MAINFRAME MASTERING got officially announced as member of the VOVOX PURUM scroll, a label provided to those studios attaining the highest standard of sound transmission using exclusively and consequently VOVOX SOUND CONDUCTORS. It was very unexpected to me to receive this honor, but proud to present it within this photograph. VOVOX is a specialized brand in producing sound conductors / cables at a new, almost esoteric level of approach and claim. so, i must say, they have succeded. This is not your ordinary cable, but an ultra transparent transmitter of signals in between the signal chain, and not only that but providing the same technology to the adapt of digital and power cables. After weeks of extensively testing these entities i came to believe that these are far superior to any other brand i was using before. And no, i'm not getting paid for this, it cost me an awfull lot of money... but very worth it! link
"Ich bin gerad aufgewacht, hab meine Augen aufgemacht , Für einen ersten Schritt ist es nie zu spät , ich habe angefangen, ich hab jetzt Ökostrom, Ich will mein Leben, weil es sonst ein andrer lebt, Es ist nie zu spät ..." the encouraging text of MIA's song ÖKOSTROM is one of many possible expressions of small things we can do to change life for a better. MAINFRAME MASTERING is now powered by a greenpeace recommended provider/producer of green electricity - meaning NO NUCLEAR POWER, insignificant CO2 EMISSIONS and based on 100%RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES. Don't fall for the RECS certificate swindle - please join this movement and get real... what else can you do ? atomausstieg-selber-machen wiki
Time for a change, time for new millennia ! The supreme class-a discrete/vacuum tube program equalizer MILLENNIA NSEQ-2 has arrived at my studio to complement the SUMMIT PASSIVE EQP-200B. The so called "twin topology" unit got tubes, but where it really shines is its discrete operational mode. build like a tank to survive every coming new age mastering war, ehm... trend, there's a reason this one has found home in many world-class mastering studios, and that's ( - artificial pause - ) it's SOUND ! Yep, cat's out of the bag ;)) This is a straight "no color" unit, unbelievable transparent and clean but than delivering the biggest bottom, the smoothest angel like hi-end and super solid mids. I needed to change the internal jumper settings of the LAVRY DA10's output to unbalanced (pin2 hot) to match the input section of the NSEQ-2 wich was running pretty hot soundwise - but then... this unit IS running hot - like an atomic pile! link
Well, it's been an intense week shooting out the winners of another D/A-converter pre-selection shootout by Mr. Guido Apke. on my table are the newly build DANGEROUS MUSIC DAC-ST converter by Chris Muth, the USB version of my beloved BENCHMARK DAC1 and the latest from DAN LAVRY, the LAVRYBLACK DA10. To my surprise the candidates do come with their own distinct character in sound, even when they all claim to be perfectly neutral by measurement. the DANGEROUS DAC-ST imparts a fantastic clear, dynamic sound while somewhat attenuateing the upper mid-range and cleaning-up the lower mids; this is really excellent for all sorts of brass and metal build instruments with a big WOW! factor, on the downside it can also bring up some sibilance and edginess in vocals. I love the BENCHMARK DAC1 for it's punch and felt neutrality on the almost every style of music. The LAVRY is excellent in sounding deep, wide and warm, the upper midrange sounds very smooth and clean due to less electronic induced distortion. The unit's just a BIG pleasure to listen thru - packed with a feature set you won't miss (switchable mono/stereo, polarity, 1db stepped level) the LAVRYBLACK DA10 definately stays in my studio for fully featured D/A conversion duties ! link
ARTISTS Bizmarkie, J.Rawls, MK2, Superrappin, Megashira, Kabuki, Karma, Einzelgaenger, Makai, Taxi, Motorcitysoul, Oscar, Watch Tv, IG Culture, Lootpack, Elektrostar, Venus Malone, Vikter Duplaix, Jazzanova, Rockers Hifi, Tyrell Cooper, Sofa Surfers, Spc, Jazz Con Bass, Marcus Worgull, Marschmellows, Miguel Ayala, Monophace, Ono Sendai, Pacific, Pentagon, Powaflex, Skill Squad, Tac, Studio Sticky, Robert Nacken, Otto Lamani, Pepita Project, Melinda, Spc, Venus Malone, Cleveland Watkiss, Jenna G., Honeymunch, Just One, Matthias Vogt Trio, Motorcitysoul, Jhelisa Anderson, Va Banque, Nekta, Nude, re:Jazz, Kenshiro, Metropolitan Jazz Affair, Native, Papadub, Phoneheads, Jeru The Damaja, Tikiman, Raphael Sebbag, Tom Freeman, Mop Mop, Aromabar, Lars Bartkuhn, Natalie Gardiner, Sergio Gobi, Kaye-Ree, Beatkonexion, Shureshotz, Skullboogey, Bodylight Soundservice, Velveteen, Daniel Myer, Architect, Lusty Zanzibar, Paramedroid,Tripletrouble, ZRK, Kai R Michel, Radio Utopia, Destroid, Pascal Hammer, Luya Cantaro, ...
COMPILATIONS Nippon Connection - Exchanging Tracks, re:jazz re:mix, Der Frankfurt Sound, Actus Luxus, Spectrum Works - Evolution In Standard, Infracom! Family Compilation 01, Folky 1, Folky 2, Karma Modifications, Rapattack, Dj Kabuki: In The Know, Carhartt Elevator Sounds, Precision - High Performance Showdown, Edition Comp., Best Of Bollywood Ipod, Best Of Bollywood 2cd, Dilwale Dulhaniya, Motocitysoul Backup, Pasión Delinat, ...
LABELS Infracom, Personal, Inpartmaint, Hitop, Static, Combination, Krushgrooves, Spectrum Works, Precision Breakbeat Research, Grooveattack, Wea, Zomba, Southern Sessions, Hard:Edged, Formation, Reinforced, Shadow, Shoreline, Sonar Kollektiv, Downbeat, Head To Toe, Irma, Polystar, Incoming!, Skunkrock Productions, Intercord, No U-Turn, Acid Jazz, Bmg, Streetbeat, Universal Music, S3, Warner Special Marketing, Shadow Records, Dialog, Wicked Wax, Wagram, Different Drummer, Compost, Advanced Biosystems, Thermal Recordings, Socio, Sony, Nebula, Quiet Force, Lacerba, Sony Home Entertainment, Smoking Drum, Electrolux, Sticky, Best Seven, Das Modular, Liquid V, Bingo, Knowledge Magazine, Innervisions, Peacelounge, Golden Delicious, Powershovel, Trackdonalds, V-Recordings, Huff, Farside, Barish, Bizzoza, Ant-Zen, Hymen, Brilliant, Scanner, ...
ALBUM MIX ENGINEERING Makai:Millennium, Makai:Stealth, Megashira:Zero Hour, Megashira:At Last, Mk2:Prepare To Be Educated, Marschmellows:Reloaded, Marschmellows:Rebound, Marschmellows:Comprende, Kabuki:Signal To Noise, Matthias Vogt Trio:Changing Colours, re:jazz, re:jazz:Point Of View, re:jazz:Expansion, re:jazz - Live In Blue Note Yokohama, Kabuki:Warrior Soul, Megashira:Live, Plus Countless Singles And Ep's.
i just started collecting recent comments from my clients - more content is coming! i know, i know, should've done this earlier already ;)
[..] "Chris hat mir die ersten sechs Songs unseres neuen Albums mitgebracht, die du gemastert hast. als Produzent, Engineer, Sänger, Gitarrist, Keyboarder und accidently auch noch Drummer der scheibe konnte ich die sachen echt nicht mehr hören... ...aber jetzt klingt das ganze ja nach... ...HOLY SHIT - klingt das G-E-I-L!! - Hatte gerade echt Spaß an dem Zeug! Das musste ich nur mal loswerden :-)" - Skullboogey, http://www.myspace.com/skullboogey
[..] "..du bist echt ein Wissenschaftler ;-) Dein soundfile klingt wirklich sehr gut (auch wenn ich's nur über meine kopfhörer testen kann) - auf jeden fall macht's einen Unterschied! Ich danke dir aufrichtig für deinen Einsatz. wenn du Tracks wirklich schon durch dein Setup durchgejagt hast, dann mach hin!!!! wie kann ich das denn wieder gut machen?!?! Danke auch für alle Korrekturen, jetzt ist die Sache rund!!! " - Lars Bartkuhn, http://www.myspace.com/larsbartkuhn
[..] "Fett ists geworden. Habs mal über 3 Anlagen im Laden gehört... Was mir sehr gut gefällt - Ich hab meinen Hallraum noch nie so genau gehört nach dem Mastern !! Kommt wohl durch die analogen Sachen. Bei digitalen Masterings geht der Raum irgendwie immer drauf. Geil ! Der Bassbereich ist auch sehr gut. Schön straff - genau wie de oberen Frequenzen. Nerven nicht und vor allem am Ende, wenn der etwas aufdringlichere Bass noch dazu kommt hatte ich etwas Schiss, das da die Mitten nerven könnten. Is aber nich ! Die Höhen sind auch sehr schön angehoben und nerven noch nicht mal über ne RCF PA. Das will was heissen !" - Shureshotz, http://www.myspace.com/shureshotz
[..] "I'm very happy with your mastering ! It souds much better. Thank you for this and I mail you soon for the next song." - Bodylight Soundservice
[..] "...besonders begeistert mich, dass dein Master analog und ohne limiter entstanden ist und trotzdem den gleichen Pegel hat. Zwar sind bei meinem die höhen präsenter, dafür aber auch garstiger. da vertraue ich jetzt deinem Ohr. Sehr schön. der geht jetzt ohne weiteres so raus!" Beatkonexion, http://www.myspace.com/gobeatkonexion
[..] "i think you did a good job man!:) i found the sound more open with more harmonics...this is nice more kick too,more analog and organic. i was in my studio today and i listened to the tune you mastered...it's really good! so keep doing what you are doing also to the other songs...eheh:) - Mop Mop, http://www.myspace.com/andreabenini
[..] "Everyone i have played the master for is happy with it, and says it sounds like a finished record, so i'm happy, too ! being that i can't personally tell anymore... listened to the songs to much" - Tom Freeman,
http://www.myspace.com/freematik
[..] "Die CD ist angekommen und auf heavy rotation ;-) Der tikiman track ist auch hammer-mäßig geworden.. total klasse..." - Philipp Maiburg, http://www.myspace.com/combinationrecords
[..] "dear frank, thanks for mastering my solo project!" - Raphael Sebbag
[..] "Hey Frank, its a pleasure to have someone who can do the mastering-task and also give a lot of tips/advise about how to make the mix better! Thanx for your time." - Paramedroid
[..] "Hallo Frank, vielen Dank für Dein mastering - klingt genau alles richtig so!!!!!!" Scheibenreiter
[..] "Klingt klasse!!!" - Ingo Sänger, http://www.myspace.com/ingosaenger
[..] "Das Master ist Superklasse! Hab das Album jetzt auf verschiedenen Anlagen gehört und es kommt überall sehr gut. Auf der großen Hifi ganz laut.. Hammer! Besten Dank für deine klasse Arbeit!" - Hymen records, http://www.hymen-records.com
Well, sometimes when the ears are bleeding from to much bass it's time to hand the job over to the eyes and re-skin your RME Totalmix interface ;)) Since the last driver version that's exactly possible and well acknowledged by the people knowing the original skin. It's nice to have an environment, be it digital or analog, one feels home and confortable with. So, here it is, the official MAINFRAME MODERNVINTAGE Totalmix skin for the RME Fireface and HDSP. version 1.1 is now available for free ! download win mac