Mastering Lab Vs Recording studio

 

  
 

To be clear, the mastering process corresponds in reality with the " glass mastering " process which intervenes during the industrial pressing/ burning phase. Nevertheless, Mastering has a new meaning which is the very last chance to verify and adjust audio levels before the final pressing.

Mastering is the last chance for your music to sing out, perfecting fadings, sound levels, order of songs and especially to hear your music like it will sound on your final recorded CD. A certain coding system must be applied to your disk so that a perfect glass mastering is in your favor.

No matter the name, the mastering process demands an ensemble of understandings and materials completely different from those used in the studio..
Two ways to pick out a professional mastering studio :

  • it will never be in the same location as the mixing studio (a man or woman's ears could not stand for it)
  • it is capable of providing a professional mastering format.

A mastering studio looks more like a recording studio but more an audio laboratory with specific acoustics (because very strong measuring tools and work stations are needed.)
For many mastering needs, in our case, we accept numerous formats (2'',1'',1/2'', U-matic, dat, minidisc, tape, 78T, 33T...)

  
     
 
 
 
     
 
Mastering Formats
  
 

 
 

For a very long time, the professional standard was the ¾ U-matic band, a Sony mark. Today, two classic professional formats are the Exabyte DDP and the PMCD (by Sonic solutions and also Sony.)
A master professional is also called a " Master Cut " or " Cutting Production Master " because the glass master is produced directly by him.
Why would you be interested in a professional format ?
Simply to avoid pressing errors, that can be very expensive, or to avoid surcharges tied to security procedures when the pressing time comes.

PMCD
The premaster CD was a team project developed by Sonic Solutions and Sony. A real PMCD contains the code PQ (see the Red Book) engraved on the final discs (and for this reason, many CD burners can not handle PMCDs .)

Exabyte DDP
It's a cassette in 8mm format. A rather robust form but difficult to read. Numerous CD-Roms are masterized from this source (lots of pressing factories are equipped with this.)

Factory CDs
If you must reissue a series of CDs, you can use a burned CD as the master copy (as long as it's in very good condition.)

CDs pressed on ordinary burners
The competition between pressing factories was strong and economic pressing forced these factories to do things for quality and they now today accept non-professional formats.
Some will accept burned CD from certain burners but the glass master copy will be created after an analogical transfer of the client's CD.
Other industries will not accept the same CD.
The problem with these CDs is that they can contain interruptions or pauses due to digital errors. This can happen during the glass mastering process and then you get another bad glass master copy.
We have several tools available to verify the origin of unknown CDs and can correct them in case of error.