Introduction à Gearbox Records

Welcome to Gearbox Records

I'm Daryl Scheinman, the founder of the label. We are a label that:

• Publishes our own catalogue
• Offers our system for third-party mastering

Philosophy of the Label

Our philosophy revolves around purity of sound. Our goal is to have as little in the signal path as possible while being honest and direct about what we're doing.

Historical Context

There have been some great engineers in the past, mainly in the 50s and 60s, who had large budgets from major companies to develop new ways to record material.

For example:

• Mr. Fine
• RCA's Living Presence
• Mercury

These entities were doing wonderful things, and we are striving to recreate some of the sonic benefits they discovered, primarily through techniques that have unfortunately faded away as more people record, master, and mix in the box.

Our Approach

At Gearbox, we aim to use as much high-quality outboard equipment as possible, alongside a robust digital component.

Purity of Signal Path

What we include in the signal path needs to have integrity. We use:

• High-quality iron
• Good transformers
• Some valve technology, which introduces second harmonic distortion but adds significant value in the process.

We also prioritize precise frequency control. Our monitoring equipment can resolve down to half a dB, allowing us to hear down to those subtle distinctions.

As a result, we have developed a nice system that we offer to third parties.

Meet Casper

I've hired a mastering engineer named Casper, who joins us in these sessions. We will go through each of the recordings and demonstrate our predominantly analog techniques.

Collaboration Process

So, yeah. Hey, Casper, come on over!

I've introduced you already, and this is Casper. He will also be involved in this series of films, demonstrating each part of our process.

There will be a point where I will start off by discussing the cutting side of things in detail, but as we assemble all those parts into one fluid whole, we will both take part in the process.

Two-Person Mastering Sessions

At Gearbox, we believe in having two people, if possible, on every mastering and cutting final session. The reason for this approach is not that it's absolutely necessary, many mastering studios operate successfully with just one person, but when you have the luxury of two, the room becomes calmer.

• One person manages the desk and the tape machines (or digital equipment)
• The second person focuses on the cutting side

This setup allows for better connection and communication, making the process smoother. Additionally, having a second pair of ears is crucial for achieving the best results.