Requirements
MASTERING/EDITING - Master tape should be edited and ready for mastering, if there is the need for additional editing the master tape must include an EDL, [be sure to note any information the edit engineer may need to perform your edits]. The tape box should be properly labeled including all titles in proper sequence and times of selections. Also indicate total time. Be sure to include along with the master tape any special instructions, or indicate that it is to be transferred exactly as is. If no instructions are included with the tape, our mastering engineer will do whatever he thinks necessary to make the best sounding compact disc and/or cassette possible. If complex adjustments or restoration is necessary, there will be an additional mastering charge of $60.00 per hour and are billed in quarter-hour segments.
Suggestions
When the mastering engineer receives your master tape, the only knowledge he will have of your project is the information provided. Any information you supply is useful in obtaining the best possible product, no amount of information is too much.
Always give a all phone numbers where you can be reached. The engineer may start work on your project and need to communicate with you. If you cannot be reached, your project may be delayed until contact is made.
A master DAT log with song sequence and times should be included with each master tape. False starts, errant ID's or any abnormality should be noted, this information is necessary for the mastering engineer to complete your order correctly and efficiently.
Test CDRs are sent for your approval before production of your order. Do not delay in your approval. Quick approval is necessary to ensure final delivery within the appropriate deadlines.
If there are discrepancies between what you sent to Soweto Productions for manufacturing and what you receive as a test CDR, remember this is the purpose of a "test". Feel free to call us with any concerns you have. We will correct and/or adjust for your full approval before manufacturing. *All problems that are the fault of Soweto Productions, will be corrected at NO CHARGE, if however the changes are not technical in nature additional charges will apply.
Specific information for furnishing your master on DAT:
DAT tapes should have:30 seconds of silence, :30 seconds of 1k tone at -18db ("0" VU) and one minute of silence before program starts. This is to provide channel balance and lead in time to avoid tape damage and drop outs which may occur from the tape being stretched at the spool or the lack of proper "exercising" of new tape [remember it is well documented with each and every manufacturer of DAT tape that the first 2 minutes of tape is the most likely place for drop outs to occur, therefore users should "exercise" fast forward and rewind DAT tape prior to use].
Unreliability of DAT tapes is common. DAT tapes may play back problem free on the deck they were recorded on, but show some type of problem when played on another deck. Always have a backup made before shipping your master tape.
DAT tapes have a control track recorded along with the music. It is important if you start and stop recording on your DAT that you do not break this control track. A broken control track may cause digital glitches or tracking problems.
If the DAT program numbers does not line up with the number of songs on a DAT, this is O.K., as long as you note this on the information you provide the mastering engineer.
When recording to DAT tape, digital zero is the loudest possible level which can be recorded. Anything above digital zero is referred to as an "OVER." This "OVER" can cause digital distortion. This is not acceptable to the industry's "Red Book Standard" for CD manufacturing. Soweto Productions mastering can correct this problem and obtain maximum digital zero for your CD project. Try to keep PEAK levels on your DAT at -3db.
Specific information for those ordering CDs:
CDs are manufactured at 44.1 k sampling rate. If you send a digital tape at any other sampling rate it will be digitally converted to 44.1 K. It is important not to mix different sampling rates on the same master tape.
The amount of space between songs is important. You may furnish the master tape with the space between songs already set. On the other hand you may need the mastering engineer to set the spacing between songs for you. Song spacing of three seconds is standard, but you may choose as little or as much space as you wish.
CD track start and stop points are of the utmost importance. If there are two songs without silence between them the engineer needs to know if you want a CD track number inserted. In this case you need to give some information as to where the song's start point should be.
Although CDs have >90db of dynamic range the trend seems to be "CUT IT HOT." If you want it "HOT," remember compression and/or limiting may be used. Please give permission on this approach.
Specific information for those ordering Cassettes:
Soweto Productions manufactured cassettes are encoded with Dolby B noise reduction. Dolby B noise reduction is an industry standard for both major and independent labels. Decoding of Dolby B is required on playback to reduce excessive tape hiss. You may request Dolby B noise reduction not be used in the manufacturing of your cassettes if you choose.
When figuring the sequence of your cassette, keep in mind the total length of each side. Try to make the "A" side the longest. If the "B" side is longer, the "A" side will have blank tape at the end for example: If the "A" side is 19:00 minutes and "B" side is 20:00 minutes, the "A" side will have one minute of blank tape at the end.
Prices subject to change without notice.
