Need a great ME for a 70's homage sound

[Rea]

Hi

Just finished an album that is faithful to the sound of 70's french pop kind of stuff with the horns and string arrangements and the recording and playing style.
Recorded to disk and not tape though.

I feel that it needs the extra push at mastering to complete the authentic sound.

I know that by default most ME's stay as faithfull to the mix they get as they can, however, here i need some creative input to get the old style eq curves, compression and perhaps even drop to tape for that flavor and a bit of hiss.

Who would be the best in NY for this kind of task?

[Red Mastering]

sterling sound mastering?

[Virtalahde]

Paul Gold: Salt Mastering - Mastering for CD and Vinyl - Brooklyn, NY

Steve Berson: Total Sonic Media - Audio Mastering

Both of them would be excellent choices.

[huejahfink]

If you are not fussed about attending then I think John Dent @ Loud could be a really good bet.
Was cutting great stuff in the 70s.

[RKelly]

I've used Ryan Smith at Sterling quite a bit including a couple of records that were on tape (tracked to 2" 15ips on 8 & 16 track that he mastered from ATR 1/2") and have always been really happy with the outcome

[Franco]

If the flavor isn't already there in the recordings and the mix, it's probably going to be hard to make it happen at mastering (a bit surprised nobody's brought this up yet).

[jimmyboy7]

Originally Posted by Rea

Hi

Just finished an album that is faithful to the sound of 70's french pop kind of stuff with the horns and string arrangements and the recording and playing style.
Recorded to disk and not tape though.

I feel that it needs the extra push at mastering to complete the authentic sound.

I know that by default most ME's stay as faithfull to the mix they get as they can, however, here i need some creative input to get the old style eq curves, compression and perhaps even drop to tape for that flavor and a bit of hiss.

Who would be the best in NY for this kind of task?

If you are open My RND Master Buss Processor Audio Diary remote Mastering I could do it. You can hear some samples of my work on this thread

My new Neve MBP could probably help since the silk+ circuit emulates the 70's Neve console distortion.

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by Franco

If the flavor isn't already there in the recordings and the mix, it's probably going to be hard to make it happen at mastering (a bit surprised nobody's brought this up yet).

No need to be like that. It sounds like the OP is already happy with what they have done, but wants to get someone who has authentic 70s equipment and mastering experience from that decade to keep that vibe going through the mastering process.

[Rea]

Originally Posted by Franco

If the flavor isn't already there in the recordings and the mix, it's probably going to be hard to make it happen at mastering (a bit surprised nobody's brought this up yet).

The record was made to sound as loyal to the 70's sound as possible. However, since it was recorded to Hard Disk and not tape and since there is a mixed technique of new and old in the production process it dosent have the exact eq curves and other "limitations" typical to that era. Especially the restrictions that came with mastering for vinyl In mind.

Since this is a period piece, im trying to get the mastering to complete the picture and with old school gear and old school experience keep it period specific.

We are happy with the mixes. It is not a "fix it in mastering" rescue situation...

[sat159p1]

Originally Posted by Franco

If the flavor isn't already there in the recordings and the mix, it's probably going to be hard to make it happen at mastering (a bit surprised nobody's brought this up yet).

Playing to tape and then some colorful outboard will make it happen A least a bit! Or big BIT!

PS: I sent you PM.

[Franco]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

No need to be like that...

I wasn't trying to be rude, I should have been more specific in saying that a lot of those records hit multitrack tape; each track got its own level of tape saturation/distortion, which would have been captured while tracking or mixing.

Originally Posted by Rea

The record was made to sound as loyal to the 70's sound as possible. However, since it was recorded to Hard Disk and not tape and since there is a mixed technique of new and old in the production process it dosent have the exact eq curves and other "limitations" typical to that era. Especially the restrictions that came with mastering for vinyl In mind...

Best of luck with it! I'm currently working on a Funk/Soul project and some of the tracks were recorded at a very nice facility in SF, they didn't use the 24 track Studer there because of budget issues, and both the producer and I thought there was something "missing" from the mojo when mixing a couple of the tunes, even though all tracks went through several pieces of sweet outboard while tracking.

I ended up buying another UAD Quad card so I could use a Studer instance on each track and that added that extra flavor (we did try adding saturation effects on the master bus, the HEDD helped but even it sounded better after going back to treat each track with the UAD Studer, with various levels of distortion/hiss for each track).

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by Rea

Hi

Just finished an album that is faithful to the sound of 70's french pop kind of stuff with the horns and string arrangements and the recording and playing style.
Recorded to disk and not tape though.

I feel that it needs the extra push at mastering to complete the authentic sound.

I know that by default most ME's stay as faithfull to the mix they get as they can, however, here i need some creative input to get the old style eq curves, compression and perhaps even drop to tape for that flavor and a bit of hiss.

Who would be the best in NY for this kind of task?

Gavin Lurssen has a lot of albums to his credits that are heavy on vibe and 'analogness'. I guess he would be a good choice if you're looking for a ME that enhances that aspect of the sonics.

I'd say that running the mix through a 'tape stage' is essential if you're looking for that bell-bottom, ochre-colored sound. Hell, I'd even try a good cassette deck just for fun.....

Another idea: Whoever is doing the mastering for the Daptone releases should also know about the 70s sound and all points before.

[Technologyworks]

Originally Posted by doorknocker

Gavin Lurssen has a lot of albums to his credits that are heavy on vibe and 'analogness'. I guess he would be a good choice if you're looking for a ME that enhances that aspect of the sonics.

Yes good call

Originally Posted by doorknocker

Another idea: Whoever is doing the mastering for the Daptone releases should also know about the 70s sound and all points before.

Steve Berson at Total Sonic Media already mentioned above has Daptones credits I believe...

Peter