The Technology we use
This page will, of necessity, be somewhat technical and “geeky”, but for those of you who want to know what we use in order to 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 a Nord Stage 3 88, EMU PROteus 1 and 2 ® sound modules, together with a range of VSTi instruments.
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 9 Advanced ®.
DVD/BD 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 Video Pro X ®.
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 MV920 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 Video Pro X ® to edit, master and author the DVD/BD, from which copies can be made (see section above on CD and DVD copying). For soundtrack restoration we use iZotope RX8 Advanced ®.
High Definition Video Recording
We use, as a minimum, 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/BD 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 with a MOTU 8Pre Firewire interface. 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 AD-F770 cassette deck, or similar, 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 will use iZotope RX8 Advanced ® audio restoration software, specifically to assist with improving the overall quality. Any agreed use of this will incur additional costs.
Disc Rescue
This requires specialist software, IsoBuster, and lots of time!
Photo/Slide/Negative Scanning to DVD/Blu-ray
We scan the original images using an Epson ® Perfection V550 Photo scanner. Following experimentation at different resolutions we have settled on 300 or 600 dpi for slides that are to be put onto either a Data DVD or Slideshow DVD; for Blu-ray output the resolution will be 1200 dpi. Higher Resolution scans are possible; please ask for details. Prints and negatives will be scanned at 300 dpi or whatever resolution best meets the quality:file size ratio. (The higher the resolution of the scan, the larger the resulting file size and the fewer that can be burned to each disc.)
Interactive CD and DVD ROMs
We use Ashampoo ® Burning Studio 22 to produce the actual discs.
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 a Nord Stage 3 88, EMU PROteus 1 and 2 ® sound modules, together with a range of VSTi instruments.
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 9 Advanced ®.
DVD/BD 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 Video Pro X ®.
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 MV920 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 Video Pro X ® to edit, master and author the DVD/BD, from which copies can be made (see section above on CD and DVD copying). For soundtrack restoration we use iZotope RX8 Advanced ®.
High Definition Video Recording
We use, as a minimum, 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/BD 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 with a MOTU 8Pre Firewire interface. 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 AD-F770 cassette deck, or similar, 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 will use iZotope RX8 Advanced ® audio restoration software, specifically to assist with improving the overall quality. Any agreed use of this will incur additional costs.
Disc Rescue
This requires specialist software, IsoBuster, and lots of time!
Photo/Slide/Negative Scanning to DVD/Blu-ray
We scan the original images using an Epson ® Perfection V550 Photo scanner. Following experimentation at different resolutions we have settled on 300 or 600 dpi for slides that are to be put onto either a Data DVD or Slideshow DVD; for Blu-ray output the resolution will be 1200 dpi. Higher Resolution scans are possible; please ask for details. Prints and negatives will be scanned at 300 dpi or whatever resolution best meets the quality:file size ratio. (The higher the resolution of the scan, the larger the resulting file size and the fewer that can be burned to each disc.)
Interactive CD and DVD ROMs
We use Ashampoo ® Burning Studio 22 to produce the actual discs.