Equipment List

Digital audio workstation
• Sonica Labs Hush Mini running Steinberg Wavelab 7, Adobe Audition 4, and Sony CD Architect 5

Converters
• RME 9652 HDSP D/D
• Cranesong HEDD 192 D/A/D and master clock
• Grace m904 D/A (monitor controller)

Analog processing chain
• I.J. Research K-1 mastering console with I/O, re-order, parallel, and mid-side capabilities
• Dangerous Music BAX "baxandall" equalizer
• API 5500 peak and shelving equalizer
• TK Audio BC1 compressor (custom shop mastering version)
• Pendulum PL-2 limiter

Cables
• DH Labs T-14 speaker cable
• DH Labs BL-1 interconnects
• DH Labs Sub-Sonic II subwoofer cable
• DH Labs D75 coaxial digital cable
• DH Labs D75 word clock digital cable
• DH Labs D110 AES/ EBU digital cable
• DH Labs TOSLINK optical cable
• DH Labs Silver Sonic USB cable

Digital processing/ plug-ins
• Cranesong triode, pentode, and tape
• Voxengo Elephant limiter
• Waves Platinum bundle
• Waves Center

Restoration software
• iZotope RX
• Sonnox DeNoiser/DeClicker/DeBuzzer

Sample rate converters
• Voxengo R8Brain Pro
• Steinberg Crystal Resampler

Dither/ noise shaping
• POW-R
• Apogee UV22 HR
• Waves IDR
• Cranesong Analog Dither

Mastering speakers & amps
• Lipinski L-707 loudspeakers
• Lipinski L-301 monoblock amps with PS Audio A/C cables
• PSB subwoofer
• Sennheiser HD600 with Cardas cable

Alternate "real-world" playback (accessible in 3 rooms)
• Sony BDV-E500W home theater system
• Sony SA50R S-AIR speaker system
• Bose Companion 2 multimedia speaker system
• Bose QuietComfort 15 noise-cancelling headphones
• Apple in-ear headphones

Digital playback
• Panasonic SV-3700 DAT
• Plextor PlexWriter Premium CD burners, connected by DH Labs Silver Sonic USB cable.

Analog playback
• PRO-JECT RM-1.3 turntable with Musical Fidelity V-LPS
• Sherwood DD-980-T (Dolby B/C/S & HX Pro)

Metering
• RME Digicheck
• X-ISM Inter-sampling Meter

Disc burning/ verification
• PlexTools Professional XL

Room acoustics
• Phonic PAA
• Auralex MetroFusor, T'Fusor, and Wave6 diffusors

Misc.
• All equipment connected through Monster HTS 1000 MKIII "Stage 2 Clean Power" surge protectors.

The Room

A balanced, neutral listening/ working environment is the critical element that guarantees your mastered mixes translate successfully in the "outside" world. Attaining it is not easy.

From a perspective of acoustics, it starts with a good physical space...which means a high ceiling and geometrical asymmetry to avoid standing waves.

From there the fine-tuning of speaker placement, alignment, and absorption/ diffusion play a key role in accurate perception.

We've utilized many of the industry's best tools and techniques to make the ZenMastering workspace as accurate as possible. The result is a linear listening experience that allows us to make extremely accurate decisions.