F.A.Q. - What happens to my recording during a typical session? 

There really isn’t a set answer to that - Every project is unique, as every recording, band, song and studio are unique. Assuming that the recording is pretty solid, without excessive amounts of noise or distortion, the bulk of the business is done through outboard analog and/or digital gear, on its way into (in many cases back into) the DAW. Sometimes it’s a “load-out / load in” process.

Certain things are taken care of early - Clicks & pops, hiss, rumble removal, etc. Anomalies that will affect dynamics processing need to be taken care of before working the dynamics. M/S processing, parallels, etc. may also be attacked at this early stage. Corrective EQ may be applied either in the DAW or using outboard analog EQ. After the signal leaves the DAW, additional EQ and dynamics may be applied using outboard gear. Limiting (usually analog) if necessary is normally handled fairly late in the game, perhaps just before dithering. Dithering choices vary between several hardware and software options and is decided during the session. 

The processed tracks are assembled in the DAW. Starts, stops & pauses are written in and a single master file is rendered that includes all audio and PQ data. If dithering to 16-bit audio wasn’t tackled on the way back into the DAW, it’d be handled during this final rendering. Then the final finished data is written to the CD-R production master.

EVERY DISC that would be considered a replication master is error-checked and certified using PlexTools Professional software.

All final production master discs are premium archival quality, CD-R’s that are serial marked and ID that are inkjet printed or marked only with water-based permanent ink (did you know that most permanent alcohol and oil-based markers, such as Sharpies™ will seep through the plastic of a CD-R over time?).