In the last episode of Square Cad John McCaig of Panic Studios interviews me.  We discuss networking, business and client relations, proper name pronunciation.  Music: Adventures With Might "Bad Boys Club" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

In the last episode of Square Cad John McCaig of Panic Studios interviews me. We discuss networking, business and client relations, proper name pronunciation. Music: Adventures With Might "Bad Boys Club" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#74 Square Cad: Last Episode

Scott Hampton has been making great gear at Hamptone since the late 80s.  Recently he moved a new optical compressor, the HOC1, out of the prototype phase and into production.I spoke with Scott about why he loves optical compressors, his design philosophy, and what test data he thinks is most important. Music: Eric and Magill "Tangled Up In Nets" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Scott Hampton has been making great gear at Hamptone since the late 80s. Recently he moved a new optical compressor, the HOC1, out of the prototype phase and into production. I spoke with Scott about why he loves optical compressors, his design philosophy, and what test data he thinks is most important. Music: Eric and Magill "Tangled Up In Nets" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#73 Square Cad: What Makes A Great Optical Compressor

As more artists and consumers rediscover vinyl having quality vinyl playback is more important than ever.  Many test presses are being auditioned on improperly calibrated systems.  That can lead to unnecessary stress during the approval process, or worse, making a costly mistake.  For Square Cad's first ever video episode I went to Stereo Types in Portland Oregon.  Owner Teri Inman walks us through how to align, and set tracking force and anti-skate for two different types of turntables and tonearms.  Music: The Velvet Underground "Sister Ray" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

As more artists and consumers rediscover vinyl having quality vinyl playback is more important than ever. Many test presses are being auditioned on improperly calibrated systems. That can lead to unnecessary stress during the approval process, or worse, making a costly mistake. For Square Cad's first ever video episode I went to Stereo Types in Portland Oregon. Owner Teri Inman walks us through how to align, and set tracking force and anti-skate for two different types of turntables and tonearms. Music: The Velvet Underground "Sister Ray" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#72 Square Cad: The RPM Chronicles Part 7

For over 25 years Grammy nominated mastering engineer Jonathan Wyner has worked at M-Works in Cambridge Massachusetts.  In that time he's mastered records for Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, David Bowie, DEVO, Cave In, Apples In Stereo, and loads more.  He's also an associate professor at Berklee College of Music where he teaches mastering.   Jonathan and I discuss whether mastering can be taught effectively in a classroom, the value of formal education, and lessons he wishes every student could learn.Music: Boris "Minha Chuva" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

For over 25 years Grammy nominated mastering engineer Jonathan Wyner has worked at M-Works in Cambridge Massachusetts. In that time he's mastered records for Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, David Bowie, DEVO, Cave In, Apples In Stereo, and loads more. He's also an associate professor at Berklee College of Music where he teaches mastering. Jonathan and I discuss whether mastering can be taught effectively in a classroom, the value of formal education, and lessons he wishes every student could learn. Music: Boris "Minha Chuva" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#71 Square Cad: Teaching Mastering

Jeff Lipton's discography is filled with some of the best records of the past 15 years.  His credits include The Magnetic Fields, Codeine, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, Andrew Bird, Battles, and many more.Jeff spoke with me about changing client expectations, his 6-week gear rule, and learning hard lessons.  Music: Collection Of Colony of Bees "Lawn" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Jeff Lipton's discography is filled with some of the best records of the past 15 years. His credits include The Magnetic Fields, Codeine, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, Andrew Bird, Battles, and many more. Jeff spoke with me about changing client expectations, his 6-week gear rule, and learning hard lessons. Music: Collection Of Colony of Bees "Lawn" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#70 Square Cad: Master Craft With Jeff Lipton

Hi folks, Square Cad will be back 8/13/13.  Hope you're enjoying the summer! Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Hi folks, Square Cad will be back 8/13/13. Hope you're enjoying the summer! Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

Summer Break

Lacquers are the physical masters needed for vinyl record production.  Apollo Masters is in the unique position of producing master lacquers for both the Apollo and Transco brands.  For the entire world.  Both types of master lacquers come from the same factory in Banning California.  To find out more about how lacquers are made I spoke with Sam Smith at Apollo.  She discusses how to make a perfect lacquer, how Apollo deals with the pressure of being the only game in town for lacquers, and learning from her clients.  Music: Beirut "St. Apollonia" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Lacquers are the physical masters needed for vinyl record production. Apollo Masters is in the unique position of producing master lacquers for both the Apollo and Transco brands. For the entire world. Both types of master lacquers come from the same factory in Banning California. To find out more about how lacquers are made I spoke with Sam Smith at Apollo. She discusses how to make a perfect lacquer, how Apollo deals with the pressure of being the only game in town for lacquers, and learning from her clients. Music: Beirut "St. Apollonia" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#69 Square Cad: Making Master Lacquers

Transformers are the source of much superstition and misunderstanding in audio.  Sometimes they are the magic box that makes everything passing through them better, other times they single handedly ruin everything passing through a circuit.  Are they neither?  Both?To find out I spoke with tech extraordinaire Alan Garren of Waltzing Bear Audio.  Alan has been a tech and engineer for over 30 years and has built and maintained gear for artists such as Death Cab For Cutie and engineers such as Tucker Martine.I spoke with Alan about 'correct' vs 'creative' uses for transformers, what gives a transformer it's sound, and how to best utilize them.Music: Cepia "Braille Wounds" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Transformers are the source of much superstition and misunderstanding in audio. Sometimes they are the magic box that makes everything passing through them better, other times they single handedly ruin everything passing through a circuit. Are they neither? Both? To find out I spoke with tech extraordinaire Alan Garren of Waltzing Bear Audio. Alan has been a tech and engineer for over 30 years and has built and maintained gear for artists such as Death Cab For Cutie and engineers such as Tucker Martine. I spoke with Alan about 'correct' vs 'creative' uses for transformers, what gives a transformer it's sound, and how to best utilize them. Music: Cepia "Braille Wounds" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#68 Square Cad: Transformers

There's much to consider when building a new room. Being able to trust the room is critical to a mastering engineer.  A lot is riding on the decisions you make in front of your speakers.Josh Bonati can tell you all about it. Josh recently constructed a new room for Bonati Mastering with the help of Northward Acoustics. I spoke with Josh about what prompted him to build a new room, getting it up and running, and whether it's worth it.  Music: Finn Riggins "Big News" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

There's much to consider when building a new room. Being able to trust the room is critical to a mastering engineer. A lot is riding on the decisions you make in front of your speakers. Josh Bonati can tell you all about it. Josh recently constructed a new room for Bonati Mastering with the help of Northward Acoustics. I spoke with Josh about what prompted him to build a new room, getting it up and running, and whether it's worth it. Music: Finn Riggins "Big News" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#67 Square Cad: Building A New Room

Sonny DiPerri

Los Angeles mix engineer Sonny DiPerri -30 Seconds to Mars, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Portugal The Man- stopped by Telegraph to pick up a reel of tape.  While he was here we discussed working under legendary producer Flood, meeting artists on their terms, and what he looks for in a mastering engineer.   Music: Radiation City "Foreign Bodies" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Los Angeles mix engineer Sonny DiPerri -30 Seconds to Mars, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Portugal The Man- stopped by Telegraph to pick up a reel of tape. While he was here we discussed working under legendary producer Flood, meeting artists on their terms, and what he looks for in a mastering engineer. Music: Radiation City "Foreign Bodies" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#66 Square Cad: Mix It Up - Sonny DiPerri

Square Cad explores issues of interest to mastering engineers through informative and humorous interviews.  Hosted by Adam Gonsalves of Telegraph Mastering

In my opinion, this is the podcast that sets the bar for what a music/audio production show should be. Adam does a wonderful job hosting a fantastic selection of info-packed interviews with industry professionals and experts.  I didn&#39;t know about the show while it was actually being produced, but I have binge listened to all episodes over the past month or two and after finishing the last episode I have nothing but good things to say about it.  My only complaint is that the show was not continued, but I realize all good things must come to an end and that our creative efforts must grow and change along each of our journeys so that we all can continue to put out our best work.  Excellent show, check it out. And Adam, thank you.

Absolutely Fantastic

Adam&#39;s approach to audio topics from obvious to esoteric is straightforward, friendly, and entertaining. I&#39;ve learned a lot about the practice and methods of mastering, and this podcast is one of my favorites.

In-depth interviews with interesting people

Square Cad: A Mastering Podcast

The 2-part special on vinyl continues this week as Square Cad catches up with Steve Berson of Total Sonic Media.Steve worked as a mastering/cutting engineer at Europadisk before breaking off to start Total Sonic Media.   I spoke with Steve about the DOs and DONTs of premastering for vinyl, and about his quest to refurbish a Fairchild 523 lathe from the 1950s.Music: Pavement Trigger Cut

The 2-part special on vinyl continues this week as Square Cad catches up with Steve Berson of Total Sonic Media. Steve worked as a mastering/cutting engineer at Europadisk before breaking off to start Total Sonic Media. I spoke with Steve about the DOs and DONTs of premastering for vinyl, and about his quest to refurbish a Fairchild 523 lathe from the 1950s. Music: Pavement Trigger Cut

#12 Square Cad: The RPM Chronicles-Part 2

When converting sample rates, is it best to use a hardware SRC, and offline SRC application, or to "pitch" at the source rate with one sound card and "catch" at the destination rate with another?To find out I spoke with Bob Bauman, chief hardware engineer and co-founder of Lynx Studio Technology.  Bob has been a hardware and firmware designer for over 25 years and knows how to implement quality conversion.  I also ran some tests of a pitch.catch setup against iZotope's 64-bit SRC and found that, like most things, there are few easy answers when it comes to sample rate conversion.  Music: Pavement "Range Life"

When converting sample rates, is it best to use a hardware SRC, and offline SRC application, or to "pitch" at the source rate with one sound card and "catch" at the destination rate with another? To find out I spoke with Bob Bauman, chief hardware engineer and co-founder of Lynx Studio Technology. Bob has been a hardware and firmware designer for over 25 years and knows how to implement quality conversion. I also ran some tests of a pitch.catch setup against iZotope's 64-bit SRC and found that, like most things, there are few easy answers when it comes to sample rate conversion. Music: Pavement "Range Life"

#17 Square Cad: Sample Rate Conversion

George Graves has had an amazing career that spans close to half a century.  First at RCA, then at The Mastering Lab, and finally as Chief Engineer at Toronto's Lacquer Channel he has distinguished himself through a fierce work ethic and golden ear. George spoke with me about his career, why having a mentor is crucial, and the necessity of patience.     Music: Kate Rusby "Unquiet Graves" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

George Graves has had an amazing career that spans close to half a century. First at RCA, then at The Mastering Lab, and finally as Chief Engineer at Toronto's Lacquer Channel he has distinguished himself through a fierce work ethic and golden ear. George spoke with me about his career, why having a mentor is crucial, and the necessity of patience. Music: Kate Rusby "Unquiet Graves" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#63 Square Cad: Paying Dues

Chris Gehringer

Chris Gehringer, a senior engineer at Sterling Sound, is a hit mastering machine.  He's worked on albums for Naughty By Nature, NAS, Rihanna, Drake, Lady Gaga, Madonna, 50 Cent, The Wu Tang Clan, Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Manaj, T.I., and many more.  I spoke with Chris about the benefits and challenges of working at the biggest mastering facility in the world, and staying competitive.  Music: Purity Ring "Crawlers Out" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Chris Gehringer, a senior engineer at Sterling Sound, is a hit mastering machine. He's worked on albums for Naughty By Nature, NAS, Rihanna, Drake, Lady Gaga, Madonna, 50 Cent, The Wu Tang Clan, Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Manaj, T.I., and many more. I spoke with Chris about the benefits and challenges of working at the biggest mastering facility in the world, and staying competitive. Music: Purity Ring "Crawlers Out" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#62 Square Cad: Master Craft With Chris Gehringer

Part 2 of my conversation with Bob Olhsson, mastering engineer for Motown and Georgetown Masters.  Bob and I discuss his return to mastering, differences between analog and digital, and the importance of capturing the feeling of live performance.Music: Gladys Knight and The Pips "Heard It Through The Grapevine" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Part 2 of my conversation with Bob Olhsson, mastering engineer for Motown and Georgetown Masters. Bob and I discuss his return to mastering, differences between analog and digital, and the importance of capturing the feeling of live performance. Music: Gladys Knight and The Pips "Heard It Through The Grapevine" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#56 Square Cad: Mastering For Motown pt2

Bob Olhsson started his career with Motown, mastering hits for the likes of Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and many more.  His career also took him to work with rock acts like the Grateful Dead, and for sound designers at Skywalker Sound.  He's returned to mastering these days, working at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, Tennessee.In the first of our two-part chat Bob spoke with me about how his amazing career began, what it was like working at Motown, and why you can record and mix a song in three minutes if you have no other option.Music: Marvin Gaye "I'll Be Doggone" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Bob Olhsson started his career with Motown, mastering hits for the likes of Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and many more. His career also took him to work with rock acts like the Grateful Dead, and for sound designers at Skywalker Sound. He's returned to mastering these days, working at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, Tennessee. In the first of our two-part chat Bob spoke with me about how his amazing career began, what it was like working at Motown, and why you can record and mix a song in three minutes if you have no other option. Music: Marvin Gaye "I'll Be Doggone" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#55 Square Cad: Mastering For Motown pt1

Since 1981 Steve Hall has been mastering hits at Future Disc, working with such artists as Blondie, Pat Benatar, The Knack, Bobby Brown, Donna Summer, Green Day, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Department of Eagles, and many more.  So what made him leave L.A., the music market where he made his name, and move his studio to a farm in McMinnville Oregon?I spoke with Steve about leaving MCA Records to start his own studio, the move from Hollywood to Oregon wine country, and whether he likes his alpacas more than mastering.  Music: Silver Jews "The Farmer's Hotel" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

Since 1981 Steve Hall has been mastering hits at Future Disc, working with such artists as Blondie, Pat Benatar, The Knack, Bobby Brown, Donna Summer, Green Day, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Department of Eagles, and many more. So what made him leave L.A., the music market where he made his name, and move his studio to a farm in McMinnville Oregon? I spoke with Steve about leaving MCA Records to start his own studio, the move from Hollywood to Oregon wine country, and whether he likes his alpacas more than mastering. Music: Silver Jews "The Farmer's Hotel" Square Cad is Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#54 Square Cad: Mastering On The Farm

This week Square Cad is checking the hype on the Fab Filter Pro-DS de-esser.   Having a quality de-esser handy is crucial, and fans of Fab Filter's software have long clamored for them to offer a de-esser with their signature transparent sound and trademark ease-of-use.  Does it live up to expectations and Fab Filter's claim of being everything that you need?To find out I spoke with Floris Klinkert of Fab Filter, who designed the intelligent algorithm at the heart of Pro-DS.  Then I tested Pro-DS against my preferred method of de-essing.Music: Yellow Red Sparks "Four Steps In Corsets" This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!Square Cad is also Sponsored by Dangerous Music.  Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at dangerousmusic.com!

This week Square Cad is checking the hype on the Fab Filter Pro-DS de-esser. Having a quality de-esser handy is crucial, and fans of Fab Filter's software have long clamored for them to offer a de-esser with their signature transparent sound and trademark ease-of-use. Does it live up to expectations and Fab Filter's claim of being everything that you need? To find out I spoke with Floris Klinkert of Fab Filter, who designed the intelligent algorithm at the heart of Pro-DS. Then I tested Pro-DS against my preferred method of de-essing. Music: Yellow Red Sparks "Four Steps In Corsets" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more! Square Cad is also Sponsored by Dangerous Music. Check out all the indispensable mastering tools at <a href="http://dangerousmusic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dangerousmusic.com</a>!

#53 Square Cad: Hype Check-Fab Filter Pro DS De-esser

Many people attempting to develop or expand their mixing skills are wading through a sea of misinformation.  This is an important fact for mastering engineers to realize, since the mix is the foundation of what we do and many of these aspiring mixers will come to us.  Fab Dupont is trying to help.  He's created an online repository of mixing tutorials, and downloadable mix sessions, at PureMix.net.  Fab is a mixing engineer, producer, and owner of Flux Studios in New York.  He's worked for artists such as Santigold, Jennifer Lopez, Bon Jovi, Toots and The Maytals, Queen Latifah, Shakira, Issac Hayes, and many more.  Fab spoke with me about PureMix, the importance of hands-on learning, and why major labels are useful.  Music: Slick Rick "Teacher, Teacher" This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

Many people attempting to develop or expand their mixing skills are wading through a sea of misinformation. This is an important fact for mastering engineers to realize, since the mix is the foundation of what we do and many of these aspiring mixers will come to us. Fab Dupont is trying to help. He's created an online repository of mixing tutorials, and downloadable mix sessions, at <a href="http://PureMix.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PureMix.net</a>. Fab is a mixing engineer, producer, and owner of Flux Studios in New York. He's worked for artists such as Santigold, Jennifer Lopez, Bon Jovi, Toots and The Maytals, Queen Latifah, Shakira, Issac Hayes, and many more. Fab spoke with me about PureMix, the importance of hands-on learning, and why major labels are useful. Music: Slick Rick "Teacher, Teacher" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

#47 Square Cad: Effective Mixing Pedagogy

For a long time Chris Athens was a company man.  After getting his start as a mastering engineer at Sony he moved to New York's Sterling Sound.  He worked at Sterling for almost thirteen years mastering records for Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, AC/DC, Redman, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Coldplay, The Beastie Boys, Young Jeezy, Gym Class Heroes, Bone Crusher, Raekwon, The Neptunes, and many more.  Last month he left Sterling, moved the Austin Texas, and established Chris Athens Masters.  Chris discusses the reasons for striking out on his own,  ambition, and how client expectations evolve with changes in the music industry.Music: Wiz Khalifa "Fly Solo" This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

For a long time Chris Athens was a company man. After getting his start as a mastering engineer at Sony he moved to New York's Sterling Sound. He worked at Sterling for almost thirteen years mastering records for Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, AC/DC, Redman, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Coldplay, The Beastie Boys, Young Jeezy, Gym Class Heroes, Bone Crusher, Raekwon, The Neptunes, and many more. Last month he left Sterling, moved the Austin Texas, and established Chris Athens Masters. Chris discusses the reasons for striking out on his own, ambition, and how client expectations evolve with changes in the music industry. Music: Wiz Khalifa "Fly Solo" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

#46 Square Cad: Going Solo

This week Square Cad is checking the hype on the new Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines.  VTM is a new plug-in from Slate, programmed by Fabrice Gabriel, that touts itself as "the most advanced, dynamic, and true-to-life" analog tape emulator ever made.  I spoke with Steven Slate of Slate Digital about his approach to emulating analog and how the VTM plug-in came about.  Then I put the VTM to work and find out what it can and can't do. Music: Das Racist "Fake Patois" This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

This week Square Cad is checking the hype on the new Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines. VTM is a new plug-in from Slate, programmed by Fabrice Gabriel, that touts itself as "the most advanced, dynamic, and true-to-life" analog tape emulator ever made. I spoke with Steven Slate of Slate Digital about his approach to emulating analog and how the VTM plug-in came about. Then I put the VTM to work and find out what it can and can't do. Music: Das Racist "Fake Patois" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

#45 Square Cad: Hype Check: Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

Emily Lazar

Since 1997 Emily Lazar has been mastering chart toppers and independent artists alike at The Lodge in Greenwich Village.  In the 15 years since it's inception the likes of The Foo Fighters, Garbage, Rogue Wave, Depeche Mode, Morrissey, Bjork, Lou Reed, Vampire Weekend and many more have relied on Emily and the other engineers at The Lodge.Emily and I spoke about her experience as an assistant to Greg Calbi, the benefits and challenges of running a studio in Manhattan, and what hasn't changed about mastering from the early days of digital to the present.  Music: The Walkmen "In The New Year" This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

Since 1997 Emily Lazar has been mastering chart toppers and independent artists alike at The Lodge in Greenwich Village. In the 15 years since it's inception the likes of The Foo Fighters, Garbage, Rogue Wave, Depeche Mode, Morrissey, Bjork, Lou Reed, Vampire Weekend and many more have relied on Emily and the other engineers at The Lodge. Emily and I spoke about her experience as an assistant to Greg Calbi, the benefits and challenges of running a studio in Manhattan, and what hasn't changed about mastering from the early days of digital to the present. Music: The Walkmen "In The New Year" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

#44 Square Cad: Master Craft With Emily Lazar

EveAnna Manley is a friend to mastering engineers.  The gear that Manley Labs produces is found in some of the best mastering studios around the world because it behaves and sounds unlike anything else.  The Massive Passive and Vari-Mu have been used on countless records for over 15 years.EveAnna spoke with me about the idiosyncrasies of analog, designing with Dave Collins, and why sometimes it's good to saw open a transformer.Music: Muse "Super Massive Blackhole" This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

EveAnna Manley is a friend to mastering engineers. The gear that Manley Labs produces is found in some of the best mastering studios around the world because it behaves and sounds unlike anything else. The Massive Passive and Vari-Mu have been used on countless records for over 15 years. EveAnna spoke with me about the idiosyncrasies of analog, designing with Dave Collins, and why sometimes it's good to saw open a transformer. Music: Muse "Super Massive Blackhole" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

#43 Square Cad: Glorious Imperfect Analog

If you think positioning a subwoofer is hard you should try making one.  There is a multitude of factors to tackle and Brian Ding of Rythmik Audio has considered them all.  Brian spoke with me abut the Thiele-Small AES paper that inspired him to start Ryhtmik, reconciling electrical engineering and acoustics in his designs, and why a sealed subwoofer enclosure sounds better.Music: Arctic Monkeys "Fluorescent Adolescent" This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

If you think positioning a subwoofer is hard you should try making one. There is a multitude of factors to tackle and Brian Ding of Rythmik Audio has considered them all. Brian spoke with me abut the Thiele-Small AES paper that inspired him to start Ryhtmik, reconciling electrical engineering and acoustics in his designs, and why a sealed subwoofer enclosure sounds better. Music: Arctic Monkeys "Fluorescent Adolescent" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

#42 Square Cad: Deeper, Truer Bass

What does it take to design a truly exceptional mastering room?  It's more than just hanging panels at points of first reflection.  It takes a vision, creativity, and a staggering amount of technical expertise.  The two person team that makes up Belgium's Northward Acoustics knows this because they design some of the best studios in the world.  Thomas Jouanjean and Silvia Santafé from Northward spoke with me about how they became studio designers, their Front-to-Back room design philosophy, and why you should always listen before you measure.  Music: The Good, The Bad, and The Queen "Northern Whale"  This episode is sponsored by Sweetwater.com.  Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

What does it take to design a truly exceptional mastering room? It's more than just hanging panels at points of first reflection. It takes a vision, creativity, and a staggering amount of technical expertise. The two person team that makes up Belgium's Northward Acoustics knows this because they design some of the best studios in the world. Thomas Jouanjean and Silvia Santafé from Northward spoke with me about how they became studio designers, their Front-to-Back room design philosophy, and why you should always listen before you measure. Music: The Good, The Bad, and The Queen "Northern Whale" This episode is sponsored by <a href="http://Sweetwater.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweetwater.com</a>. Call Sweetwater and use the offer code 'SquareCad512' to get $25 off an order of $200 or more!

#41 Square Cad: Masterful Acoustic Design

Michael Romanowski

Michael Romanowski spends a lot of time thinking about music.  Aside from mastering in San Francisco for over 18 years, he's also chairman of the San Francisco Producers and Engineers wing of NARAS (the GRAMMY people), one of the minds behind The Tape Project, a live sound engineer, and co-producer of the Bay Area music podcast Renee and Romo.Michael and I spoke in his studio about the consequences of devaluing music, why he's adding a live tracking room to his business, and how the role of a mastering engineer has changed in the past 20 years.  Music: Magnetic Fields "Come Back From San Francisco"

Michael Romanowski spends a lot of time thinking about music. Aside from mastering in San Francisco for over 18 years, he's also chairman of the San Francisco Producers and Engineers wing of NARAS (the GRAMMY people), one of the minds behind The Tape Project, a live sound engineer, and co-producer of the Bay Area music podcast Renee and Romo. Michael and I spoke in his studio about the consequences of devaluing music, why he's adding a live tracking room to his business, and how the role of a mastering engineer has changed in the past 20 years. Music: Magnetic Fields "Come Back From San Francisco"

#36 Square Cad: Master Craft with Michael Romanowski

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