My first mastering rig...what to get???

[Red Mastering]

my advice would be spend most of it on room acoustics&monitors,
if anything left (I presume not really), then worry about outboard
and it should be quality dac,
don't forget you need 2 dacs and 1 adc if you thinking about analog chain

[ciro]

Room looks (and I bet it sounds) amazing, congrats !

Ciro

[stamand]

thanks ciro!!! Yes it's sounds amazing...I'm not looking for new speakers(just get some old krk E8) or room treatment. Thanks for looking!

yannick

[Fabmaster]

The pic on your facebook page already looks like a mastering room.
Why are you all pushed up against the front wall?

[Greg Reierson]

Originally Posted by Fabmaster

Why are you all pushed up against the front wall?

I was wondering the same thing.

GR

[Adam Dempsey]

Originally Posted by Fabmaster

The pic on your facebook page already looks like a mastering room.
Why are you all pushed up against the front wall?

I'd ask the same question. Looks like a decent room, if a little reflective?
Maybe the best thing for you, for mastering (if you must master in the same room – not generally ideal) is reposition yourself & speakers, maybe deal with any early reflections with some movable hanging absorbers. Probably not the "gear" answer you want, but other than that I'd go for a clean signal path: DACs, ADC, clean broad EQ. Get all the "vibe" you need in the mixing process. And get time & headspace away from mixing if you're mastering those same projects.

[stamand]

About the rear wall...here Eric(my acoustic designer) response to it

''Now for the technical stuff. The "rear wall close to the speaker" issue would be a justified concern if it was indeed a wall. First yannick speakers are front ported, second SBIR is greatly reduce by the use of the rear broadbands slats. SBIR will always occur no matter how far from the rear wall speakers are located, it will only happen at different frequency varying with distance. Frequency at which the slats are tuned for. Just for the records there is space varying from 16" to 42" behind those slats. The original design was for soffit speakers. And it is still possible do do so. We opted for stand mounted because yannick was not settled on which speaker he would use''

I don't want to do my master, I have some clients who are interested to do business with me for mastering and I think I need some gear to do it right! Let me know...Thanks

[Ben F]

$3k realistically will only get you a either a second hand mastering grade EQ or compressor...probably would go a cleaner more surgical EQ to start (looks like you already have the colour with API/Hammer). Sontec 250ex or NSEQ-1. Both are not really stepped but will do a nice job and be flexible. If you push to $4k you could score a Maselec there are plenty for sale.

Next some sort of mastering grade compressor, again used $3k will get you a Manley Vari-mu or Phoenix which cover a lot of bases with the right EQs.

[Waltz Mastering]

Also under 3k for a comp.. maybe check out Foote P3s M or ApI 2500. EQ - Bax