Mastering is the process of taking individual mixes and fitting together in a cohesive way for a complete cd, balancing levels and tones from song to song, setting the silences between the songs as well as “ red book” cd authoring.
Yes. Most of our instrument collection is here specifically for clients to play. We also have a roster of session musicians if there is an instrument you would like to have on your project but that you do not play.
Home recording is great for song writing, working out parts and rehearsing, and it can be a powerful arranging tool in preparation for recording in the studio. It is also great fun if you want to learn about the madcap art of engineering! It is, however, a different skill set from being a musician.
The biggest differences recording at Dove Creek Studios from recording at home are –
1 Acoustics – Our tracking rooms have been designed to make it easy for us to get great sounds quickly. Our control room is designed such that mixes done here translate to the innumerable listening environments out there with a minimum of fuss.
2 Equipment – We have a lovingly selected collection of vintage and contemporary microphones, preamps, compressors, digital converters, monitoring systems and instruments – as well as the experience in how to use them. If there is something you don’t see on our gear list we have often have access to other pieces for a rental fee. By the way if you see a piece of gear listed it works as it is supposed to.
3 Experience on both sides of the microphone – All the staff, guest engineers and producers at Dove creek Studios are active working musicians who have spent many years being recording artists as well as being recording engineers and producers. We will not have it any other way.
The most basic factors that influence on the scope of a project are – number and type of instruments, song length, musical genre, editing required, mix complexity, experience of the musicians and their familiarity with the music. Making choices with regard to these variables is called preproduction. We like to think of preproduction as a road map for your project, a map that allows us to help you achieve your musical goals.