ME's AD/DA conversion is inferior than yours?

[jrhager84]

If that is how you judge an ME, I'm sure you're going to have trouble.

PS I use RME conversion. Nothing inferior about it at all... Different, maybe.

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[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by missswan

I found this ME... Nice guy, good cred., good ears, good taste in music...The only thing is he has RME conversion while I record through an Orpheus...Does it make sense to go to him? Would his conversion degrade the sound quality of what I give him?

Regardless of any technical, and subjective differences that may or may not exist, between these ADA interfaces, I think it would be first more prudent and important to consider your ME selection as a person, and what the person's process does entail.

As well as your goals for mastering your project. Sure, there is some merit to what you are suggesting about higher quality hardware in a professional mastering room, however, RME converters are generally very clean, so it's not out of this world to hear of this.

Plus they make a myriad of digital interfacing products too. You need to get the whole story, and I am sure your ME will be happy to consult with you about it. I would be. Though I am not really a mastering engineer. I do however do it once and while when I am requested.

Yea, ME's do pay very close attention and spare no expense, but it may be proportional to the cliental and budgets. There are always exceptions to every rule, in every land, which is why I would put people before objects.

I would try to put aside the gear for a bit to speak him about his process, and see if it fits your requirement as a client.

[Silent Sound]

A good ME won't degrade the sound quality of what you give him/her. He/she should improve upon it. That's their job. The brand name of his/her converters won't matter if he/she knows what they're doing.

Plus, converters are way over-hyped. Few if any listeners will be listening to your recordings on any converters approaching Orpheus' level of quality, or RME for that matter. Nor would they have the amps/speakers/room to match. And for the audiophiles that do, I'm sure they'll understand that you're not on a major label who granted you an unlimited recording budget. In the end, what people care about is the song. The song and how cool other people think they are for listening to that song, sadly enough.

[adrianww]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

If he does his work in an editing DAW, there is no effect except what he hears.

If he decides to take your digital files and pass them again through another stage of conversion, I would ask why first.

What if he wants to run the mix through some juicy analog outboard? Instant DA-AD pass to achieve that.

Of course, it could be argued that, so long as his AD/DA stages aren't utterly unspeakably crap (which RME probably aren't - in fact, acceptable or at least workable AD/DA is probably very common nowadays even in the lower/middle part of the market), then it's far more important that he knows what he's doing and has good monitors in a good room that he knows well.

[omtayslick]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

If he does his work in an editing DAW, there is no effect except what he hears.

If he decides to take your digital files and pass them again through another stage of conversion, I would ask why first.

Excellent point.

[bassie12]

If you trust your ME, the gear is irrelevant. I'd rather hear Joe Pass playing an Ibanez, than some part timer dentist with a D'Angelico. Your Mileage, Opinion, and motivations may vary, and probably should.

[CJ Mastering]

You have nothing to worry about. If you like the ME, go with him and stick for as long as you like his work. RME converters are fine and you wont hear any sound quality degregation from them.

CJ