The best way to master is record at maximum levels on your recording software and/or recording workstation. Then that way you don't have to over-boost on your mastering, just barely give a raise in levels.

The Alesis MasterLink is the best stand-alone mastering tool on the market and allows loudness (but never too loud) without over compression on dynamics.

Check out www.soultostrings.com I recorded & mastered everything in this fashion and the end results were fantastic.

Dear Professor Satchafunkilus, HI,Joe.I am guitarist in Australia.Have been listening and being inspired by you since not of this earth.I just wanted to thank you for music and your lifes dedication that has meant so much to me.You are a very generous and humble man and wanted too thank you for sharing your skills and work with the world.Please dont ever stop recording and touring.will come and see you when your 85 still blowing peoples minds.Lifelong dream came true and can mark it off the bucket list.Just went to the show at Tivoli Brisbane.It was everything i wanted and more.My mind was blown and willbe forever more.The new album is great and got it on constant rotation.Theres no-one else i'd rather listen too. I know you dont like praise but i just wanted to thank you once again for everything you do and what you've given us all.I'll look foward to your future conquests. I just wanna rock.

Craig

Hey Joe, I met you at the tivoli in Brisbane and u signed my Drivers licence when i was off my head, what an awsum concert that was hey man!, i forgot to ask you and i wish i did when i met you, whats one piece of advice you could give a guitarist to get as good as possible?

Igneousiceman - does cycling up the shop count? >=:o) i haven't done a proper ride for 3 months, for me a proper ride = 10km :P which is nothing for real cyclists. we have a Freeway Bike Hike here, you get to cycle down the Freeway for 30km...i've done that twice in '05 & '06...I haven't done the last 2yrs. so the furthest i've ridden is 30km in 75 mins :) i need to get some fitness again...i've been avoiding my exercise bike. i got bursitis in my left hip and as soon as i start to get some fitness and push myself it flares up :/

about the Tour...i don't care for Armstrong. do you think he was a druggie? how can you win 7 Tours?? I see a few more have been kicked out of the Tour...did you hear the people booing that Ricco guy? serves him right...his whole team has pulled out.

roo BigBunny and the satchers: Yes, joe has all the notes, he said he knows he has them in one of the travel cases.

thanx for asking roo >=:o) much appreciated...now i know i didn't stuff up yayyy! that was nice of you to give away a M&G pass, good on ya.

Jamie oh man, i'd love another G3!! just Joe would be fine though :) i 2nd what Jamie said Joe Thanx for returning to Oz...please visit us again soon!! >=:o) about the guitar, i emailed my local music shop and they said they have someone who can clearcoat it, don't know how much it will cost though $$$

Tracie - thanx for that link...man that's a good drawing!! but like Alan said 'where's the little legs?' hey, if you can't beat them, join them >=;P

Rock people now used to get lot of compression.

But everybody is free to master rock as jazz or classical music.. that is to say with more dynamic.. it's as you wish.

Don't forget that mastering step won't do miracle.

The definition of your dynamic starts with the way you play, record, & mix.

Hi Do The Stu,

I have The Extremist, ITLIS, Live!, PSAMOR and SWTA, and just bought NOTT and CP on ebay. So still looking for FIABD, TM and others. Have DVD's LISF and G3 Vai/Johnson, my brother lent me Live in Denver and I think I'll get my own copy of that too. Also have a hefty playlist of Joe songs on You Tube - so handy.

I've been right out of active listening to music unfortunately (I know, it's sad) , got distracted for about 10 years going to uni, work, family, it's now all Hannah Montana and Pink at our place! There's really only been radio and the daughters' So Fresh CD's - how tragic.

Having said that, I rarely find a band so good that I am willing to shell out for their entire CD, I must be a hard customer. If I have to disclose some, I do have ACDC, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, U2, Def Leppard, and then almost nothing after that.

It was when we bought a new PC media centre last year that I went through all my CD's to transfer to WMP and iTunes and was putting together a playlist to walk/jog/ride to that I plucked out SWTA and thought SH*T why haven't I been listening to this??

Cheers

Skippygirl

I must say I am very impressed by everyone's knowledge of the db recording levels of these cd's. I always thought I had a pretty good ear, but I think my is only good to the music and different instruments playing. Someone tell me axactly what recording a cd at 88 db or 100 db does? How does it adversly affect the sound?

Happy Birthday, Joe!!!

WeŽre expecting you here in Brasilia on the august, 2nd!!!

Thanks for the oportunity!!!

Hybes : Digital level must be the nearest possible of 0 db. Over 0 db, crap noise.

Analogic level is more flexible : it goes over 0 db without crap noise.

I don't understand at all why you are talking about 100 or 88 db.

Hybes : first, if you record guitar directly onto computer, i can't help you, because i don't.

Second, if you record with a microphone put near an amp, you before all have to find the level you need onto your amp to get the tone you wish. The key is between volume knob & master volume knob.

Third, in general, onto analogic system, you can record between -20 db until 10 db. Saturation onto analogic recording is progressive.

Fourth, in general, onto digital system, you have to not record over 0 db. Saturation onto digital recording is instantaneous over 0 db.

After, if you record onto a computer with a sequencer, each sequencer requires to be studied.

When you do your mix onto a sequencer or onto an analogic tape, only your own ears can indicate to you the stereo or mono volume of each instrument. But mix is a complex deal, so check this

The mastering is the ultimate step. The more delicat. The best i think is training yourself to record & mix during several time to learn mixing.

& the day you'll feel ready for mastering,

So..

Of course, a very good home studio is expensive. If you don't get lot of money, you'll have to be a few handyman to get honorable recording.

Edit:

Of course Joe is at the top of all that.

I want one too please, honey oak :)))

Jamie, thanks for the good thoughts for a show coming our way, but I'm with civgeek....we feel pretty slighted in the Pacific NW cuz it seems like every other tour or so, there's no room left in the schedule to get up here at all. And it's not just Portland, OR, but also any Washington or Vancouver, Canada venues that get missed. Most other locations are visited regularly on tour, but the NW...well...maybe they aren't sell-outs so that's the reason why? I dunno, but if that's the case, SHAME ON US!!!

It comes down to, we love Joe up here as much as anywhere else and wanna see him. But I unnerstand scheduling can be a beast and Joe works constantly as it is....don't wanna see him work himself to deff, but damn WE MISS HIM UP HERE!!! However, I still hold out a small hope that all the shows just aren't posted up yet.

That's one of the reasons why I make sure we get to Reno &/or San Fran, cuz I never know if there'll be a NW date. All that traveling, hotels, etc, especially with gas prices the way they are now...is pretty tough on the budget. Lots of people just can't do it. But Joe is worth it for us. We're gonna give up seeing TSO this year, just to make sure we see Joseph :) To miss seeing him play is to miss getting oxygen, especially for my son...it's vital, lol!

Hope you're enjoying your short vacation between Oz and South America Joe!! Loved the birthday video of you in Sydney, I wish the entire audience could show up in bald wigs and glasses just fer u :D :D :D Mick and Jeff looked....

Another video from Stu, Down Under :)

Chelle!!! He mentions fruit BATS....I tink he did that just fer u :)

Reservoir tip Jeff? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....wrong end me thinks, unless yer brain power just spills over, LMAO!!

howdy.

igneous-ive GRID on PS3. Ive got an iMac which doesnt have many games, especially ones i cant get on the PS3.

I find it a hard game to! the flashback things are a great idea.

hmmm whats everyones favourite car?

I d have to go for somthing like the Lamborghini Diablo, sleek and mean and very fast. mindyou the Mclaren F-1 or for my retro garage a ferrai GTO 1984:-) ahhh wishful thinking.

I love that new Fiat 500, cool little motor.

Hello Friends. Yesterday at Midnight it was a Starry Night in Andalusia and I heard the Echo of a New Blues. I stay up the entire night I was Out of the Sunrise.Now im living a Day at The Beach and I Just Look Up and i'm seeing a Clouds Race Across the Sky. I can't describe The Feeling. I Believe that If I Could Fly I could see The Engines of Creation, like a Super Colossal Revelation. We sometimes wonder What is our purpose?what is The Meaning of Love? I only know that a Love Thing It's so Good. And when we are Crying we think that we are Made of Tears. But Why? Is it because we are Flying in a Blue Dream?I can't say evrything I'm thinking in Ten Words, so Until we Say Goodbye I will only say: Come on Baby! I JUST WANNA ROCK