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This page will, of necessity, be somewhat technical and “geeky”, but for those of you who want to know how we do what we do, here goes...

CD Recording and Mastering

Initial recording is done to a high-specification PC or, for recordings made at locations other than our studio, a high-specification laptop, running both Adobe Audition ® and Reaper ® multitrack recording software.  For both programs, the number of “tracks” which can be recorded is virtually unlimited.  All audio inputs to the computer are via a MOTU 8-Pre ® firewire interface.

Our range of microphones includes models by Shure, Audio-Technica  and Milab.

We also have an extensive MIDI set-up, including Yamaha keyboards, EMU PROteus 1 and 2 ® sound modules; together with a range of VSTi instruments including Jamstix 3 ®, a fully-featured  drum module with excellent sounds and programming, but also offering an intelligent “Jam” mode, Kontakt ® 4, Garritan Personal Orchestra, EMU PROteus VX VSTi and TruePianos®, a highly versatile VSTi piano with a wide range of excellent sounds.

Mixing and Mastering (the final preparation of each track on the CD) will always be done using Adobe Audition ® since we find this offers the best quality.  Additional mastering tools available include iZotope Ozone 5 Advanced ®.

DVD Recording and Mastering

All of the technology listed above for CD Recording is also available for DVD Recording.  In addition, for video editing and DVD authoring we use MAGIX Movie Edit Pro MX Premium® or MAGIX Video Pro X 3®.  Don’t forget, we also now offer BD (Blu-ray) authoring and burning!

CD and DVD Copying

We assume for this work that the supplied CD or DVD is already mastered and ready for duplication. Should additional work be necessary this will be charged.

For small quantities of CDs or DVDs we will carry out this work in-house, using a CD/DVD duplicator capable of duplicating 7 copies at each pass (using Pioneer ® drives).  

On-disc and inlay booklet printing can also be undertaken.  Art work to be supplied by client.

For larger quantities we will use a specialist duplicating company.

Video to DVD/BD Transfer

The output from a high quality stereo VHS player is fed to a Canopus ACEDVio ® PCI card interface, which converts the analogue audio and video to a digital stream which is stored on PC.  For DV tapes a Canon MG600 camera and for 8mm, Hi-8 and Digital 8 tapes a Sony DCR-TRV725E camera, serve as the direct Firewire-linked interface to the PC.  We then use MAGIX Movie Edit Pro MX Premium ® or MAGIX Video Pro X 3® to edit, master and author the DVD, from which copies can be made (see section above on CD and DVD copying).  For soundtrack restoration we use MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab ® or iZotope RX2 Advanced ®.  A downloadable Information Sheet is available here.

High Definition Video Recording

We use 2 Canon ® HG10  video cameras which record in HD format, widescreen (16:9) to an internal Hard Drive.  The files are transferred to PC and then edited as for Video to DVD Transfer (above).

(Vinyl) Disc to CD Transfer

A high quality record deck (turntable) feeds its audio output via a RIAA Phono Pre-amp and audio mixer to a PC via an EMU 0404 ® PCI soundcard.  The resulting digital audio is then “edited” using Adobe Audition ® software.

For 78 rpm discs a dedicated ION Contour LP ® deck is used.

Audio Cassette to CD Transfer

An AIWA ADF770 ® cassette deck feeds its signal via an audio mixer to PC (as detailed in “Disc to CD Transfer” above).

For both Disc and Cassette transfer to CD, if the quality of the original audio is not good, we have recently invested in iZotope RX2 Advanced ® audio restoration software.  Any agreed use of this will incur additional costs.

The Technology