96k Mixes - self mastering / Red Book creation - HD users, how's it going?

[Jules]

This is a thread specifically about Red Book creation from 96k PTHD session mixes without a visit to a specialist mastering facility.

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OK you make a 96k mix...

How do you then:

-Do mastering style tweaks on it?

-Get it to be a Red Book CDR / Audio file?

What's 'cool' about HD for this?

Are there any high sample rate plug ins making your mastering stage sound better?

How are HD owners handling the SRC from 96k down to 44.1K?

I bet there are SEVERAL ways to achieve 44.1k 16 bit mastered files from a 96k master created with an HD rig. Please list YOUR way of doing it and why you chose it.

Thanks!

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[fourthtunz]

Jules,I thought this was a great thread, hoped somebody would reply, they didn't so I will,to keep things going! I have only done a few recordings at 96k and have more listening to do but I think I like 96 better. Anywho,I don't have the Alesis Masterlink yet,(youlike it right?I'm gonna get one soon!)so I bounce to 96,use the tweakheadmode src in HD. I really still have to compare the src in HD,tcspark,and sonicworx as well as the dither,and other mastering tweaks.
As of late I've been comparing pres mics and converters that I own just to get back to basics.
I hope others will respond, I've got alot of 96k sessions on the horizon, take care
Daniel [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[Allan Speers]

Hey, jules.

Still recovering from my technical nightmare of last month, but I can offer some small insight:


I upgraded to HD on the assumption that there will probably be some audible improvement. I haven't done enough tests yet to have a firm opinion.

However, one part of the puzzle has been: What happens after the 88.2 / 96K mix is SRC'd to 44.1K? Perhaps the losses would outweigh the gains.

I am very glad to announce that, despite my SERIOUS expectations to the contrary, the new Digi SRC is EXCELLENT.

On my test session, I first ran all the 88.2K tracks through their plugins, recording to new tracks. Thus, I ended up with a session that had no plugins. -for purposes of this test, I didn't use anything on the 2-mix.

I ran this session to 1/4" tape.

then I did a "save session copy in" using tweakhead to create a 44.1K version of my session.

I then ran this new session to tape.

When I recorded these two takes back into a fresh Protools session for comparison, listening blind, I COULD NOT tell them apart. Not if my life depended upon it.

Yeah, I can't believe it either. You know how picky I am. You know how much I love to rag on digidesign. The new Digi SRC is fabulous.
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A few reservations:

1: I haven't tried going from 96K to 44.1 (soon)

2: I did not take these sessions to 16-bit. it is possible that the small loss of resolution this entails might bring out some differences that are not perceptible at 24-bit.

3: I probably helped things a bit by src'ing the individual tracks instead of a full mix. This isn't the way I will want to work. I will want to master while the session is still at the higher rate, so I am anxious to hear how the Digi src handles full mixes.

4: My test session was a very in-your-face R&B thang. Results might be very different if I had used some delicate, subtle session full of acoustic instruments and natural room ambience.

5: my ears are not what they used to be. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Still, I am pretty stoked about this.

[Sergent Pepper]

This is a very good thread indeed Jules.
First I upgraded from Mix3 with Apogee clocked with Nanosync to HD 3. I must confess I'm really enthusiastic about the HD sound with 192 I/O clocked by itself.
I now use 88,2 kHz SR all the time because I really feel the difference compare to 44 ... It costs yu double of HD space but sounds much more natural for me ... Apparently according to Nika's theory the 192 I/O is not yet perfect at 44 kHz but excellent at 88 or 96...
I have a fatso I use sometimes on the Master bus as an insert also.
Anyway "the issue" is downsampling to 44. I choose 88 as I "feel" it easier to downsample to 44. Never tried the bouncing thing yet but I am happy some had good result with it and will try it soon although bouncing is a pain in the ass for me.
I tried downsampling on my Masterlink thru rendering image and have not been satisfied .
The good news is that I just discovered my Tascam DM24 (clocked by 192 I/O) with new OS 2.O was able to downsample in real time from 88 to 44. First tests are excellent as far as sound is concerned, much much better then Masterlink and for me very close to the original.BTW I always dither with Pow-R from PT 24 bits to Masterlink 16 bits

[Alécio Costa]

hey, guys!
for example, a 5 minute stereo song. how long does it take to SRC from:

a)192k to 44.1k
b)96k to 44.1
c)88.2 to 44.1

at stereo interleaved, 16 bits, best quality ?
oka 2 passs... from Fs/24 bits > 44k/24 bits > 44k/16 bits

Thanks!
I am still a PT Mix user and satisfied with it!
but...
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[Alécio Costa]

I forgot.. let us suppose yu are using a G4 800 or a G4 933 with at least 500MB RAM

[Jules]

I think a Finalizer + can do live SRC from 96 - 44.1

Glad you are digging the thread!

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[woodywho]

alesis masterlink is the way to go for me! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Jeff D.]

I've been doing the 88.2-to-44.1 SRC during the bounce to disk using the "convert during bounce" option. I've got the SRC quality setting in the "High" position.

The SRC is done within one second of the bounce on my dual 1GHZ, even with lots of RTAS plug-ins. Surprising, in a good way!

Jeff D.