Few engineers would disagree about the benefits of sending their DAW mixdowns back into the analog domain for final CD mastering. Analog EQ and compression effects the music in a more musical way than any digital signal processing (DSP) can. At Cave Audio Productions we use an Avalon AD2055 Mastering Equalizer and the 8-tube Manley Vari-Mu Limiter in conjunction with two Apogee PSX-100s to create a pristine analog mastering chain. One Apogee converts the digital L and R to analog L and R. Each are then processed by the analog chain. The analog L and R is then brought back into the Apogee which converts it to 16bit digital using the world renowned Apogee UV22 bit depth reduction*. This final mastering signal is recorded onto the VS-2480 and monitored with the remaining Apogee D/A.

Prices are $79per hour or $949 for a full CD (up to 12tracks) which includes two Red Book masters. Singles can be mastered for $49 a song.

It is necessary to have adequate headroom on the premaster to allow for the increase in overall gain which naturally follows the addition of certain desirable frequencies and compression.
Typical pop/rock premaster levels should contain most activity between -4db and -12db with some major peaks up to -2db. If you find that you must turn the volume up slightly on your CD to match the loudness of commercial albums, but it still lacks the punch and sparkle, then you're probably right on target.

 

*It is estimated that about 80% of the CDs released in the US are mastered with this technology.