Mastering at Abbey Road Studios

[studiogoly]

Secret of mastering ( great RMS power of exspensive Cds ) IS ONLY QUALITY EQ all other stories are bullshitt !! Belive or not it s TRUE!

[interloper323]

also...understand this zen statement:

NOBODY COULD CARE LESS.

[interloper323]

step 1.

buy drugs.

step2.

buy a 100 dollar reel to reel.

step 3. smoke drugs.

step 4. load "results" into a 200 dollar computer.

play and repeat steps 1 to 4.

[UrbanCrunkMovement]

@interloper323 Good way to introduce noise into your recordings

[sorstudios]

Dying breed of people and machines. You can get a tape saturation plug-in for computer now. What they forget to tell you is that the room, and speakers are the key to mastering, not the console.

Also: Probably not one guy in this video makes over 35k per year.

[WhoIsPine]

@sorstudios yeah fuck em, music's about making lots of money

[sorstudios]

@WhoIsPine Yeah right.........Queens of the stone age suck ass!

[WhoIsPine]

@sorstudios and who doesn't

[sorstudios]

@WhoIsPine I'm sorry if I offended you..I was only kidding. Can't really say anyone suck's, you may say that you dislike a band but not that they suck. And if anyone says they would only listen to one band, or act for the rest of there life is a single minded robot. And as for people in the MUSIC BUSINESS thats exactly what it is. There are no true underground acts, or anyone for that matter that truly make music for fun and not MONEY.

[WhoIsPine]

@sorstudios it's all good brother, but just remember we don't know every single artist out there. as much as mainstream music has been corrupted by capitalism, i've come across a great deal of artists who create timeless music not for the money, but for the satisfaction it gives them

[sorstudios]

@WhoIsPine Heck yeah we know them. Youtube allows everyone to be a star now. We as a society just don't give them a chance cause we hear the same song 10 times a day on the radio. Also: There are more people that like it that way.

[WhoIsPine]

@sorstudios very true indeed. i think a society's artistic contributions are more or less a reflection of itself, and as today's culture is shallow and materialistic, so is our music. best we can do is keep our eyes and ears open so we can appreciate true beauty when it finally makes it's way to us

[sorstudios]

@WhoIsPine Oh defiantly. I just believe its an age thing. We all grow into or out of.

[nublackmusic]

Plugins will never compare with the real thing.

Most are way overpriced!

[Tubeuserthefirst]

@nublackmusic not agree! there are some very good plugins on the market

[nublackmusic]

@Tubeuserthefirst Hello it is our view that plugins are for convience only. It is our view that music today is sickening and boring and the way music is made is sickening and boring. EVERY RADIO STATION IN NEW YORK IS PLAYING OLD MUSIC.

To live up to our great musical legacy you need REAL GEAR

And who wants to deal with ilok and system requirements!

! Peace!

[Yogimeisters]

Amen .... got a few albums to MASTER ... .

yogimeister - A whole Lotta Soul + N.A.S.H.A. Control

I'm also trying to open my new label "PsyberSpace networks"

[glict]

I have these plug ins. I never use them. As far as do it urself mastering. Use T-Racks

[cometogether420]

i am the only one who think that shouldn't be that huge desk in front of a B&W monitor?

[therealsoulve]

@cometogether420 yes

[winnlamp]

PEOPLE!!! ABBEY MASTERING SUCKS!! DO YOU WANT YOUR RECORD TO SOUND LIKE FART. then go ahead

[konjunktion26]

i understand that a mastering will sound better if you use 96 khz than just 44 khz so does it makes any sense to use 192 khz or 384 khz? i did some experiments and mastered at 786 khz and it really sounds a lot better. you feel very intense the higher resolution and its like you watch a video on youtube but you just see pixels because of gentle optical distortions and this you compare with a original full hd resolution, its a bit like that with 44 khz VS 768 khz.

[organeu]

whrere can we see GEOFF EMERICK mixing on JBL LSR state of the art sudio monitors ? SGT PEPPERS !

[DJDMass]

MosCow control? who makes that?

[SecsSells]

It appears to be the EMI TG 12412 mastering console. Just Sayin.

[donepearce]

Ah the mastering desk. This is the place where your lovingly crafted piece of music will be turned into clipped, compressed unlistenable shit. Just like all the other clipped, compressed unlistenable shit out there. Well done chaps.

[mguitar13]

@donepearce you obviously have no clue what you are talking about. way to follow an audio discussion trend hating on compression. Sure, things are over compressed a lot in Pop music, but proper use of compression is still around.

[donepearce]

@mguitar13 And in criticising me you reinforce my point. Well done.

[denisvandervelde]

AAMS Auto Audio Mastering System (google for it)

[90b36long]

@denisvandervelde 0 positive reviews for this software. shame on you for even mentioning such an idea as automated mastering.

[Carthsting]

Woah look im George Marin har har

[stratocat9999]

Sweet! All though I prefer an actual piece of hardware, I look forward to a plug-in that can do what this mixing console can do! Plug-ins are getting better all the time.

While I've done mastering over the years, I have never seen anything quite like this console/desk. I see a lot of complainers in the comments...pity. People will always start a pissing war over nothing. Great video! Are there anymore, like showing the mixer in use? Cheers!

[BludStatic123]

What happens if you record each track with a mastering console

[kayamar]

@BludStatic123 Most actual mastering consoles don't work that way and they lack some of the options that you need for the actual recording of a signal.

[rawrgrr4298]

I'd love nothing more than to work in Abbey Road. These guys are so luckily skilled. I'd go so far as to clean the toilets with my own toothbrush to work in a studio like this.

[itchibeatz]

@rawrgrr4298 - You must not have any money or schooling to think like that. What they have isn't even needed. They spent millions on that board with a 128 bit proccessing setup and all this other unceessary bullshit... When for the average listener... If you build a decent studio worth about 50K (what i have) and prepare the room's acoustics perfectly, and train your ears with some Goldman Mastering and Mixing CD's... You will have industry quality.

[rawrgrr4298]

@itchibeatz I'm not going to respond to the majority of your comment until you apologise for being arrogant and patronising. I have an above average schooling and work for a commercial marketing company. I have both of what you said i didn't.

[itchibeatz]

@itchibeatz - I'm sorry, you have a degree in marketing/business and work for a company that most likely averages a few million a year in profit sales and you stoop so low to adding a comment such as: " I'd go so far as to clean the toilets with my own toothbrush to work in a studio like this." ?????

You are sad bro. Fuck your appology... go clean some toilets :)

[12345l6789]

analogue > digital

[angus1878]

I WONDERED WHAT FOOTBALLER PAUL MCGRATH WAS DOING NOW

[ShotGunRoleModel]

@angus1878 ..was doing now? Shut you MOUTH, woman. You're watching the wrong video.

[SteveBrownOfficial]

I hope to send my finished tracks to you guys one day.

[popitinpete]

@ old pro engineers; Doesn't it really grate that you used to master for vinyl or at least 16bit red book CD's. Now you have to accept the most likely medium your work will be received on is 128kbps 10x compressed MP3 with its muddy far from transparent sound, played on computer 2.1 speakers?

[futuremtt]

looks like a f16 cockpit

[beatsanctuary]

@JamieTateJamieTate

First off im not a "home recordist" lol i run my own facility.

Secondly, to say that pro tools is a video game is stupid.

I have had my tracks mastered at abbey road, so your too quick to make assumptions there my friend, and for your information my mastering expertise

has got me to the stage were certain high profile "labels" couldnt tell the difference between my master and abbey roads. And I was cheaper, hence I got the work :)

[popitinpete]

He's happy that the average Joe can get to use pro plug-ins because having the kit doesn't make you an expert. This is still one of the stages that requires skill & experience.......and ears.

[kerebaka]

@ popitinpete

and ears, indeed.

[beatsanctuary]

Mastering is a science...get it right :)

[Junipergenus]

@beatsanctuary So true.

[marcusdolby1]

Yep, I guess for years I decided to either keep up with the changes or be left in the dust. I knew recordings werent getting better, I knew that trends werent helping the sound but hurting. But when these new age engineers started to bypass our Neve console to mix in the box.....and started to defend the crappy mix buss in protools, I knew it was time for me to get out. Sad but......I was finished.

[beatsanctuary]

@marcusdolby1...So you didnt keep up with the trends? maybe you didnt actually understand the trends in music/mastering....how many tracks in the last 10yrs used a neve desk for mixdown??? Zero.....youve obviously cant cut it as an engineer if you cant keep up...so yeh your left in the dust :))

[marcusdolby1]

Actualy alot of mixing is still done through analog consoles. I still do album projects and keep in touch with my engineer buds. And as far as cutting it?...lol Dude, I dont think you know anything about my career. I have been cutting it for 20 years. I kept up until I decided to get out.....not the the other way around. As one Grammy award winning engineer once said..... Monkeys can run sessions now a days.

[Nellynoodlebums]

@marcusdolby1 Who said that!?

[SGwizard1]

@marcusdolby1 don't be so pretentious.

[marcusdolby1]

@SGwizard1 Pretentious? I guess people make claims on youtube that arent true ... easier to lie over the net than in face I guess. But if you know anything about the audio business, you should know this. If you keep going to the barber shop your gonna get a haircut, and after 20, years I had many haircuts.

I was never a name dropper, but I will say this. I worked out of Reflection Sound studios in Charlotte NC. We have a Neve VR series with MSFF. Grammy award winning engineer......

[SGwizard1]

@marcusdolby1 okay, and i was taught by the late martin rushent. big deal

[marcusdolby1]

@SGwizard1 Hey, Martin Rushent was a very talented guy you should be honored if thats true. But I sense some sarcasm in your statement, so Ile give you a little advice from a crusty old engineer whos made his share of mistakes the hard way.

The past is the only thing you can measure your career by once its over. With that in mind you should think about what you say before you say it. Your future is now, make it worth it and all the best to you and your career in audio.

Over and out.

[novanine9]

@beatsanctuary - there seems to be a lot of neve plugins used in combination with digital daws. I AM A NEWBIE, SO HELP ME OUT HERE...

Correct me if I an wrong, but...it is it not the combination of the ability to master with the high volume (as opposed to vinyl's limitations) + extended freq. range of the modern digital format + the routing of the signal through the older boards and outboard processor magic of yesteryear THAT CREATES THAT SIZZLE?

[Smafdy]

Douche!

[beatsanctuary]

@Smafdy jealous much?

[KojiRecords]

Abbey Road Studios is reportedly up for sale by EMI. This news is very disturbing and sad. So much history in that legendary building; it will probably be torn down or reconverted into an apartment complex. Damn you, EMI! How in the hell can you let this happen?

[ProAudioMaster]

@KojiRecords I dont know, iv heard because so many ppl are doing recording and mastering at home with good products that alot of major studios are not doing so well

[marcusdolby1]

@ProAudioMaster You are 100% correct. I worked at Reflection Sound Studios in Charlotte NC for years. REM recorded thier first and second album there and its where Kirk Franklin recorded his great Gospel albums. The studio has fallen into disrepair and has shut its doors. Such a great sounding room and Fantasic Neve board......Sad.

[ProAudioMaster]

@marcusdolby1 oh reall yeah thats sad but atleast you got to experience it

[KojiRecords]

Let's not forget the crude Stax Records recording studio, housed in a recoverted movie theatre in Memphis, which was demolished, Bolic Sound, the legendary Ike Turner recording studio, went up in flames, as well as too many wonderful studios that were sold or parted out, like the RCA Studios in Hollywood. Sure, these were all analog, but listen to the incredible music these studios captured, the music to be enjoyed for countless decades to come. Long live analog!

[marcusdolby1]

Mastering is soooo subjective. The loudness wars have really changed the way its done and with the digital age the noise floor has changed. Its a whole nother thing nowadays.

[Obelisk2290]

albums just  have no range now

[marcusdolby1]

@Obelisk2290 Yes !! I agree. No range and dynamics. Just sucks with all the squashing and peak limiting, maximizing and horrible sounds of the digital bussing.....yuk !!

[Obelisk2290]

whats the point of having 120 db dinamic rage if it has none its about bs macho mindset

[adamlawing]

Good stuff! Everyone should check out my online mixing and mastering studio. Cyber Mixing Studio

[beatsanctuary]

One of my tracks was sent to abbey road by one of the record labels i signed with, to be mastered with Geoff, but id already done a master at home in my studio...i sent the label my master.. they chose my master as opposed to geoffs, they actually couldnt tell the diff, needless to say i got more mastering jobs outta that.. not mentioning labels tho LOL oops

[VeeDaiArtist]

Today we(AQUABLAKK) mastered our tunes @ abbey studios with Geoff, one of the chilled out guys eva. after we went to planet hollywood on westend, they played our track there and it sounded amazing. He knws wat he's talkn bout and it showd experience is a big factor even if u hav the l8est software

[OZilla612]

it's not actually glass, it's this highly advanced absorbtion foam that is made to look like a window... the Japanese have done it again!

[T74G]

yeah that's sick.....never seen it before!!!

[DonJuanDeMarco2]

Some of those control rooms look a little bit worrying acoustically for a master studio with such high end equipment.

One of those rooms had windows behind and at the early reflection points of the monitors.

Of course, it doesn't affect the quality of these guys work, but surely and especially for a mastering studio, you need better acoustic planning ?

[firesoftheempyrean]

I noticed all the windows too. What's up with that?

[enemyindisguise]

your right , but its just one with windows (it is the abbey r. studio)

[DonJuanDeMarco2]

The truth is, the studios are becoming desperate as i-processing is becoming of such high standard.

With the influx of music production, and realisiing their fall behind the market, its a good way to cash in and make use of their studios. And also in the plug-in market.

Not that im ungreatful ! Theres never been a time where you can get your material professionally mastered with high end equipment for so little money.

contd.

[SpeedPickers]

B&W 801 in the background....wish I have one of these in my home!

[bokixxx]

my dad does... he's not in to mastering or mixing, he's just an audiophile... they sound brilliant.

[cmerritt1212]

working on plug-ins for centuries? 200 year old software compressors?

[wolnymisio]

Simply tell me what is the RMS volume of your mastered records (the final product which goes on the CD) and I will know are you real sound engineers.

[skipsanders12345]

Is'nt that relative to what song your are working on?

[wolnymisio]

In 95% is not., until you produce classical music, where there can be really quiet parts and loud one after other. With POP music (in very wide meaning of this term) you want every single song on CD to be the same PERCEIVED volume, and there is a problem, engineers usually use normalizing which is bad, they should use average volume matching, this gives you a headroom for loud parts in songs or for whole songs that are mastered in different way still letting them sound at the same volume.

[skipsanders12345]

Sure its important to have your tracks so the listener isn't adjusting his volume from song to song, but dont leave out the rest of the process such as EQ, compression, sound field management and limiting. A good mastering engineer can balance all these elements to achieve a good consistent volume with out getting into bad practices like normalization and still maintain the music's dynamics. The listener controls how loud not the mastering engineer thats why this loudness war is frustrating.

[wolnymisio]

Exactly that's what I tried to say, loudness war is bad, that's why I said tell me what is RMS volume of your tracks and I will tell you if it's really mastered or not by using massive amount of dynamic compression, bad equalization (no lowest bass, no mid-low, vocals sounds flat),. and track RMS volume is let's say -10dBfs RMS so there is no room for any dynamic. I know it's too simple to justify record quality only by average volume level, but if it's -10dB RMS than...

[trimel2]

Woops!!

Sorry... then named EMI Studios

So there (again!) :)

[trimel2]

My Dad CUT the first Beatles Master - "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - in Australia from the original Master from "Abbey" (then named Gramophone Studios) - at 2CH Studios Sydney in 1963-64.

So there!!

[27twentyseven27]

Their mastering service is crap.

I tried it once just to get a taste of what their highly priced gear was doing and all they did wasn't that impressive at all just plain banana.

Proper mastering should be done with sit ins where clients can judge as the process goes. What they gave me sounded like something that was done in a hurry. You just get the name that your track was mastered at Abbey Road but the sound really isn't impressive at all.

I'll stick to my local ME and his ShadowHills Comp

[zing909]

had a sit in with sean before great guy!

[Smafdy]

Where's Peter Mew and his No-Noise software? When he retired did he leave instructions for someone else to No-Noise the hell out of everything?

[Smafdy]

Nice bit of video here. Could I ask for more? :-)

[TimBatkin]

We worked with Steve Rooke mastering our Suburban Crisis album, in the very room he was filmed in. Great bloke, great studio, great memories. Keep on rockin!!

Tim - Cynic (UK)

[FN5point7]

Were the songs on my channel mastered at Abbey Road Studios?

a) True

b) False

[jozh90]

False?

[Jake00Jarvis]

we have a tg chandler mastering limiter in our studio. was modeled off one of these old tg consoles... it sounds amazing!

[nehansan]

complaining about hum on a youtube video...?

and don't make the confusion between the sound of an interview in Abbey Road, and the sound of an album coming out of Abbey Road !

[ScorchinBeats]

@nehansan Most youtube videos don't have hum. Infact, the audio quality on some 1080p videos is pretty good. And abbey roads should be recording this interview with higher quality mics. They are a RECORDING studio

[bagwhanbill]

the poor sound is youtube dont think abbey would up load bad sound

name me an album from abbey which is poor

[producerben]

Spice Girls Lol!

[robertseagrove1]

I really enjoyed this clip and I have to partially agree with the previous comment, though I hear more upper - mid frequency hiss. Lovely desk and great to hear all the blab but could you folks at Abbey not have included a little sound clip comparison. This doesn't make me want to get on a plane and spend the amount of money you guys want for mastering though Abbey Road will always have a warm place in my heart.

Cheers,

Robert Seagrove

[goedit]

Love this clip, but I think it's kind of Ironic that I can hear some "hum" on this movie. (yep, I'm wearing cans) Just goes to show you, You need spend as much to the video signal and the Audio signal. Someone got a Notch filter? :)

[derangedband]

wow! the young guy is probibly only a few years older than me! must be fantastic to work for abbey road :D

i really love recording studios! :)

[SandBox86]

dumb fucked retards.. these guys still stoned and cracked and candied up in the 60's.. lol.

[TheStrugglingArtis]

If you have good players and engineer, you can make a great recording on cheap gear!!

Dont fall for the "ya need exspensive analog gear to get a good sound" It's b.s.

You do need a good pre and mic though!!!

[lfmssoundman]

AGREED! :)

[gmichaelhall]

Analog changes everything.Good mic and more important good mic recording technique. To overlook the radical difference of a purely didgital recording versus that of a recording with analog procedure and process is an oversight a struggling artist cannot afford to make.

[dazzelya]

Why did someone fail to mention acoustics? Your signal chain might be high end but if the room sounds like crap. You are recording great played crap.

[slowfinger2]

@dazzelya Perhaps because this is a mastering studio.

[slowfinger2]

@slowfinger2 Sorry dazzelya. Forget my comment. I just went back and saw your comment in context with the other posts.

[srtounez]

@dazzelya the tittle is MASTERING!! not Recording or Mixing... MASTERING comes after everything else its done... the recording and mixing got to be right to then master it! and yes u nee great acoustic to record/mix a song

[experiment0003]

@dazzelya maybe coz in this level of profession, good acoustics is a given.

[itchibeatz]

@dazzelya - True, and his room doesn't look like it's properly prepared (Acoustic wise). His main speakers are shooting through the table for god sakes.. lol.

Me personally, I wouldn't do that.

[vallobeats]

@dazzelya acoustics have nothing to do with mastering other than having an acoustically sound room for the mastering engineer. all those "acoustics" should have been handled long ago at the recording stage.

[bo0mk1d]

@vallobeats you couldn't be more right!

[tomhiggins1]

@vallobeats That's not true. Acoustics in a live room (when recording) and acoustics in a control room (mixing/mastering) are two different things. Live rooms are made to sound 'nice' with controlled reverb times. Mix/master rooms are made to sound flat so you get an accurate representation of what's coming out of the speakers.

[Popoldabboy]

@dazzelya 100 times right!

[sephardimm]

I agree, using an UAD 1176 doesnt make it sound analog, I got a compex Compressor, which was used by Led Zeppelins"When the levee breaks". Check my video and youll hear what im talking about.

[hayabusafmw]

i believe it too

if 20 years ago we were using tapes to make good music

even with ALL IN ONES multitrack recorder you can acheive something similar if you know how to make it sound good

CRAP IN = CRAP OUT

it's all in the capture first

then you can ''f--- a mix or over do with effects'' but if you know what you are doing why go back?

[nikospneuma1]

To sound good you need a decent engineer with decent ears decent character decent studio decent players decent co-ordination decent mics decent preamps decent decent decent everything!!!!! Not to mension decent pop-filter decent strings decent dampers decent booths decent (post continued at page 23)

[DonJuanDeMarco2]

Thats just the 'decent' chapter.

In the next chapter we will be discussing what it takes to sound brilliant !

Page 1. God. If not, try lottery.

Next chapter..

[Djunfitforwork]

I have the mastering pack on demo -and it is a cut above. Pricey (relative to other software plugins) but magical! Phil x

[rnr222]

perfect, thäänks! my fav picture is at 1.07 :)

more plz! fantastic sound!

rnr2

[ricemilk]

i went there for mastering projects with STEVE ROOKE (4TH GUY BEING INTERVIEWED) few years ago the guy who took me there didnt realise he made my dream come true!UNTIL STEVE TOLD ME "I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IM DOING" (WHEN I MIX) i was always nervous when bringing my works to be mastered!!SO IF ANY ONE CAN EVER GET TO ABBEY ROAD YOU WILL HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE & ALL THE STAFF ARE SO WARM....I SEND THIS NOTE OUT TO THE GUY THAT BROUGHT ME THERE HIS NAME WAS BRIAN PATREICE HE PASSED AWAY IN 2004

[STEVEFINNERTY]

want one.

[STEVEFINNERTY]

want one ,

[sephardimm]

wow, whatta console!"

[userzotob]

not console, yes dynamic processors.

[sephardimm]

ok, , but there were also some eqs, so it looked more like a console to me.

[anorak64]

EMI and Decca designed and built a lot of their own equipment from c.1950s/60s on, despite the law of diminishing returns when working in the analogue domain- noise, distortion and design/circuit limitations. What the engineer hears with their own ears during the process is still critical (I do a bit of sound engineering myself), but for warm and un-clinical sound you can't beat the analogue recording and mastering process. A very interesting video, thanks for sharing it with us.

[naedsukram]

Still need a good pair of ears.

[chrislpp]

where can you get them? I need some but im on a tight budget.

[djreactive]

you stupid fuck , to sound good you need excelente quality gear

[chrislpp]

to sound excellent you ned excellent gear, not just good

to sound decent you need decent gear, to sound shit you need cheap gear.

[thatsiccness]

haha you're a dumb fuck

[graziek]

@naedsukram the problem is that sometimes you can not hear very well quindi serve then also need a study...

[JCHandJobLover]

@naedsukram

What was that mate?

Can you speak up a bit! 

[itchibeatz]

@naedsukram - True... you can't buy those

[biturbo]

Can you put any mastering session please? Thank you