Dennie Dias Interview - mastering with Magnepans

[ahofer]

This was an interesting interview with lesser known Steely Dan guitarist Dennie Dias. Several recording anecdotes within, including Becker bringing in his Magnepans for mastering Can't Buy a Thrill (odd decision in my book - was the console in a damped room?). I always liked Dias' solos (Beato doesn't call out Gold Teeth, which is a great one), and he seems like an interesting guy, kind of an intellectual soulmate to fellow band member Jeff Baxter.

 

[physicsplace]

This guy gets to live forever. Some of the best solos ever recorded.

Tutuapp​

 

[DVDdoug]

It's not clear that those were the ONLY monitors used. Probably not.

He says, "You could hear things on those that you couldn't hear with normal speakers." That's not really the best way to mix master... You'll be hearing something different from what 99.9% of listeners will hear (probably including different frequency response). The goal isn't to get great sound in the studio...

Ethan Winer makes a similar argument against using headphones for mixing & mastering... You'll hear details that are lost when the listener plays back on speakers.

BUT Steely Dan WAS famous for making great "clean sounding" records at a time when the majority of records were mediocre, and that quality carried-through to the final vinyl. They showed what was possible if the record companies really cared. I wasn't a Steely Dan fan but I was a Fleetwood Mac fan and they had a similar reputation for good-sounding records.

 

[coonmanx]

I have to say. What an incredible interview. What a great guy.