src, bit depth and mastering time to get it right

[brendley]

HI guys

Professional producer / Amateur mastering dude here need your help. I am just trying to master something for a relative for his own independant release. ( I told him to go get it done professionally ) anyway...

Can you clarify this for me..Have I got it right.

Mixes are at 48kHz 24 bit.

At the moment i am importing to a 24 bit 48kHz p tools le session and equing ect then inserting an L2 hardware ..then at bounce to disk time converting from 48kHZ 24 bit to 44.1kHz 16 bit.

I have a feeling this is not what my mastering engineer does...(I cant reach him) ..Should i be Importing the mixes into a 44.1 kHz session letting tools convert them ..then master and bounce to 16 bit when bouncing to disk.

also what quantize settings should I have on the L2 16 18 20 22 24?

Thanks so much

[Waltz Mastering]

I don't like the idea of importing files into a session that's not set at their designated sample rate. Also I don't think it's great to sample SRC, dither, bw limit, noise shape and bounce all at the same time.

I've never used LE before but you might want to try this:

import files into 48k 24b session
SRC (on tweakhead setting if it has it) and
export as dual mono 44.1 24b
import new files into new 44.1k 24b session
eq, limit, set dither to 16b w/normal noise shape and bounce or capture

[minister]

Originally Posted by Waltz Mastering

I don't like the idea of importing files into a session that's not set at their designated sample rate.

Can you explain why?

Originally Posted by Waltz Mastering

I've never used LE before but you might want to try this:

import files into 48k 24b session
SRC (on tweakhead setting if it has it) and
export as dual mono 44.1 24b

How is the export SRC math better than Import SRC math in Pro Tools LE?

Are you not you introducing another step here?

In all the infomal tests I have done with PT, I can't hear a difference between Import or Export SRC............. If that is true, setting up a session with the target SRC should be no problem.

You can also look at Audifile Sample Manager which has the nice Izotope SRC, if you are really worried about a PT SRC.

Audiofile Engineering - Sample Manager

SRC decimate first. Then dither to 16bit last. So you know, PT DOES dither on export (or import) from 24-->16 using TPDF.

[Waltz Mastering]

I've never used LE, so I if you can just drag 44.1 into a 48 session I'm not sure what quality of src on import that is being done at, but I know in HD you can choose the quality of the export.
Heard good things about the Izotope.

[minister]

(PT is fine, especially if this a low budget thing.)

Originally Posted by Waltz Mastering

Heard good things about the Izotope

Sample Manager is $79! And does all kinds of batch converting to all kinds of stuff. Handy.

And at that price, it leaves enough to get your hair coiffed at one of those fancy places in Beverly Hills. I hear tell this is important for a Mastering Engineer's image..........

[Odeon-Mastering]

Originally Posted by minister

PT DOES dither on export (or import) from 24-->16 using TPDF.

Is that a fact?

[minister]

Originally Posted by Odeon-Mastering

Is that a fact?

yup.

[twwalsh]

r8brain pro is good

Voxengo - r8brain PRO

[Audiop]

And SoX too.
http://sox.sourceforge.net/


SRC Comparisons


/Peter

[wado1942]

Originally Posted by brendley

At the moment i am importing to a 24 bit 48kHz p tools le session and equing ect then inserting an L2 hardware ..then at bounce to disk time converting from 48kHZ 24 bit to 44.1kHz 16 bit.

I have a feeling this is not what my mastering engineer does...(I cant reach him) ..Should i be Importing the mixes into a 44.1 kHz session letting tools convert them ..then master and bounce to 16 bit when bouncing to disk.

Probably not. PT isn't very good for mastering in any form. I haven't used it beyond playing with it at other studios and thinking "I'm glad I didn't buy into the hype." A deticated mastering program would probably do you better. Regardless, I would convert to 44.1KHz before feeding the L2. For CD, I try to keep everything in 44.1KHz or 88.2Khz because the conversion from 48KHz to 44.1KHz can cause some unpredictable side effects as far as peak levels & sound quality are concerned. Plus many would argue (myself included) that you'd have better sound quality sticking with 44.1KHz from beginning to end than to sample slightly higher and downsampling. But all my tests have shown 88.2KHz to provide superior results.

also what quantize settings should I have on the L2 16 18 20 22 24?

If PT can do a good job of dithering to 16-bit, then I'd set the L2 to 24-bit and let PT do the rest of the work after the L2. Though I'll repeat, you should convert to 44.1Khz before feeding the L2.