Micro BR Mastering Mode - Recording Destination

[FuzzFace]

In Mastering Mode, what does the recording destination value indicate?

Can running the mastering process change my tracks as they sound after I return to normal mode?

[Geir]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but I think the recording destination is just the V-tracks you've selected for output in mastering mode. (pg 74 in the manual).

[galestermusic]

What I have found that works well for me; also depending how well you are at navigating through the tracks and v-tracks is assign the mastering to your choice of tracks and v-tracks as far from your work as possible. I have really screwed some stuff up by using MBR's default. After you master you convert it to mp3....I have a seperate folder on my PC in MBR specifically for my data as well.

I hope I haven't confused you.

[FuzzFace]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but I think the recording destination is just the V-tracks you've selected for output in mastering mode. (pg 74 in the manual).

Thanks... I did see that explanation in the manual, but it wasn't clear to me where I should set it to.  I think I have always ignored it but there have been a couple of instances where I could not alter the levels on my tracks after mastering and so I am wondering if this could be the reason.

[FuzzFace]

What I have found that works well for me; also depending how well you are at navigating through the tracks and v-tracks is assign the mastering to your choice of tracks and v-tracks as far from your work as possible.

Thanks, I will make a point of doing that.

I did not realize that the mastering process wrote any data to my actual tracks.  I am surprised I got this far without knowing it.  There are probably some fundamentals I still need to understand.

I also find that often when I master, or even when I bounce tracks, the levels become too hot on some tracks, messing up my meticulously-tuned equilibrium.

[64Guitars]

In Mastering Mode, what does the recording destination value indicate?

The destination is the pair of tracks where your stereo mix will be recorded.

In the old days, before digital multitrack recorders, mastering was done by sending the outputs of a multitrack tape recorder to a mixing console, then routing the stereo output of the mixing console through some mastering effects and then to a separate 2-track tape recorder. So, "mastering" was simply making a 2-track recording of the stereo mix which was (optionally) processed through effects.

Mastering on a digital multitrack recorder such as a BR is essentially the same thing, except there's no need for the second recorder. Instead, you simply route the output of the mixer through the mastering effects and then back to a pair of empty tracks where this processed stereo mix is recorded. That pair of tracks is the mastering "destination". Obviously, it should be an empty pair of tracks so that you don't overwrite your earlier recordings. And you need to remember which track pair you chose for the destination so that you can select it again when you want to play back the mastered mix or export it to your computer.

Here's a block diagram of the signal routing in mastering mode for an 8-track recorder such as the BR-800 or BR-600. I like to think of it as "Mixdown Mode" rather than Mastering Mode because it mixes multiple tracks down to a stereo pair, whether the mastering effects are switched on or not.

It's the same for the Micro BR except there are only 4 tracks going into the mixer section instead of 8.

Can running the mastering process change my tracks as they sound after I return to normal mode?

The four source tracks are only being played back through the mixer section. Since no recording is taking place on these tracks, nothing can be changed. Recording takes place only on the destination track pair.

When you press Play on the Micro BR, you'll hear the four currently-selected tracks. But your master is only two tracks, so it's important to remember to set the other two tracks to empty locations or set their output levels to zero when playing back your master tracks. Otherwise, you may be hearing the 2-track master plus two of the source tracks which are already in the 2-track master. This doubles the sound of those two tracks, making the resulting mix sound different than it did when you mastered. A common mistake.

often when I master, or even when I bounce tracks, the levels become too hot on some tracks, messing up my meticulously-tuned equilibrium.

When mastering or bouncing, the recording level of the destination track pair is controlled by the Master Level setting and monitored with the L/R meters in the main display. It's important to adjust the Master Level so that the recording level is high enough (according to the L/R level meters), but not so high that it clips the signal.

[FuzzFace]

A common mistake.

Yes I think I have made this mistake a lot.

Thanks for this detailed explanation.  Your help will allow my recordings to sound closer to what I hear in my head.

[galestermusic]

I also find that often when I master, or even when I bounce tracks, the levels become too hot on some tracks, messing up my meticulously-tuned equilibrium.

Another trick I have learned for levels during bouncing and mastering is I only press play I do not arm the record, when you do this MBR lets you go the yout level bars and set levels. I often leave master at 100 and tweak the levels to where they look look pretty even. I'll listen again (play only) and it clips, I'll bring master down some, if it's not loud enough, I'll raise the master

[FuzzFace]

Another trick I have learned for levels during bouncing and mastering is I only press play I do not arm the record, when you do this MBR lets you go the yout level bars and set levels.

Just so I understand, are you saying that in mastering mode, before hitting record, you play through a dry run of the song and set the levels again to get it right before committing it?

[galestermusic]

Just so I understand, are you saying that in mastering mode, before hitting record, you play through a dry run of the song and set the levels again to get it right before committing it?

Absolutely! you can do this in bounce and master. Also you can hit "effects" while in master and listen to the different EQ's and if you're really good creat your own using edit. It lets dry run it until you like it and then when you do arm record play away