www.musicweek.com FEATUREMASTERING&POST PRODUCTION MASTER STROKES
13.04.12 MusicWeek 23
Why post-recording music services are becoming ever more important for artists, labels and fans Recent projects include mastering of the Oscar-
STUDIOS BY DANIEL GUMBLE
T
he art of audio mastering and post- production is a process that has emerged from the shadows over the past couple of
decades to establish itself at the fore of the music industry. Think of just about any ‘classic’ record from the past 60 years and you won’t have to look far to find a remastered re-release, most likely propped up with a host of newly mastered demos unable to make the grade upon its initial outing. This element of post-treatment also extends to
the world of live sound, whereby the ever-increasing output of live performance CDs and DVDs shows no sign of abating. One needs look no further than the enormous success of Adele’s Live At The Albert Hall release as an indicator of just how substantially the market has grown. With so much attention surrounding this aspect
of the production process, it should come as little surprise that large proportions of the industry are now not only keen to gain an insight into what exactly goes on during this process, but the whereabouts of such services. The obvious place to start, unsurprisingly, is
London’s Abbey Road Studios. As one of the most famous studios in the world, the facility has firmly established itself as one of the world leaders in the fields of audio mastering and sound restoration,
with all of its mastering clients offered access to its multi award-winning engineers, in-house acoustics and range of high-end gear. As most famously exemplified via the remastered Beatles albums just a few years ago, Abbey Road Studios can master to enhance both old and new recordings from any format: 78rpm or LP discs, analogue tape, digital master tape or audio file.
ABOVE
Primary production Abbey Road’s Studio One, part of one of the world’s most famous recording facilities
winning film, The Artist official soundtrack, Brit award-winner Ed Sheeran’s +, and new albums from Paul McCartney, The Big Pink, Odd Future and Richard Hawley’s Standing At The Sky’s Edge. What’s more, the studio recently remastered McCartney’s Band On The Run, as well as The Complete Smiths and David Bowie. With regards to notable market trends, Abbey
Road has seen an increase in hi-res mastering, while online mastering remains particularly popular with overseas clients such as Brazil and Australia, who are currently amongst the top five territories for this service in terms of revenue. Also making its presence felt in the world of
mastering and post-production is Sensible Music, whose facilities have been providing the entertainment industry support for more than 35 years. The multi-purpose studio is capable of accommodating audio recording, production and live recording requirements, while its list of clients includes major record labels, management companies, artists, composers, filmmakers and advertising agencies, both from the UK and around the world. In recent times, the studio has seen a slight dip
in budgets for long-term mix projects, as well as sound to picture 5.1 post-production. However, with a consistently strong return client base, the studio remains a key location in the world of post-
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