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PMC for Optimum Mastering
PMC monitoring has been exclusively chosen for Optimum Mastering, the new Bristol-based high-end digital and vinyl mastering studios, established by long standing mastering engineer Shawn Joseph. The configuration of the studios reflects the continuing popularity of vinyl and the widely reported growing market in sales of record decks, alongside the development in high -resolution digital media.
Sited in the Paintworks Arts and Media Centre, a beautiful converted Victorian warehouse on the banks of the River Avon in the centre of Bristol, the UK’s latest mastering facility is set to open in just a few weeks. Specially designed by Recording Architecture to accommodate the freestanding PMC MB2S XBD monitoring system powered by Bryston 7B SST PRO amplification, the studio also features a SADiE V5 24bit/192 kHz DAW and a lovingly restored and optimised Neumann VMS-70 cutting lathe, originally sourced in Nashville, as well as PMC TB2S nearfield monitoring.
In his new dual role of company director and chief mastering engineer, Shawn Joseph was solely responsible for choosing the inventory and, despite long standing experience with PMC systems, chose the MB2S only after comparative evaluation of several other monitoring systems. “I wanted a room as good, if not better, than the best London can offer – my clients would expect nothing less,” he exclaims. “So I created the working environment I had always wanted. I decided to audition for nearfields too and eventually went for PMC TB2Ss after a lot of listening.
“I’m quite eclectic in the work I do – from rock and acoustic, to mainstream and club/dance – but the one thing everyone needs, including me, is to hear everything clearly without colouration. PMCs perform admirably with all sorts of music and at all volume ranges. Clients always seem to be able to trust what they’re hearing. That makes mastering here a collaborative and creative process, rather than the dark art of understanding confusing monitors. The PMCs are also ideal for the increasing amount of project studio work that needs professional reference. The Transmission Line design gives you access to LF that the clients may never have heard. Sorting that out makes all the difference on larger systems.”
Ground-up acoustic design, the Neumann lathe and SADiE DAW all underline the “audiophile priority” at the heart of the Optimum project. Stressing “a large comfortable room, natural light and good transport links”, Joseph is an evangelist for the out-of-town, relaxed approach to mastering and is set to open with a full order book through an extensive international client base, and a tie in with dance label NRK Sound Division, home to artists such as Joey Negro, Terry Farley and Audio Soul Project.
12th September 2004
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