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What makes the "Fifth Circle" Sound?
The pleasing sound you will hear on your recording is created through a wide range of reasons. First, we use some of the highest quality gear on the market. This includes the use of Microphones, Pre-Amplifiers, Consoles, Mastering Effects, and recorders. All of our engineers are also highly trained and experienced in the recording and post-production of acoustic music. All of our engineers are also either current performing musicians or former musicians. When you combine their lifetime exposure to the music and technical experiences, you will receive a stellar result.
How Far in Advance do I have to book?
While there is no set required time to book a recording, the sooner you book, the better. We generally prefer if you can give us at least a couple of weeks notice. It is also advantageous to you, the client, to book early to be assured of getting a spot in our schedule.
Once you have recorded my concert/recording session, how long will it take to get my recording?
The turn-around time varies on what kind of recording was made. Most concert recordings will be finished within a week of the performance. Many will be provided to the client at the end of the evening (basic recital). Recording sessions are a little different. The turn-around time depends on the amount of editing needed. The client will get a copy of the session on a CD at the end of the night so they can decide on edits. When Fifth Circle Audio gets the edit decision list, we will begin the editing process. Usually, the edits will be completed in 1-2 weeks.
What if I need my recording sooner?
When we can, we are happy to accommodate tight schedules. However, if your last-minute project causes us to postpone another project, be prepared for rush fees. When booking your session, please keep the post-production schedule in mind. If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions.
What can you edit?
Editing is a standard part of the recording process. Fifth Circle Audio has the capability to edit just about anything from 1 track to 24 tracks, from 16 bits to 32 bits, and from 44.1 KHz to 96 KHz sampling rates. Using the high-end Sequoia workstation, we have the control to edit individual notes or entire sections of music. Contact us if you have specific questions regarding a project.
What is mastering and why do I want it?
Mastering is a creative process of putting the finishing touches on your recording. You may wonder why this is really needed. After all, the final mix of your concert or session will most likely sounded very good. There are several reasons to consider mastering:
Working with these factors will result in a recording that is far superior in sound quality to one that is not mastered.
What is the mastering process?
The first step is, the mastering engineer will load your recording onto a high-end digital audio workstation. There, he will be able to do any editing that is needed. This can range from splicing of music (from a session) or simply assembling the individual pieces on a CD from a concert.
The Mastering engineer listens to your work on a high-quality listening system. This enables him to hear the subtleties and nuances in your recording so they can be enhances. From there, the engineer will use a combination of processes to polish the final sound of your recording. This can include the addition of digital reverberation, equalization, image enhancement, compression and peak limiting. One of the advantages of using Fifth Circle Audio is the comfort you will have knowing that our engineers have a wide range of experiences with a large variety of music.
A CD reference master is then made for the client. This master will be of suitable quality so they can enjoy it for themselves and make the final approval of the project.
After approval a DDP 2.0 image will be generated that can be used for replication of CDs for mass distribution.
What is a DPP image?
DDP stands for Disc Description Protocol. It is a data image developed by Doug Carson Associates (http://www.dcainc.com/) of your CD master that replicators can read to manufacture your master. It is preferred to replicating from an audio CD as there is a lot more control of the final product and a much better chance of eliminating errors of all kinds from the manufacturing process.
Are there any extra features you can add to my CD?
Fifth Circle Audio can make CDs with a number of extra features. They include CD-Text, Hidden Tracks, variable length gaps between pieces, inclusion of ISRC codes, starting a CD with a track other than 1, and CD Extra. Inquire for details.
What is involved in doing a recording session?
When you book your recording, inform us as to the style of music and purpose of the recording. The approach to recording an orchestra's audition tape will be different than the approach to recording a CD release. Most classical music depends upon the sound of an acoustic space. Because of this, you will get a better recording in one of the many concert halls or churches around town. If you need a referral or list of preferred spaces, please contact us. Fifth Circle Audio does not currently run a recording studio, however we have connections to several studios around the Los Angeles area.
How long will a session take?
The length of time to complete a session depends upon what the requirements are. Obviously, an audition tape won't take as long as a CD session. At a bare minimum, I would book triple the time of your program (ie. 20 minutes of music would take an hour). This would be for a session where you just want one take on each piece. For CD recording sessions or sessions where a lot of editing will be expected, book one hour of time for every 4-5 minutes of music.
Why does a recording session take so long?
Trust us, it does. We have had many clients that do not listen and end up getting caught without enough recording time. The recording process is very time-consuming. When submitting a tape, you become very sensitive to mistakes. You will hear every missed note, every ensemble or intonation problem, and every phrase you wanted to play differently. It is also very fatiguing. You will want to take breaks for rest or to listen to a playback. All of this takes time.
We cannot stress this enough. Make sure you book enough time for your needs.
Do I need a producer?
YES! Having a second set of ears to listen to your performance is very important. This person should be familiar with the style of music you play as to make judgment calls on it. This person must be able to read a score and approve or judge the recorded sound and balances. The engineers at Fifth Circle Audio are all able to read a score, HOWEVER if we use our concentration reading your score, we won't have it to listen to your recording. It is to your advantage to have a producer.
The producer's responsibility is to make session notes about the takes and mark your score for editing. The producer can also help with the edit decision process. If your producer is inexperienced, we can show him or her what to do. If you do not have somebody to listen for you, Fifth Circle Audio has several producers on staff that can assist any client. Please contact us for details and costs involved.
Why multi-track?
Multi-tracking enables the client to remix a recording. When you record your recital on a multi track recorder, every microphone occupies its own "track." After the initial recording is made, you can take this multi-track tape and readjust levels and the mix. When you record directly to a stereo mix, it is not possible to change levels after the session or concert is done.
Fifth Circle Audio can multi-track your recording with extremely high quality. We will record directly from special, high quality microphone preamplifiers. These are much higher quality that what would be used in our standard mixing consoles. Our preferred multi-track machines include the Tascam DA-38/78/88/98 line and the new MX-2424 hard disk recorder. Please contact us for more details.
How should I contact you?
At Fifth Circle Audio, we are pretty easy to reach. You can expect a fast response through any method you choose, from the telephone to e-mail. Please see our Contact Page for all of our information.
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