R-e/p: How far did you go with the project, Rob? Were you involved in the mastering?
RF: After the mixes were done, they virtually turned the whole thing over to me. They let me decide on the spacing between songs, and everything regarding mastering. I cut sets of refs for them for approval when I was satisfied, and then they gave me the final go-ahead.
R-e/p: We see the record was cut at Kendun. What made you go to that particular mastering facility?
RF: I did some checks, actually. I cut flat parts at a few places, and put a 700-cycle tone at the front to get accurate comparisons of the cutting. From there I decided on Kendun. So I went out there, cut it, and that was it.
R-e/p: Kendun’s room was done by Westlake, wasn’t it?
RF: Yes. It sounded a bit bright in there.
R-e/p: That isn’t surprising, considering the different monitor systems involved. Did you have any trouble adjusting to the difference and getting the right EQ?
RF: I suggested that we do nothing to it, and Kent Duncan, who did the cutting, agreed. I just relied on our previous checks of the mixes.
R-e/p: You mean when you got back to the Village with the refs, it sounded right?
RF: Yes, when we cut it flat. But we tried some EQ on the critical refs, a little on this and a little on that, and we couldn’t do anything to really improve it.
R-e/p: So you think it’s no problem to mix on one system and cut on another?
RF: No, I’ve done that. An even better example was the album I did with Richard Green before we did Bob’s album. Our studio was booked so heavily that we had to go outside to Sound Labs (Hollywood). It sounded very similar and was easy for us to adjust.
R-e/p: That’s a 604 system with the Mastering Lab modification.
RF: Right. The bottom end is different in here, it goes lower—down to 40 cycles almost flat. It just didn’t sound like it was doing that at Sound Labs. Our bottom end has a certain feel to it, as well as a sound, which is different over there. But the high end sounded very similar, which surprised me.
R-e/p: What about people who like a different sound?
RF: Of course we’re talking about taste. That’s pretty much what it comes down to. Some people like 604’s, and you can’t argue with it.
What we do have in all our rooms is a speaker switching system. We have a rotary selector switch, with other speakers on custom made stands. They have small bases, telescoping height adjustment, and heavy-duty casters. They’re sturdy enough to hold a 604E or 4320 and roll around.