Sonik Wheel Productions

Treat your mixes to some of the finest hi-end audio processing available today, at a fraction of the price of other leading mastering studios.

We prize three tools above the rest: experienced and sensitive ears, a supremely accurate monitoring system, and good judgment. All other gear is secondary.

 

SONIK MONITORING:

• Lipinski Sound L-707 loudspeakers - these are among the world's top mastering monitors.  Their designer, famed engineer Andrew Lipinski, is recognized by the US National Bureau of Standards as having perfect hearing.

• Lipinski Sound L-301 amplifier - crystal clear sound designed by Andrew Lipinski.

• Grace Design high fidelity monitor system 

• Sennheiser HD 650 headphones

• Additional monitors by Paradigm and Definitive Technology

• Mastered CDs are auditioned on four typical home and auto stereo systems.

 

 

SONIK SOUND PROCESSING:

 

Here are some of our favorite processors:

 

 

 

 

is a high-resolution linear-phase mastering split compressor featuring parallel mode, linear-phase split filters, adjustable soft knee, intelligent auto-release, and parameterized soft clipper.

 

This may be one of the world's most transparent compressors.

The split function allows dynamic processing only in the band of interest. Unlike many other split or multiband compressors, the frequency crossover is made with low-noise linear-phase filters. They allow perfect band recombination after processing. To reduce the problem of alias frequencies being often a hidden problem in digital non-linear processors, a reference-quality oversampling has been implemented.  

 

 

 

Algorithmix equalizers are among the world's finest EQs!  Algorothmix EQs are comparable to the very best analog mastering EQs, and in some respects are even better!  These are used by some of the world's top mastering studios.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We offer vintage sound from Abbey Road Studios!

 

The EMI TG12412 was first introduced to the recording world around 1972 when Abbey Road installed the first TG12410 transfer (or mastering) desks. This equalizer is deeply rooted in the tradition of EMI EQs started in 1954 with the RS56, and continued with the TG12345 in 1969, and finally the TG12412 in 1972.

On each band you can choose to shelf up or down on any frequency.  This is an often used trick of Abbey Road mastering engineers through the years.

 

 

 

 

The EMI TG12414, was first introduced to the recording world around 1972 when Abbey Road installed the first TG12410 transfer (or mastering) desks. This special sounding equalizer and filter has been a highly prized secret of Abbey Road mastering engineers for nearly 30 years.

Each unit includes high pass, low pass, and presence and presence controls as well as the MKIV TG Line Amplifier. The Presence control provide 10db of boost or cut on eight frequencies that are approximately the same shape as the medium setting on the TG12412 Mastering EQ.  It should also be noted that these are the same EQ points as the TG12345 console as used on many Beatles and Pink Floyd recordings.

 

While not appropriate for all mixes, at times just a careful touch of these and other vintage Abbey Road processors can work magic.

 

 

We have the sure cure for "digititis"!

 

 

The HEDD 192 by Crane Song is engineered to provide musically pleasing sound with the capability of generating tube and analog tape sound in the digital domain. This is an essential processor for any high-end mastering studio. Try it for yourself!

 

We use K-System meters and monitoring to prevent the hyper-compressed and fatiguing digital sound that is all too common today. Designed by mastering guru Bob Katz, the K-System integrates the best concepts of the past with current psychoacoustic knowledge.

 

 

We have the multiband compressor and brickwall limiter from the T.C. Electronic Mastering System 6000 - used by the world's top mastering houses! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have audiophile quality models of a variety of classic EQs and compressors with the same vintage sound used on thousands of hit songs, including the Fairchild 660 limiter (a favorite of Geoff Emerick, engineer for the Beatles), Fairchild 760, Manley Massive Passive, Pultec EQP-1A, UA 1176, and LA-2A.

 

 

 

 

The SSL master buss compressor from the Solid State Logic 4000 console provides analog-like SSL sound for your mixes!  It sounds especially good on Hip Hop!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOISE REMOVAL and SOUND RESTORATION

• Magix Spectral Cleaning

• Alogorithmix reNOVAtor

• Waves Restoration Bundle

 

 

DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS:

• Sequoia High Definition Digital Audio Workstation - top-of-the-line mastering DAW!

• Pro Tools|HD 3 Accel Digital Audio Workstation - plenty of power!

• Sonica Audio Labs Neo-64 Intel Dual Core PC

• Apogee Big Ben 192kHz master word clock

 

OTHER:

• Room treatments by RPG Diffusor Systems

• Electricity filtered by Monster Power

• Cables by Zaolla and Monster

• CDrs by Taiyo Yuden - The only CDrs to use for mastering.

 

 

Fill out your e-mail address to receive our newsletter!
Subscribe Unsubscribe

 

 

Sonik Wheel's owner and chief engineer, Bill Jacobs, has more than 30 years of experience as a musician and audiophile concerned with the sound quality of music reproduction. (Photo by Willy Jacobs)