Essential Barry Diament masterings

Thanks, brother Dave! How my 1/4 analog tape mixes sound good unmastered through cheap Sony converters I'll never know. But I agree, it really sounds better than many other discs.

 

Hi Marky,

Thank you for your interest in my own recordings. To answer your question, things are going quite well. I have two new projects I'm starting on soon and am in the midst of searching for the right space in which to record them.

To get your hands on something, please visit the Soundkeeper website.

You can safely change record levels to avoid increased hiss but this will make the mixdown a bit more difficult.
Is it really that much hiss? I guess it depends on how objectionable you find it to be. If I was recording analog, I'd set my levels (as always) by the loudest sounds -to avoid overload- and in order to preserve maximum dynamics, let the rest fall where they may.

As mentioned above, visit Soundkeeper for my own stuff.
To hear the technique applied to multi-track with overdubs, etc., check out "Simplicity".

To read a bit more about techniques that were applied on "Simplicity", check out Recording in Stereo (Part 2).

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Ours are different probably because you have the Def Jam version and I have the American version.

FWIW, catalog number is 314 586 797-2 and matrix is 314 586 7972 01!

Does yours also say "Mastered by Howie Weinberg" above the Barry CD credit?

 

I should have said "signal to noise" instead of hiss. In my normal world, I always set the input level to be as loud as I can get away with. If I do the "Diament-method" I only have good signal to noise on the tracks that are close-mic'd. So I'm not really adding any hiss, but I also can't drown it out like I normally try to do.
I've weened myself off of DBX lately. If I went back to it, I probably wouldn't worry so much.

Thanks for the links, my friend. Very cool. Art has an incredible voice and a sweet style. "World is Spinning" is a great track with an almost Jerry Garcia vocal quality. "How Long" could've been a Lost Lennon track. "Until We Meet Again" has the most gorgeous melody.

Everybody here owes it to themselves to check this out. Crank it up too- the Diamnyamics are incredible.

Barry, how do you use effects? Are they ever ran live to the room? Any vocals ever put through any guitar amps or anything?

Also, if everything actually was recorded live- would the musicians actually have the physical room to stand where they did during the overdubs? This is a hard question to word- but, say when double tracking vocals, is Art standing in two different spots where idealistaclly two Arts would exist? When a lead acoustic guitar is dubbed- would it be hitting Art in the face if he was singing with him live in the same location?

Peace Love and Thanks, Barry!
Marky

 

Damn the 15 minute edit limit, I still don't see the point of it. Anyway, this is what I wanted to add:

UGH!! I just popped it in, this is NOT the Diament version as advertised, this is the modern remaster. Yuck. Well, that sucks. I had a little bit of a hassle with this auction (I put the wrong address in so the package got sent back to the seller, and he had to re-send it back to me) and when I came home last night I was so excited that it got here and is in NM condition described that I gave my feedback without even listening to it. Oh well, the search continues then...

 

Hi hushypushy,

Are you saying the "modern remaster" still has me credited (blamed?) albeit with my last name spelled wrong?

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi Marky,

If you're combining close mic'ed tracks with some recorded in stereo per my description (which I should have re-read in your earlier post), there is no need to even try for consistency in levels during recording. In other words, feel free to goose the record level for the distant parts. There will be no harm.
Return to DBX only if you like what it does to the sound of your recordings.
Personally, I'd add noise before using that device.

On the things for Soundkeeper, no but on something like "Simplicity", as you can hear, there are lots of effects. How and when they are applied really depends on the sound I'm looking for.

The synth on "How Long" went through an amp placed deep and left in the room. (I don't ever use direct inject for anything.)

Drums and percussion are a combination of real ones and some samples, depending on the song. Samples were played back via the Magnepan 1.6 speakers in Art's studio and the speakers were mic'ed (slightly differently than the usual stereo array arrangement -- here, each mic was about 2 feet from and directly in front of each speaker).

Things like vocal echo were added during the mixdown.

As mentioned in "Recording in Stereo (Part 2)", with this technique, every part must consider where every other part comes from and no two parts can occupy the same real space in the studio. Art's studio does have room for everyone to stand where they would appear to be standing. (I can only see this being a problem in a tiny room.)

Therefore, Art did stand in two different spots to do two different vocals. The guitar part was done from another place --or from where Art stood during one of the vocal parts. It wouldn't be hitting him in the face because he isn't holding the guitar near his face.

The mics are placed once and left there for the duration of all the recorded parts. The guitar, held in the normal position --well below the face -- comes from the height of the guitar. Nothing is held up to mic level and the mics do not change level for different parts --just as I never kneel down on the floor to hear a bass drum... can hear it just fine while standing.

Hope this makes it a bit more clear.
And if it is of any help, I'm glad.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

YES! Very confusing the way the credits are listed. I have both the original release and the remaster. The remaster catalogue and matrix number and name misspelling are exactly as you have posted. Although, my unremastered is apparently not a first pressing. Catalogue# is the same as what oldschool posted, no name misspelling in the booklet but matrix# is 1 24203-2 SRC+01 *M4 S1...wish I knew how to decipher these numbers a little better...

hushypushy, on a sidenote, in a situation like this, it is okay to return the CD to its owner for a refund isn't it?

 

Is it a safe assumption that any CD that has the blurb 'The music on this Compact Disc was originally recorded on analog equipment' on the back cover, and uniform, not-exactly-target label design, is the version we're looking for, i.e., mastered in the 1980s by Barry Diament?

Is it a safe assumption that I was crazy to sell all of these in 1997 because I believed Michael Fremer when he said "CDs suck"? (So little time, so much kool-aid.)

 

Thanks again, Barry. It was incredibly well done.
Sorry if I made you explain youself again. It's been awhile since I read the article and these things came to my mind as I was listening to the samples.

I've been applying the concept when I can but I'm still a little rusty.

Peace Love and Diaments and rust.
Marky

 

This is probably a second pressings.

My Reign in Blood has a similar cat. #, but still has Barry's mastering. Honestly, I could not find a difference with the first DIDX-2036 pressing (which I also had at some point).

 

Updated with three Linda Ronstadt/Nelson Riddle albums, Yes "Drama" and one Nico removed.
Anyone feel free to make changes as necessary


AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
AC/DC - Back In Black
AC/DC - For Those About To Rock
AC/DC - Who Made Who

Bad Company – Bad Company
Bad Company – Straight Shooter
Bad Company – 10 out of 6
The Blues Brothers - Briefcase Full Of Blues (CD) Atlantic, WEA International Inc.
Tommy Bolin - The Ultimate CD
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars (CD, Album) Geffen Records

John Cage & The Arditti Quartet - The Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1 (CD, Album) Mode
Chic - C'est Chic (?)
The Coasters - The Ultimate Coasters (maybe)
Cowboy Mouth - Word of Mouth
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Deja vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - So Far

Danzig - Danzig (CD, Album) American Recordings
Dr. Fiorella Terenzi - Music From The Galaxies (CD) Island Records (US)
Dokken - Under Lock And Key (CD) Elektra
Dokken - Breaking The Chains (CD, Album) Elektra
Dokken - Under Lock & Key

The Eagles – The Eagles (CD)
The Eagles – Desperado CD
The Eagles - Hotel California CD
The Eagles – The Long Run (CD)
The Eagles - Greatest Hits (?)
The Eagles - Greatest Hits Volume 2 (?)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (CD) Atlantic
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery (CD, Album) Atlantic, Columbia House
Enya - Watermark

Aretha Franklin - best of (?)

Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (?)
Genesis - A Trick Of The Tail
Genesis - Duke
Genesis - Abacab
Genesis - Three Sides Live
The Georgia Satellites - The Gerogia Satellites CD, Album) Elektra
Guns’N’Roses - Appetite For Destruction (CD, Album) Geffen Records
Guns’N’Roses - G N' R Lies (CD) Geffen Records, BMG Direct Marketing, Inc.

Hex - Hex (CD, Album) First Warning Records
Hex (LP) Demon Records 1990

INXS - Listen Like Thieves (CD, Album) Atlantic

Grace Jones - Island Life

Keeler - Autofocus (CD) Great Orm Productions
Tommy Keene - Based On Happy Times CD
Kitaro - The Light Of The Spirit (CD, Album) Geffen Records, Geffen Records
KMFDM - Glory (CD) Wax Trax! Records, TVT Records

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (CD, Album) Atlantic
Led Zeppelin - II
Led Zeppelin - III
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (2xCD) Swan Song
Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same (2xCD) Swan Song
Led Zeppelin - Presence (CD,Album) Atlantic, Swan Song
Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door
Led Zeppelin - Coda

Bob Marley - Catch A Fire (CD) Tuff Gong
Bob Marley - Burnin'
Bob Marley - Natty Dread
Bob Marley - Live! (CD, Album) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Rastaman Vibration (CD) Tuff Gong
Bob Marley - Exodus
Bob Marley - Kaya (CD) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Babylon By Bus
Bob Marley - Survival (CD, Album) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Uprising (CD) Island Records (Germany)
Bob Marley - Confrontation (CD) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Legend

Mike + The Mechanics - Mike + The Mechanics
Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love (CD, Album) Hip-O Records, Mötley Records

Nico - The Marbel Index
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (TVT Records)
Nu Shooz - Poolside (CD)

Of Cabbages And Kings - Hunter's Moon (CD) Les Disques Du Soleil Et De L'Acier, Triple X Records
Of Cabbages And Kings - Never Too Late (CD) Triple X Records
Benjamin Orr - The Lace (CD, Album) Elektra

Robert Palmer – Riptide CD

The Rascals - Ultimate CD
Ratt - Dancing Undercover (CD) Atlantic
Otis Redding - Ultimate Otis Redding CD
Linda Ronstadt - Simple Dreams
Linda Ronstadt - What's New
Linda Ronstadt - Lush Life
Linda Ronstadt - For Sentimental Reasons

Simply Red - Men And Women
Slayer - South Of Heaven (CD, Album) American Recordings 2002
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Stacey Q - Better Than Heaven
The Sun And The Moon - Sun And The Moon (CD, Album) Geffen Records

Pete Townshend - All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
Pete Townshend - Psychoderelict (CD, Album) Atlantic 1993
Pete Townshend - White City
Pete Townshend - Deep End Live
Pete Townshend - Scoop (?)
Pete Townshend - Another Scoop (?)

Underworld - Born Slippy (CD) Wax Trax! Records, TVT Records
U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky (CD, Album) Island Masters
U2 - October (CD) Island

Various - Atlantic Soul Classics
Various - Stand By Me (soundtrack)
Various - Woodstock - Music From The Original Soundtrack And More (2xCD) Atlantic

Work Of Art - Lift (Soundkeeper Recordings - SR4001)
Work Of Art - Simplicity (Sword in the Stone Records - SSR54)

Yes - The Yes Album
Yes - Close To The Edge (CD, Album) Atlantic
Yes - Drama
Yes - 90125

Warren Zevon - A Quiet Normal Life: The Best Of Warren Zevon (CD) Asylum

 

Yeah, it's pretty weird. They don't credit you enough for the recordings that sound fantastic, but they do credit you for a remaster that sounds nothing like your work

I've attached a photo I took of the booklet. I'm assuming that Howie Weinberg did the remaster? He's also credited in my Reign in Blood remaster, I assume he did both around the same time. I don't really understand why it has a Mastering credit and a CD Mastering credit though.

Yeah, I think it is. The description specifically says ORIGINAL ISSUE and I didn't get that. However like I also mentioned, I had originally put the wrong address so it got returned to the seller and I had to send some messages back and forth...he was really nice about it and sent it back no charge, but I really don't want to deal with it. Plus, I think I'd like to keep it on hand in case I need it for reference/comparison, for when I get the original version.

Maybe I should just put up a want-ad here, I'm having no luck with the stores in the city or with eBay

 

Anita Baker's Rapture: Barry did this classic 80s soul album-right?

 

Weinberg is credited also on the original releases of RIB and SOH. He probably did the vinyl for these (while Barry did the CDs), and the CD for Seasons.

Btw, Barry's SOH sounds spectacular

 

A note of caution for all AC/DC fans who don't already have the now-classic Diament mastering of Back in Black - I ran across this old post (but it's new info for me, and therefore I think it needs to be included in this thread as well):

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=2769096&postcount=64

 

I can only advise anyone remotely interested in the Barry Diament mastering catalog to emphatically ignore the above post by vonwegen.

The record was set straight by Barry himself. The Atlantic 16018-2 IS Barry's mastering.

 

Damn, you beat me to it...

Oh well.

But do remember this:

 

Maybe we can get a Gort to remove all four of these posts?

 

Got my vote!

 

My copy of Watermark sounds super but I could not see Barry's name in the credits. Then again the credits are handwritten in tiny elfen script.

 

Hi hushypushy,

I am very grateful for those listeners who can tell the difference.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi mecano,

Yes, I did.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi Taxman,

I was never credited for my mastering of both the original CD of "Watermark" and the "re-issue" with added songs. (I don't know if it has since been mastered yet again.)

"Watermark" was actually one of the very first, if not the very first, digital recording I heard that had any apparent sense of depth in the image.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi Barry,

Do you have any idea who mastered an early CD called "Superstars in Digital"? Some of the tracks on there are among the best-mastered CD tracks I've ever heard. Fleetwood Mac's "Hold Me," Paul Simon's "Allergies," Yes's "Owner of a Lonely Heart" are just three examples. I have a sneaking suspicion you may have been involved. Whoever did it, it's a wonder!