Digital Precision / Analog Sensability Create Audio for your Real Estate needs David Truran, MPA REALTOR® 6138 Bayou Bridge Dr. Houston, Texas 77096 713-628-6879

CD-R pre-master, SACD, DVD-A, DVD-V, surround sound, 5.1, 7.1, audio and video post production, audio for film

The Product: Your Master

In the audio world, the term master is used loosely to describe several different stages of the audio/video production process. For our purposes, a simple definition will suffice. A master is that from which many copies are made. In this regard, the formal CD premaster, which could be a CD-R, Exabyte tape, PMCD, DDP, or Sony 1610/30 video tape (as well as a few esoteric others) is the de facto master of your music and the final stage of the creative process.

All audio-related work (even production and transfer) is done by David Truran. This is the only way the master recordist earns the "Mastered by:" rights. All of the work is custom - no batch or formula processing is done at any level. Your material will be auditioned in real-time at least three times from beginning to end. Higher-level or more difficult projects might be auditioned in excess of six times - all this in addition to focused listening to each song during the mastering process. Almost always, minute adjustments in the settings of outboard gear or digital processors will make a dramatic difference in the quality of the sound - our attention to these differences is what will help your music really come to life.

ASC provides four levels of master-quality material, all on CD-R (or occasionally other formats by request):

1. The test CD. This CD is a precise copy of your audio without all of the Red Book coding. This is quicker (and less expensive) and makes it difficult to pirate the material. Test CD's are used to work through the mail and to allow the testing of the material on various playback systems in varied settings. Test CDs are usually labeled with marker and delivered in a sleeve or jewel case.

2. The reference CD. This is warranted to be a copy of your CD-R premaster as it will be delivered to you or the replicator. The reference CD is auditioned in real-time. It is delivered in a jewel box usually with a printed label.

3. CD master (Red Book compliant). The CD master created at single-speed on a low-jitter SCSI CD recorder and is auditioned in real-time. It is delivered in a sealed jewel case. Because we can not warrant that the CD will not be exposed or contaminated, replacements for failures will incur an extra charge if the seal has been broken before reaching the production stage at the replication house.

4. Certified Master (Red Book compliant). In addition to real-time creation and auditioning, a battery of digital tests is run and the print-out is sealed in with the CD-R. If the seal remains unbroken, the disk is fully warranted. This level is recommended for all CDs which will be put into any level of production and is absolutely essential if single-speed glass mastering is to be performed. Because we can not warranty that the CD will not be exposed or contaminated, replacements for failures will incur an extra charge if the seal has been broken before reaching the production stage at the replication house.

Some people liken the CD to "audio concrete," thinking it is indestructable. In truth, it is quite fragile, and after it has been certified and left the mastering house, the CD premaster should not be touched or played until the glass master(s) are made. For this reason, the CD-R premasters are sealed after they are verified. If you wish to have more than one reference disk, that can be easily arranged and is quite inexpensive, especially in relation to a failed master.

This time and effort is taken to insure that your music is presented in the best light possible.

... so click here to get prepared ...

CD Mastering - Audio Mastering - Vinyl Restoration - Audio Recording - Audio Editing - Audio for Video - PMCD - SACD - Digital Audio - Sugarhill - Houston Sound