Mastering with internal or external?

[stigg]

I'm working on my first mix and master project. It's only one song
but as my first multi track (14+), I'd like to do a decent job but I'm
thinking it would be a better sound if I mastered from Logic express
to a good external recorder rather than the burn to disc internal.
If an external would be better what machine would you recommend?
This is my home studio:
Logic express 8, Presonus firepod, older powermac dual 1.8 G5.


stigg.

[garageband]

This is not a plan and more than a little waste of money. Get it good, bounce and burn. Don't be "too clever by half".

[whomper]

Originally Posted by stigg

I'm working on my first mix and master project. It's only one song
but as my first multi track (14+), I'd like to do a decent job but I'm
thinking it would be a better sound if I mastered from Logic express
to a good external recorder rather than the burn to disc internal.
If an external would be better what machine would you recommend?
This is my home studio:
Logic express 8, Presonus firepod, older powermac dual 1.8 G5.


stigg.

what makes you think that ??

[garww]

Ya, don't be too anal as it's already in digital format.

[brandondrury]

I still don't think I'm anywhere near outgrowing in the box mixing / mastering....and I crossed the 1,000 song barrier over a year ago. Maybe in a decade I may.....then again if my mixes are as good as I hope they are I won't care about the format anyway.

I know one thing is for sure. If I ran my first mix through the greatest console of all time it would be the greatest embarrassment the world has ever seen. My point? Focus on your skills and your monitoring environment entirely. The gear is practically useless in most cases.

Brandon

[stigg]

Thanks.
How much music is lost via wave file compared to recording direct?

[garageband]

How much music is lost via wave file compared to recording direct?

If I say "None", will you stop worrying about it?

[whomper]

Originally Posted by stigg

Thanks.
How much music is lost via wave file compared to recording direct?

do your apples and oranges taste like kumquats?

what bit depth
what sample rate

what do you mean direct
straight to analog tape ??
using direct in ??

I never lose more than 3% - often much less
you might be able to do better!

[garww]

Originally Posted by stigg

Thanks.
How much music is lost via wave file compared to recording direct?

Digital is just a sampling process so there is some loss, but what you get is quite usable - even on magnetic tape media.

When I was experimenting with analog dbx, then tape pcm, and digital it was apples and oranges for sound. The only thing I "sometimes" like is sweetening the pot by running the final signal through a tube preamp.

[brandondrury]

How much music is lost via wave file compared to recording direct?

Direct to what? There may be other medians but we've got wax cylinders, analog tape, and digital. Each technology is not perfect. However, the best way I can answer this questions is by saying this: Infinitely less than what is lost by a substandard audio engineer.

I'm not accusing anyone of substandard engineering, but I think it's safe to say that the quality of an engineer is judged by their ability to get out of the way of the music. You could almost measure an audio engineer like you measure distortion. The best of the best deliver exciting results every time. Many of us here aren't so good. Some of us are just getting started and are nowhere near prime time.

Brandon