par for the course.
Now musicians can focus less on the content and tone as they can always "fix" in the mix.
retro heaven...that 70's stereo
Digital, what a crutch....I know there will always be the need for digital processing. It does one thing really well....keeps the noise down...that was tape's biggest flaw....and best attribute. That noise and overhead is warm, natural and extremely musical.
I've just been listening to some old cassettes on a JVC deck I picked up a rummage sale, that are frankly a pure joy to listen to...
the big analog meters are bouncing...The natural cassette compression and the natural EQ "scoop" of vintage 70's stereo equipment made my weekend. I listend to Dinosaur Jr. and Firehose, both commercial Cro2 tapes on a JVC deck through a Pioneer SX-980 receiver and vintage kenwood speakers. What a treat.
I dug out my old reel to reel tapes from the early ninties. Mostly me and guitar writing songs. I used a Pioneer RT-707 deck with two mics via small mixer. I could slam the meters into the wall and no clipping or distortion....just saturation and natural compression...I had not heard these tapes I anything other than headphones...I was floored.
connecting the dots
I was relaxed like I've never been for a long time listening to music.
I am sure it is because I was listening to real sine waves...not a digital approximation of tone. The dots just aren't connected....My brain wasn't exhausted at glazing over the 44.1khz steps and it wasn't stressed with coping with the 17th bit being lopped off...Even though it is beyond human hearing the brain must still be registering something...and it is cut off....that is the only way I can describe it. It "feels" different to listen to non-digital music sources.
Maybe that is the key. Our lives are so stressed and we surround ourselves with the cacaphony of fraudulant sound. Stuttering digital shrieking enters our brain and assaults our audio center of the brain. It challenges our complex audio processing centers to convert the broken, stuttering into a seemingly solid and continuous tone.
I would like to see some brain scans of cortex activity when listening to a digital source and a analog source. Just how much more work is the brain doing to smooth over the sound.
What happens when you stop the smoothing...? When suddenly you can hear the digital steps in the sound...?
I think I've found out.
Intel inside....my ass.
I am sick of relying on computers for EVERYTHING....I mean blogs and the internet is one thing but to have to record music with a computer is almost too much. It was bad enough to have to buy new hardware and revamp software because of innovation, but to have to do so because of changes to hardware based on dollar signs and someones pending retirement...that just sucks.
Jobs has sold out. Oh sure I won't have to to change any hardware for a year or two. I was planning on a Dual G5 if this CD is succesful for the next project. Now I don't think so for the same amount I could get a 8 or 16 track recorder and a nice 1/4 mastering deck. then plop any old crap computer and interface to read in the analog for 16 bit/44.1 kh...CD mastering.
the learning curve is almost to much....each new multi track software version is like tearing your entire studio out and replacing it. All the controls are complely different and the behavior changes. Features are buried and and become more and more complex.
got it right the first time
for ages you could walk into a studio in in a few minutes be comfy with the console and controls because the controls have changed little. EQ is EQ. A fader is a fader and pan knob is a pan knob. Compression, pre-amps all work relativly the same. The digital realm has caused and explosion of processing and editing that before was unheard of. And bizzare interfaces are par for the course.
Now musicians can focus less on the content and tone as they can always "fix" in the mix.
retro heaven...that 70's stereo
Digital, what a crutch....I know there will always be the need for digital processing. It does one thing really well....keeps the noise down...that was tape's biggest flaw....and best attribute. That noise and overhead is warm, natural and extremely musical.
I've just been listening to some old cassettes on a JVC deck I picked up a rummage sale, that are frankly a pure joy to listen to...
the big analog meters are bouncing...The natural cassette compression and the natural EQ "scoop" of vintage 70's stereo equipment made my weekend. I listend to Dinosaur Jr. and Firehose, both commercial Cro2 tapes on a JVC deck through a Pioneer SX-980 receiver and vintage kenwood speakers. What a treat.
I dug out my old reel to reel tapes from the early ninties. Mostly me and guitar writing songs. I used a Pioneer RT-707 deck with two mics via small mixer. I could slam the meters into the wall and no clipping or distortion....just saturation and natural compression...I had not heard these tapes I anything other than headphones...I was floored.
connecting the dots
I was relaxed like I've never been for a long time listening to music.
I am sure it is because I was listening to real sine waves...not a digital approximation of tone. The dots just aren't connected....My brain wasn't exhausted at glazing over the 44.1khz steps and it wasn't stressed with coping with the 17th bit being lopped off...Even though it is beyond human hearing the brain must still be registering something...and it is cut off....that is the only way I can describe it. It "feels" different to listen to non-digital music sources.
Maybe that is the key. Our lives are so stressed and we surround ourselves with the cacaphony of fraudulant sound. Stuttering digital shrieking enters our brain and assaults our audio center of the brain. It challenges our complex audio processing centers to convert the broken, stuttering into a seemingly solid and continuous tone.
I would like to see some brain scans of cortex activity when listening to a digital source and a analog source. Just how much more work is the brain doing to smooth over the sound.
What happens when you stop the smoothing...? When suddenly you can hear the digital steps in the sound...?
I think I've found out.
More photos of photo shoot
Stuff was falling from the ceiling....little chunks of asbestos no doubt...
Another part of the building had PCB's spray painted on the wall...probably a good reason why this place was boarded up...(I feel woozy)
Another part of the building had PCB's spray painted on the wall...probably a good reason why this place was boarded up...(I feel woozy)
Nero Photo Shoot
Photo Shoot
Originally uploaded by bodland.
Rob and Trisha. Check out Rob Nero's website here.
Click here for all the Strip Mall Heaven images and layout artwork that Rob Nero created for us.
This photo taken by Michael Fisk.
Rob Nero Photography - Photo Shoot
We did a photo shoot with Rob Nero this weekend. Pics
will be used for CD and website which is slated for redo..
Check Rob Nero's his website here.
Click here for all the Strip Mall Heaven images and layout artwork that Rob Nero created for us.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
News
Well the mixing continues. Just about reaching the end.....of my rope... :>P
We've started looking for gigs to supprt the upcoming release. I've sent feelers out to Chicago with submissions to The Double Door, Beat Kitchen and Schuba's.
In Milwaukee we're working on gigs at Onopa, Pointes East Pub and Vnuk's as well as another Main Stage appearance.
We are still on "Standby" for Summerfest and we're yet to hear on MOBFest in Chicago.
So we've got a lot in the hopper and hopefully a ferw dates will pop in the next few days so we can get some stuff on the books.
I've started to provide specific dates to booking agents to select. Plan is to play 2 or so gigs per month while the disk is gathering college, internet and community radio play around the midwest and reviews start to filter in. To set for a SXSW submission for next year.
We have the cover art for the CD and it is looking excellent the guy who did Temper Temper's latest disk handled the photo work...most exciting.
We've started looking for gigs to supprt the upcoming release. I've sent feelers out to Chicago with submissions to The Double Door, Beat Kitchen and Schuba's.
In Milwaukee we're working on gigs at Onopa, Pointes East Pub and Vnuk's as well as another Main Stage appearance.
We are still on "Standby" for Summerfest and we're yet to hear on MOBFest in Chicago.
So we've got a lot in the hopper and hopefully a ferw dates will pop in the next few days so we can get some stuff on the books.
I've started to provide specific dates to booking agents to select. Plan is to play 2 or so gigs per month while the disk is gathering college, internet and community radio play around the midwest and reviews start to filter in. To set for a SXSW submission for next year.
We have the cover art for the CD and it is looking excellent the guy who did Temper Temper's latest disk handled the photo work...most exciting.
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