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The place world-class experience meets musical intent
Tucked inside Metropolis Studios, which is housed inside the Grade II listed Energy Home, a superbly restored Victorian energy station in Chiswick, West London, Metropolis Mastering is broadly recognised as one among Europe’s premier mastering amenities.
For greater than three a long time, its engineers have formed the sound of numerous landmark information. With pristine acoustic environments, state-of-the-art expertise and a group that features Tony Cousins, Stuart Hawkes, Matt Colton, Mike Hillier, Andy “Hippy” Baldwin and Felix Davis, the ability continues to set the benchmark for contemporary mastering.
From conventional stereo mastering to Dolby Atmos, Metropolis affords an distinctive vary of companies throughout all fashionable codecs together with vinyl, CD and streaming, making certain each challenge interprets completely throughout listening methods. The studio’s historical past of Grammy and Mercury Prize-winning work stands as testomony to the consistency and high quality of its output.
Contained in the Room with Felix Davis
A dialog about style, instruments and translating intent
Throughout my go to to Metropolis, I sat down with mastering engineer Felix Davis in Mastering Room 5, affectionately nicknamed “Dylan”. Felix joined Metropolis in 2016, the identical 12 months his father John Davis was remastering Led Zeppelin’s total catalogue with Jimmy Web page, a challenge that will change into a defining second for each.
“One in every of my first paid jobs in music,” Felix remembers, “was actually QC-ing all of the Led Zeppelin CDs, listening from begin to end and noting any clicks, pops or squeaky pedals.”
Felix later assisted his father on varied tasks earlier than entering into the function himself. When John turned unwell, Felix took over recutting sure Led Zeppelin lacquers, consulting together with his father all through the method.
“Dad advised me, ‘Make it loud, Jimmy needs it loud. Don’t cover width with elliptical tips, he’ll hear it if one thing’s been monoed.’ No strain in any respect,” he laughs.
Hybrid workflow and philosophy
Felix describes his strategy as a mix of analogue character and digital precision.
His setup centres round a Mac mini operating Professional Instruments, feeding by means of a Prism DA into an analogue chain earlier than being captured in Sequoia. The chain consists of Maselec EQs, Avalon compression and EQ, and a Summit EQ for refined tube heat. Digital refinement follows with iZotope Ozone and FabFilter Professional-L2, whereas monitoring is dealt with by means of PMC audio system and Audeze LCD-X headphones.
“Analogue units the tone, digital lets me fine-tune. If somebody asks for half a dB much less, I can immediately open the session and modify. That’s the fantastic thing about recall.”
He’s pragmatic about loudness.
“Some mixes deal with stage superbly, others crumble. I do what feels proper for the music. Platforms change their targets on a regular basis, so I belief my ears first.”
Sibilance, sparkle and the low-mid steadiness
Felix is meticulous about high-end texture.
“The Avalon EQ offers you prime finish that feels costly, by no means brittle. Between 9 and 12 kHz you get that zone the place cymbals and sibilance overlap, so it’s about bringing life with out harshness.”
He’s equally aware of context.
“On Spanish or Turkish vocals, you possibly can’t over-de-ess. It adjustments the which means of the phrases. I’ve actually had shoppers say, ‘You’ve given me a lisp.’ You be taught respect for the language.”
As for the low-mid vary round 250 Hz:
“That space offers a monitor its push. Lots of people scoop it too closely in choruses after stacking guitars, and the tune loses weight. I’ll typically add a contact again within the refrain so it nonetheless feels highly effective.”
Width, mono and vinyl sense
“Generally monoing the bass simply works. In the event you preserve every little thing beneath about 40 Hz centred, the underside finish stays punchy and the stereo width above it truly feels wider.”
Format and supply
Metropolis more and more handles high-resolution tasks, with many mixes arriving at 96 kHz. Masters are captured at native decision, then fastidiously transformed for streaming, vinyl or CD.
“You’ll be able to’t management how folks hear, whether or not it’s lossless Apple Digital Masters or default Spotify high quality, so the aim is to make one thing that survives each context.”
Whereas Room 5 is primarily a stereo suite, Felix additionally masters Dolby Atmos tasks downstairs within the Metropolis Dolby-certified studio.
“Atmos has actually overtaken legacy 5.1 for music. Most of my work remains to be stereo, however when shoppers attend in particular person, I like it. I like to speak, share what I’m listening to and make selections collectively.”
Recommendation for artists and mixers
Felix’s steering for these sending mixes is refreshingly simple.
“Don’t clip your combine until you’re keen on the sound of the clip. Go away slightly headroom so we will go analogue with out it slamming. Ship the best decision you might have. And if one thing’s unworkable, we’ll inform you. In any other case we’ll meet you the place you’re.”
He credit his father for instilling that sense of openness.
“Dad by no means handled mastering like a darkish artwork. He needed me to know every little thing. That transparency helps everybody make higher information.”
Study extra or e book a session
Metropolis Mastering operates as a part of Metropolis Studios, situated in the Energy Home, 70 Chiswick Excessive Highway, London, one of the crucial architecturally hanging studio complexes on this planet.
In the event you’d wish to be taught extra about their work, hear samples or e book a mastering session, contact Mastering Engineer Supervisor Ellie at (+44) 0208 742 1111 or ship a reserving enquiry through the Metropolis Studios web site.
Metropolis Mastering contained in the Victorian coronary heart of Chiswick, the place craft, style and expertise mix to assist your music sound its best.
The put up Metropolis Mastering, Chiswick appeared first on Produce Like A Professional.
