Creating 24bit CDs, Masterlink, only option??

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:23 pm

Hi all,

I have a knowledge problem.

I have been recording in a Boss BR900CD and it records in 24 bit. I've done 2 tracks for a friend of mine and she is going to put them on her forthcoming debut album. Obviously I'm relatively new to recording.

She recorded most of the album at a commercial studio here in Ireland. The studio wants to mix the tracks and needs them as 24bit. I'm not sure how to give them a cd of 24bit tracks.

I've been trawling the forums and have read about the Alesis Masterlink. An experienced friend of mine also loves this product. I can get one, new from a local distributor for 500 euro.

I'm in the process of upgrading my gear to a Yamaha N12, Adam P11a pair, TL Audio 5052. I'm wondering:

1. How do I get a 24bit cd to the studio.
2. Would it be worth my while investing in a Masterlink in the long run as I hope to do a lot of tracking, mixing for local artists.

Sorry for the long post, all advice will be greatly appreciated,

Brian.

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:20 pm

Hi,
I don't really know anything about the machine you have, but I do see in the description that it has a USB port for syncing to a PC. You could transfer the WAV files that way, organize them, and burn them as a data disc. That's one way to do it, but sorting out the undo's, punch-in's, and time code/track placement issues is a completely different story. Hopefully there's a song maximize feature on the Boss that could help with this, or maybe even a software that came with it to make things easier. Just a suggestion, like I said, I don't know anything about that recorder. Someone else here may be able to give you a better solution. Maybe the Boss can burn direct data CD's?

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:24 pm

I quickly googled your product, found and downloaded your manual. On page 150, it explains how to do what you want.

The studio is going to want to mix your raw recorded tracks. That means, they don't want a mixed down stereo track on CD. They want the original files.

So, open your manual to page 150, and read how do burn the raw wav files on to CD-R. I did not read further, but I'm sure that you could transfer the wav files to your computer, and probably send them to the studio via the internet. Most studios will do this.

It would be best to give them the tracks without any effects or processing. Just the raw recording. Nothing else.

You could include a mixed down stereo CD to show them your mixing chops and vision. If you can, ask your friend if you can sit in on some of the mixing sessions.

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:27 pm

"1. How do I get a 24bit cd to the studio."

Easy as pie, don't burn it as an audio cd burn it as a data cd. Just drag and drop the files onto a data cd.

Your best bet is to go and get a usb key, you can get a few gb for only a few dollars and use that as a portable data solution.

If you have larger data requirements get a portable hdd.

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:00 pm

You know this is really one of those stupid things??!!

Standard audio CD's are only 16 bit. Nothing else is compatible as a Redbook standard CD than 16 bit. The request is idiotic. Greener is absolutely correct. If the studio needs a 24 bit CD it's not a studio. It's a beginner. You deliver on CD (under 700MB ROM data only) DVD, under 4.3GB, data only, hard disk drive (your choice of sizes) data only, commercial downloads servers such as Pando, real-time data transfers through AOL instant messenger & others, data only. Plus, you don't remix a CD. You remix from multitrack sources. So like I said earlier, beginners, clueless, recording school, beginners.

Sure. You can dither a 24-bit recording to 16 and a hide those additional eight bits in the noise floor. Big Deal. WTF ?? Like I said, beginners.

Get with the program.
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:36 am

Thanks guys. And thanks VonRock. Yeah the guys want the individual tracks in 24bit. I really don't understand why. I'm presuming the sound detail of 24 bit is better, fuller.

But to be honest the BR900cd isn't exactly an amazing machine but I learned a lot on it. So now I'm stepping up a gear. You can check out some of my tunes on myspace.com/briandunlea if you like.

So do you think that Alesis Masterlink would be of any use considering the set up I mentioned in my post. I have a new MBP and was going to get an external hard drive 7200rpm.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:52 am

Hi all. I tried burning the files as data and when I look at the properties in iTunes it says they are 16bit.

Any suggestions??? Please!!

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:30 am

What method did you use? Did you transfer them to your PC first via USB, or just use the built in CD burner? You should be able to drag and drop them if connected via USB. Maybe you can get a card reader and read directly from the card.

Try burning an AIFF file, and see what that comes out as.

If the file is sitting there in 24 bit, you should be able to access it somehow. Experiment. Read the manual. Ask Roland.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:40 am

VonRocK wrote:

Maybe you can get a card reader and read directly from the card.

That sounds like a logica solution to me. If it works with an SD card, get a card reader and you could either transfer them to pc or just burn directly from the card.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:34 am

Yeah I have a card reader but the br900 stores the tracks kinda weird. They're .bro files. So some kind of conversion is necessary I think. And the bro900, lo and behold converts them to 16bit.

I have a card reader and will try what you suggested guys.

The only fast solution I have come up with is using garageband to convert them to 24bit. Does that make any sense?

And thanks so much for the effort. I can't wait to get my Yamaha N12 with Cubase.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:01 am

It looks like there is something called "BR Wav Converter v2.0" that should do what you need.

It's in the download section here

How are you getting the file from the BR to Garage Band?

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:43 am

At the moment I'm burning it as data to a cd and dragging it to garageband so that's probably what's going wrong.

I've downloaded the BR Converter and will read it from the compactflash card with my reader.

Fingers crossed.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:50 pm

It reads this unit has 24 bit ad/da conversion and 24 bit internal processing.

Everything else (import, export, backup, etc.) is either 8 bit or 16 bit.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:56 pm

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. Why does the studio need the files in 24 bit? Does it actually make that much of a difference to the sound?

As you can tell I'm not very well versed...

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:07 pm

It's up to you.
The studio could be doing processing that could be benefited by having 24bits... Ask them.

If it's paramount to winning, send them your recorder.

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