Five
Steps to Remastering
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Five
Steps to Remastering
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1. USING THE BEST POSSIBLE SOURCE Remastering starts with obtaining the best possible analog source. Sometimes exhaustive detective work goes into searching for the best sounding tape. Analog magnetic tapes manufactured from 1975-1985 often suffer from "binder breakdown" where the adhesive chemicals in the tape begin to dissipate because of moisture absortion. The remedy for this is to bake the tape at low temperature in a convection oven for several hours. We do this very carefully with no resulting harm to the tape, thus insuring smooth playback! |
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Baking
a Tape
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| If you're concerned about your tapes, watch for the warning signs: squeaky, sticky playback with accumulation of dust or gummy residue on heads and guides. If these symptoms appear, stop playing the tape immediately and contact us for restoration assistance. We'll "bake" your tape and make a high resolution 24-bit transfer for permanent archive. Even after baking, the tape will eventually revert to its previous condition, so this transfer is an essential process. | |
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2. SETTING UP THE TRANSFER We rewind the tape carefully and then callibrate it according to the tones provided. If no tones are provided, we calibrate according to a standard MRL calibration tape. We optimize the azimuth to make sure that high frequency detail and phase are correct. If any splices have dried out we resplice carefully to ensure smooth playback. |
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3. OPTIMIZING THE SOUND Oftentimes an analog master will have deficiencies either from the time it was created or from the loss of high end and clarity over the years of storage. For this we use a discriminate amount of analog equalization (Troisi custom shown right). Analog EQ is most appropriate for the analog tape medium and will restore the proper spectral balance to the recording. |
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4. CONVERSION TO DIGITAL Once the analog signal path is set, we make the transfer through a 24 bit Analog to Digital Converter. We make sure the digital levels are optimal (full volume) without incuring any overs or distortion. The audio is then stored on a hard drive within our SonicStudio system |
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5. DIGITAL EDITING AND DENOISING Once the audio signal is digitized, it can be manipulated in many ways. Sonic integrity combines aesthetic artistry and technical know-how. We know when a digital edit works musically and we know the limits of any denoising procedure. The tools we use are very powerful, but the key is to use them appropriately. |
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