Closing out another one. So many killer projects came across my desk this year. I’m currently in the process of archiving a huge stack of test pressings that went along with them. (swipe for that pic)
It’s been a great mix of new and repeat clients, and I’m truly thankful for every single person I get to work with.
But instead of making a “best of” post or a highlight reel, I thought I’d share a pic of a super rare moment from this year, a personal highlight. My wife and I enjoying some time off.
Happy New Year, everyone.
Honored to receive this from @muso.ai ! 🙏 It’s been my go-to tool this year for tracking my credits and discovering the talented teams behind the scenes on some of my favorite records. Super thankful for all of the amazing projects that come across my desk to make this possible. #encore2025
2 favorite mastering presets for Soothe 2 on the master buss to get your song sounding more like a record.
🎶✌🏼
#mastering #mixingandmastering #musicproducer #audioengineer #soothe2
Closing out another great year. Thankful for all of the projects I get to work on. Wish Instagram would let me tag 200 of y’all. Here’s a small glimpse into some of the cool stuff that came across my desk in 2024. Let’s keep the momentum going and have a Happy New Year!
Let me tell y’all about my friend Joel. He opened @610recordmfg this year and I’ve already sent a handful of projects his way (@bayoucityfunk@ghostpartytheband@the_fire_clown@melvinjohnsonmusic ) with several more in the pipeline – looking at you @thewheelworkers@indiatigersintexas@alieneyelid When I tell you he’s a gift to the music scene, I don’t say it lightly.
Those of you who have done vinyl with me know I’m a stickler for quality and I’m pumped that Joel is on the same level.
I regularly check test pressings for my clients produced by plants across the world and the fact that Houston now has its own that I 1) trust and 2) have the ability to hop in to check progress and be hands on if troubleshooting ever becomes necessary (so far everything’s been great) is going to save me from some gray hairs and a hell of a lot of time getting projects to the finish line.
This isn’t just exciting for my local projects, but anyone anywhere looking to press records now has a spectacular resource through Joel at 610 Records.
Can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Joel, and look forward to adding more Houston pressed vinyl to my collection. ✌️
Bonus mastering prom photo with @haroldlaruemastering@biigniick@hendyampsstudios
Penny, Pen, Spencer, Penneth, Pennis the Menace. She loved hangin by the window looking out for lizards, listening to music, and chin scratches. A gravy lover through and through. What a great cat. 14 incredible years 🖤
What makes a great record?
It starts with great songs and a great mix. Here are a few of the more technical tips I’d like to share to help you get the most out of your record:
1. Know the limitations of vinyl. For instance, most cutting engineers will recommend a 22 minute cap per side on a 12 inch LP at 33 rpm. Can you cut a longer side? You can. But in most cases, you’ll risk quality in exchange for a longer record. With the financial and time investment involved, it’s not worth losing quality to go over the recommended side length. If you go for it anyway, just make sure to communicate beforehand with your cutting engineer.
2. Sequencing is crucial if you want your record to sound its best. Why? The sound quality is better on the outside of the record than the inside, especially with material that has a lot of high frequency content. This is because of the possibility of inner groove distortion. It occurs when your stylus can't playback highly complex waveforms in the innermost grooves. Usually it’s something that happens on longer side lengths, as shorter sides can be cut to avoid the innermost area of the disc. Consider your quieter songs as your side enders, and your louder and more complex songs towards the beginning.
3. Check your test pressings. Here are some basic points from an in depth checklist I use when I’m checking test pressings for my clients:
-Make sure your track IDs are in the right spot.
-The stamper should be punched on center. You can identify an error if you see the tone arm swinging side to side. Off centering is most audible in areas with long held out whole notes.
-Small surface noise is inevitable. But take note of anomalies occurring in the exact same spot on all copies of the test pressing. Make a time stamp of those anomalies and this will help the pressing plant identify if the issue is with the stamper or something else.
Even if you’re not planning on putting your next album on vinyl, I hope you’ll consider following these tips as if you are. Your future self will thank you if you decide to do vinyl down the road!
If you have any questions, drop them in a comment below or send me a DM.
Been working on a lot of cool stuff this year. Here’s a little highlight reel. Wish I could fit everything in one post! Extremely grateful for all of it.
Went by @cactus_music to buy a few records and ended up leaving with a little more than planned. I love digging in the local music section. Was cool to see some new projects and old projects on the shelves.
This has been my most productive year so far. Thankful to be slammed with work.
Mastering lots of awesome projects. QC’ing a lot of test pressings.
I’m also getting married to the most incredible person.
