2009…The Year That Was
Posted on | December 11, 2009 | No Comments
2009 was a pretty kickin’ year at ZenMastering. Here’s a quick rundown of some high points…
Abroad
I was glad to continue our run of international clientele…something I can’t take for granted as the exchange rate has made American mastering facilities more expensive for non-U.S. musicians. Artists from Haiti, Spain, Ireland, Australia, England, and Italy all contacted us to handle their mastering.
At Home
While I am proud to call ZenMastering an international company, it’s always great when local bands use our services. I’ve noticed a growing trend in So Cal business this past year, which is a good thing. Most notably San Diego Music Award nominees:
- The Modlins (nominee for Best Pop Album)
- Shark Attack (nominee Best Local Recording)
- Bad Science Fiction (nominee Best New Artist)
Partners in Crime
I’ve began working closely with a number of local studio owners/ engineers/ producers in an attempt to raise the quality of sonic productions. My good friend Chuck Schiele (owner of StudiOB) and I started collaborating this way a few years ago, and this year I extended the reach of this concept to San Diego’s Secret Cedar Recording, Jeff @ Berkley Sound, local independent engineer Kyle Thompson, and L.A.-based Citation Records. I’m looking forward to hitting some sonic high marks with all of them in the future.
Institutionalized
Somewhere in the middle of the year I was contacted by the Art Institute of San Diego. The program director of the newly formed audio department asked if I’d be interested in teaching a class. I was really impressed by AI’s facilities and the director’s vision, but couldn’t carve out the necessary time to commit to a regular teaching schedule. I ended up subbing a class for him once, and then was invited to the department’s Program Advisory Committee and assess the schools facilities and cirriculum. My interest in their program remains strong, so we’ll see if 2010 brings an opportunity to take on a minor teaching position there.
Gear, Gear, Gear
What’s a good year without some new gear? 2009 saw the integration of a few pieces that give ZenMastering some unique capabilities now, and lay the groundwork for future expansion.
The first item is the Cranesong HEDD. This unique processor is a mainstay in most high-end mastering facilities. It accurately replicates pentode and/ or triode tube harmonic distortion, as well as tape machine characteristics. In addition, it contains some of the best D/A and A/D converters on the planet so it’s a great gateway for analog integration.
And the first piece of analog gear we are running through it is Rupert Neve’s Portico 5042 True Tape. This is an analog processor that faithfully recreates R2R tape machines running @ either 7.5 or 15ips! Between the HEDD and the Portico, we can deliver any/every flavor of analog mojo for the people who want the fat, warm sound of tubes and/or tape. And no other San Diego audio facility has either of these sonic gems!
It’s a Wrap!
2009 is nearly history. If you were someone we interacted with over the past year, I send my thanks. I hope your holiday season and new year is a happy, healthy, and prosperous one. This will be the last blog post until 2010 so, as Garrison Keillor says, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”
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From Ohm to Om reflects the opinions of mastering engineer Paul Abbott, owner of San Diego's ZenMastering.
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