Mastering Engineer Greg Calbi Explains the Equipment Used in the Mastering Process

In this clip from www.artistshousemusic.org - Greg Calbi is a Senior Mastering Engineer at Sterling Sound. He gives an overview of his mastering equipment including wiring, compressors, amplifiers, and equalizers.

[@davewhite7901]

A lot of good information packed into 7 minutes.

[@RodrigoCFD]

Greg Calbi really knows what he says. If you listen to his works, you'll understand that. This guy is great.

[@Missblondy11]

Really learning alot from your videos.

[@garyweaver9222]

Nice overview

[@diregremo]

Lesson learned today... NEVER mention the word "cables" when talking about audio. Every KZbin scientist and audioPILE will show up claiming to know the truth, without anything but words to back it up.

[@stephenmuth7081]

Yep. Including the trolls inserting techo-babble to goad the unsuspecting into pointless arguments.

[@atta1798]

Great n beautiful top level description of your hardware n highlights of your mastering process: World Class!!!! way to go Greg!!!

[@Oneness100]

Bob Ludwig uses Transparent Cables, Skywalker Sound uses MIT, and there are various top end studios using different brands of cables and they integrate with the equipment to the ears of the engineer. Some cables sound better than others depending on the equipment due to the impedance differences of equipment. MIT Cables actually makes higher end cables that have a impedance switch to adjust for equipment w/different impedances. READ about cable as they aren't using the same cable design.

[@Mtaalas]

Since cables are chosen for their mechanical properties and the environment that they have to operate at. Unbalanced guitar cable is all well enough in the distance it usually has to travel and with proper grounding and shielding it's pretty low noise too. With microphone we need phantom power, thus balanced cable is great and it gives better noise performance too. With longer distance and increasing EMI, star-quad cables and such come in to play for their better immunity to external noise.

[@Oneness100]

Now, if the music you are working with contains a lot of distorted guitars and heavily processed this/that, you may not hear these subtle differences as well as you would if you just listened to natural recordings of acoustic instruments/voices so, when testing cables, listen to natural recordings of percussion instruments, upright bass, piano, violin, vocals, etc. so you can hear how differently they are with all types of instruments. Some may lack bass, hyper accentuate high frequencies, etc.

[@homelessballoon]

How can two high quality wires give "a completely different sound"? I just don't understand it technically.

[@atta1798]

It depends how technical you are.....:)

[@homelessballoon]

I am a professional sound engineer, and I have been working with radio production, music recording and television post production in NRK (National Broadcasting in Norway) since 1974. I participated in the transformation from analog to digital production. I understand how the quality of microphones, preamplifiers, AD converters, amplifiers, speakers, acoustics, my ears and my physical condition and psycological state of mind will decide what I hear, and I understand how important it is to use high quality wires. However, to claim that two high quality wires can give «a completely different sound» is a mystery for me. Feel free to share a lnk to a serious demonstration and explanation!

[@MarkDanov]

They cant

[@ctal615]

@@homelessballoon I've sat in his room and he A/B the cables for me and it's different sounding. It's fairly simple, cables are passive and do not add anything, they can only take away from the sound. These cables he uses have a different sound purely in their construction and how the metal used passively transports the audio.

[@maka8551]

@@homelessballoon Don't doubt Calbi.

[@presetsareforidiots]

knows what he is talking about.. really helpful to listen to

[@FrancisJoa]

Greg is right with the cables. Buy cheap quality and buy expensive stuff and you will hear the differences. It´s all about the resistance of a cable.

[@Missblondy11]

Also, how much would you say you have spent on all your mastering equiptment so far, roughly?

[@Oneness100]

Who did the cable A/B testing? What cables, other equipment did they use, did they use a switching system (switches & other cables), what source material (recordings), and in what environment? A/B switching systems, mismatched cables can also change the outcome, also listening to certain recordings will not be as easy to hear the differences. Always trust YOUR ears rather than a test on someone else's equipment w/ someone else's ears. They can rig A/B tests for a desired outcome.

[@UlisesZarazua]

what is the name of the custom desinged digital compressor and also the next o compressor the regular standar ...? at 5:55

[@FrancisJoa]

I´m a professional audio engineer and there are quality differences in cables. It all depends of the electric conductivity of a cable and electric potential which we can get from it. When we talk about audio we talk about electricity. Don´t forget this.

[@atta1798]

Indeed. Francis teach them specially top the engineer Arne that has no soul......

[@sopinkworld]

@chunkEcheez. Metals differ when it comes to transfer electric energy. Iron doesn't work as good as gold for ex. You hear it in lower signals, ie harmonics. Harmonics are micro signals that makes a track sound harsh or soft, colored or not. Every note is a chord actually, linked to a string of harmonics, that makes its character. To make it short, yes cables make the difference. You can hear it because your stereo sounds wider, the mix sounds more colorfull and the highs softer. Audiofrequency.

[@argiletonne]

in theory we could agree with you here's my point, the wider the signal the more the audio on the side is heard thus you counterbalance by leveling your bass accordingly, you shouldn't speak in so many hypotheticals.

[@SomeElderMilennial]

1:43 sneaky nut scratch

[@searchandestroy69]

Bahahaha!

[@CurranceEvans]

without getting in the way of the rhythmic elements of the mix

[@hazardouslee1]

this guy is very good at explaining mastering

[@atta1798]

He is an expert n in a nutshell he explained the process n Hardware set up..this goes beyond to most here that think they know a lot

[@Oneness100]

I would suggest you go read MIT Cables white papers and then go listen to different cables. Don't judge someone else's A/B tests. I would suggest using either MIT Cables or Transparent Cables as they both wire in parallel, a custom tuned set of filters to enable the cable to articulate in a linear fashion. They will improve the timbre and make the signal neutral, which is what you want. ALL audio acts like a filter, including cables.

[@Mtaalas]

But do you have any data as to how much these harmonics are in dB? And I'll save you the trouble, they're at the noise unless they're deliberately enhanced or the noise floor is ultra low (what doesn't happen unless you're using measurement grade equpment in EMI controlled room). Thus you'r claim to be able to hear that would have us believe you have super human hearing? And that claim would need some evidence to support it also...

[@arnefreymann313]

Dear Mr. Fermer, I'm a graduated engineer in electronics and it is always funny to read, that guys like you can hear a difference, where we can find no difference, measuring with 20.000 USD equipment

[@atta1798]

That is why you do just science n have no ear......no offense.....u can measure a spec ...but Greg has something you will never have: ears. As an engineer in the applied sciences you have failed to apply your most solid skill: "Critical Thinking n Pure Science" what made you an Engineer: The ability to think n not to assume. One you have no idea what those cable are made of n Greg has Post Doctorate ears in experience n expertise you will never achieve with your diploma n science. I am a patented Engineer in Science n a Musician n Mastering Engineer.........you have long ways to go....the fact you are an engineer it does not qualify you to talk as an expert on Greg's video facts. You are simply completely inaccurate n non-precise...specially when as a n engineer you dismissed two things: the materials of the cables he showed you Do not have....so practically you can not have a technical opinion n Greg's technical reputation where your degree holds water. I am sorry Arne.....but you know what they say about assuming......so not make.....you did.

[@Missblondy11]

Also

[@adarkerlight]

You guys master for only 8-9 hours per album?? I had no idea! That's a lot of pressure.

[@argiletonne]

no they're lying, they spend like 20min per song. they literally process a 3 minute track using two pieces of gear, a compressor and an eq, you do the math, listen to the song three or four times and they are done. Most mastering engineers do very little according to them and sometimes barely anything at all, they might do nothing more than raising the gain using a compressor with no compressor then smashing the level with an expensive tube limiter.

[@swettyspaghtti]

drink evertime he says "ok?"

[@Frank55]

OK...

[@Mtaalas]

I want you to go to a laboratory, then drive trough +4dBu signal trough 10 meters of copper versus 10 meters of silver cable. Measure the frequency response and limit the band at 0-22khz. then come back and tell me how many dB the differences we're across the spectrum?

[@argiletonne]

I'd love to see an example of a mastering engineer take a digital file and process the file as if he was mastering the track. I wish there was a video giving a better example of how they actually take the audio from that digital format and process it because it's all kind of baffling I know they have to use an A/D converter of some sort to get the audio out of the digital format but honestly it's all kind of above my head.

[@atta1798]

It is only baffling to you that do not understand it ....you said it..it is above your head

[@Oneness100]

Each pair of speakers, amps, etc. will alter the sound, but in mastering and recording, you need completely neutral and transparent sounding equipment. If not, then you are adjusting those knobs to counteract what lacks or what is overly prominent in your equipment. If you cables don't allow the bottom frequencies to be heard, then you might add bass to over compensate. etc. etc. etc. That's why I would only use the most neutral sounding equipment available. Seriously, this is NO JOKE.

[@Mtaalas]

So how you demonstrate that? Every double blinded test conducted has shown that cables don't affect the sound significantly enough in controlled environment that you would hear a difference. It's all about the mind: if you know there's been a change (you swapped cables, heard a click when switch was turned) you "hear" a difference, and depending on your expectations it either a better or worse in your subjective opinion. How you explain off many years of peer reviewed science? O_o

[@mark29072907]

it is possible to create a song all digitally, then building, EQ-ing, compressing,leveling mixing and all that stuff all within the DAW program, but still have it sound like a Mastered track. i mean, wouldn't you have more control and stuff. i'm talking full digital. the only analog recorded sounds would probably be drum samples, but those would be EQ-ed and compressed to suit the track. would mastering as this point still be necessary?

[@atta1798]

Mark you need to experiment n grow with the experience......start with a guitar w certain woods, pick ups, tube amp wire.....etc....n go analogue n compare.....

[@Mtaalas]

If open mind means to you to accept your claim without any evidence to support it, then he's better of being close minded.

[@Sprocket181]

Your understanding is limited and wrong in this case. The material composition of the wire affects its electrical conductivity characteristics. This is called materials science. So a gold wire will conduct differently than a copper wire, for example. And since we are ultimately talking analog, not digital, the conductivity of the wire will change its sinusoidal characteristic. It might be subtle, and maybe only an experienced pro can distinguish it.

[@atta1798]

Dead on Chris...!!!

[@stuxnet3000]

these videos are absolutely required viewing by any band or artist considering mastering their own S&$* with something like T-Racks or Ozone. easily beyond anything I've seen discussing mastering...

[@argiletonne]

there are videos out there of like 20K eq's or something, this isn't even the worst when you consider a mastering engineer can buy a 20K pair of speakers and an 18K compressor limiter and all the other excessive exorbitant fallacious macro only for mastering types of gear

[@Mtaalas]

5 data points is not statistically significant sample. Further more, I'm not able to read the paper where the testing methods and environment used are described so I'm unable to reproduce your experiment. Thus it's not scientifically valid experiment unless you write a paper about it so everyone can make the same test with exact the same setting and methods used. And I'm reading scientific publications about the subject, you should too. And an amplifier changes the sound much more than a cable.

[@arnefreymann313]

Dear Michael, when a diploma in electronics is not a series education an 20 years experience in studio electronic? OK. Go to university and attend 1 year, if you are able to. Then you get the skill and learn maybe, that the cheapest kopper cable transmit all frequencies linear up to 1 Mhz. Some guys learning by doing, some don't.

[@atta1798]

Arne people like Greg founded universities in the past n the reason you became an engineer..:)

[@atta1798]

Anne as an Engineer you failed to state a fact.....1MHZ is no longer the Audio Frequency/////please fo back to school......but for Music...engineer does not fit you.

[@derbigpr500]

You're mixing audiophile wires with just actual properly made cables. There is a difference in sound each wire material will produce, that is obvious on speaker cables. Differences will never be huge, but they will noticeable. Now...if you talk about those crazy 20,000$ interconnects, that is bullshit, because a properly made silver cable will sound pretty much the same, whether its a 10 dollar one or a 10,000 dollar one. But a copper cable for example will sound a bit different.

[@atta1798]

Teach him n also teach that engineer that thinks he knows everything : Arne ....

[@maka8551]

Wrong

[@Oneness100]

I don't know where you brought up the word "magic" when applied to cables. To me, it sounds like ignorance and jealousy about one's knowledge of what's actually going on w/cable designs and having the money to buy better cables. Are all cable designs/materials equal? NOPE. Then they will have different results when testing the capacitance, resistance and inductance measurements as well as how they store and release energy, and articulation of speech and music.

[@blowupmetal1131]

i met the designer of World Wire he explained to me why it makes a difference ask him he will technically explain it to u, i work in a Sound shop, we sell both Hifi and PA systems: FACT if u wire with high end golden plated cables then try high end Silver plated cables u directly ear the difference of course maybe not on ur 100€ sound system ... but with quality material yes. all the people that say the opposite didn't make the test, period!

[@Mtaalas]

The point is: how much it changes the sound? Go to a lab and measure it, you'd be surprised to be able to do that. It's negligible and way below the humans ability to hear.

[@chunkEcheez]

It's disappointing to hear him talk about the "sound" of different cables. This kind of magical thinking has been proven in A/B testing to be complete bunk. A cable is a flexible piece of metal wrapped in insulation and nothing more. Testing has shown that there are no quantifiable differences between standard cables and so-called "audiophile" cables which are nothing more than snake oil. I don't doubt that Greg is a great mastering engineer, but he clearly talking a bit of BS here and there

[@atta1798]

Actually your intellect in your ears capability blinds you from understanding his profession you have no expertise. First, you have no idea what those cables r made of...I know one thing..I trust his ears......you are the disappointing human being not Greg

[@maka8551]

Wrong

[@Mtaalas]

Your eye witness testimony (or ear-witness testimony in this case) isn't valid evidence. We as people are subjective, we have confirmation biases and all that stuff that cognitive scientist know all about. Repeatable peer reviewed experiments and data are the only way of showing the validity of your claim in this case. So I explain it with our well documented biases that make our personal experiences differ from reality.

[@ytnsanw]

Underwater mastering....

[@Oneness100]

BS. You have a basic understanding of cables. MIT Cables have PROVEN objectively, that cables do sound differently. They are using a variety of tests with VERY precise tools, INCLUDING what is called articulation measurement, which up until MIT Cables began testing, no one else did that. They were using articulation measurements for room acoustics, and other things, but not in cable measurement. EVERY aspect of a cable with change the timbre and that's PROVEN. Go talk to Bob Ludwig.

[@atta1798]

all u need is your ears....I am sorry trained ears...

[@jamescoltart2241]

Oh no, not another so called expert saying he can hear the difference between interconnects. Absolute rubbish. For everyone watching this or contemplating spending more than the cash Amazon Basics charge, dont, buy and enjoy the cheap ones and give the rest to charity.

[@maka8551]

Oh yeah, I'll believe the youtube commenter more than Calbi. Lol

[@derbigpr500]

If you record properly, there's no need to master for a long time, you can only ruin things.

[@Mtaalas]

When you start by saying that you hear differences in wiring I lost my composure... and I highly doubt you'll be any good at mastering despite your Résumé. There's no test you can do by yourself to determine the validity of your claim. Every double blinded test made to determine if people can hear the difference in wiring used has been shown to be false and a product of our subjective tastes and psychology. Don't do that if you're a professional...

[@maka8551]

Wrong