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Old 2nd January 2006   #2
Bob Olhsson
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Joined: Jun 2002
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For a 12" single, the biggest challenge is playback cartridge tracking. There are both low-frequency problems and high frequency issues.

The approach I'd take is

1. make sure a 40 Hz. high pass filter will not harm the music. I wouldn't actually filter it because it might not be necessary.

2. Make sure there aren't any breath pops

3. make sure the bass and kick are dead center and that nothing with lots of low-end is all the way on one side. The record will sound lots better if the mastering engineer doesn't have to force everyhing below a certain frequency to mono.


As for high frequency tracking,

1. try to make sure nothing is clipping,

2. leave off the peak limiting

3. be sure the vocal isn't sibilant. If it is a bit, make sure it's also panned dead center.

Never try to second guess the mastering engineer. Different cutting systems and styli need different specific approaches beyond the things I've suggested.
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