The studio
Oak Tapes runs a hybrid mastering chain: a Thermionic Culture Phoenix valve compressor, an Audioscape E VCA bus compressor, and Hendyamps Michelangelo and Goly NetEQ equalizers. I monitor on HEDD Type 20 MK2 and Dynaco A250 speakers and HEDDphone Air Motion Transformer headphones.
Equipment
- Monitoring
- HEDD Type 20 MK2, three-way main monitors
- Dynaco A250, vintage passive speakers, for hearing a master the way most people will
- HEDDphone, Air Motion Transformer headphones, for detail work and a second opinion
- Compression
- Thermionic Culture Phoenix, valve compressor
- Audioscape E, VCA bus compressor
- Equalization
- Hendyamps Michelangelo, tube equalizer
- Goly NetEQ, equalizer
Why three ways to listen
The HEDD monitors show everything in the mix. The Dynaco A250s are old passive speakers that sound closer to what most people listen on, so they show whether a master still works outside a studio. The HEDDphones are for small details, like edits, fades and noise, that are easy to miss on speakers.
A master leaves the studio once it holds up on all three.