I think it is time to set the record straight regarding the Avalon 747sp. First of all this is an amazing box that is worth far more than what they are currently charging. It has actually taken me quite a few years to fully understand and appreciate the power of this wonderful machine. I believe the reason is simply that I had been attempting to use it as I would any other compressor. I’ve heard folks say the compressor is not fast enough. Try this, push a track through an Avalon with extreme settings and then open the track as a wave file and study it. Notice how the peak to average ratio still exists and the dynamics are preserved.
The magic of this box is in its uncanny ability to completely glue your tracks together yet still preserve the dynamic content of your track. I believe that folks don’t quite understand that more of the punch should be created in the mix down process. If you are attempting to add punch to a music track using a compressor in the mastering phase make sure it does not contain any vocals or else the punch would be obvious and would affect the vocals in a negative manner. The role of the compressor in the mastering phase is simple…glue the tracks together. Give it that cd sound that most customers are used to hearing. Not all compressors have this ability. Some compressors are more suited for tracking and mix down and some are more suited for mastering. Well my friends, the Avalon excels in the mastering arena, but you have to know what you are doing.
The magic knobs on this unit are the Release, Ratio, Input and Make-up Gain. I usually adjust these knobs with the lights of in our Mastering studio so I can hear what it is doing to the music. I’ve read that a lot of folks out there would prefer not to use more than a 2:1 Ratio during mastering. Well here’s a newsflash folks. Use whatever you need to use. The settings you use for each song will be different simply because the character of the song calls for it. For example: if I receive a track that is super bass heavy, I lower the threshold quite a bit. Adjust the attack to react on the strong bass parts, slow down the release and adjust the magic button, the RATIO. I start increasing the ratio until the pounding bass is somewhat balanced and starts to blend in with the rest of the track. Ever so slight EQ adjustment and the songs are perfect each and every time.
My clients absolutely love what I am able to do to their music. Remember this: extreme settings on the Avalon 747sp does NOT result in a squashed track. I am not sure how they were able to accomplish this miracle but they have in any case. Again, I must confess that it took a while for me to understand the objective of this wonderful machine. Once I realized the power of this machine I never looked back. I think the challenge for most mastering compressors is the capacity to glue the elements together cohesively, yet not have the overall track sounding dense. Avalon has undeniably met this challenge as a winner and I will never part with it.
Atlanta-based Earle Holder has Mastered projects with platinum artists such as Public Enemy, B5, Tameko Starr (MCA Records Europe), Chuck D, Kenny Banks, Tuere, Houseguest, Ayana, 4ize (Disturbing the Peace), JD Lawrence, and countless others. His home site is www.hdqtrz.com
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