production...audio CD

it's coming to an end of the whole process..
angela and i are up in KL...
thx to Alvin Seah, allowed us to stay at his place while he's back in JB...

well, we're here to collect the CD - YOU (the title of the album)
since now got some free time, let me talk about CD production...

hmmm... how many of u know how much more need to be done after initial stage?
i mean after song writing, music arrangement, practice and recording...

1. re-dub. almost all the live concert need to re-dub coz it's just not clear, clean enough to produce it into an album. unless everyone in the team is professional with only <> thanks to titus, who spent many days just to arrange musicians and singers to re-dub all the mistakes..
> also thanks to Darin Browne who gave us lots of advise in how to re-dub

2. mixing. natural voice is always the best but unfortunately, system cannot be entirely natural, so that's where mixing comes in. put in EQ, level the sound, put in effect, etc. professional also needs it. Some say integrity spend 200 hours in the studio after their recording.

> ha, we are no pro, just beginners so if we do it, it'll take forever or the project will be forever... so after went through some testing ground here and there, finally we found The Ark Studios to do the mixing. Nick is really pro, he does his job with both hands. one hand use mouse to adjust the software and the other hand adjust the mixer. and really thank God he's helpful and humble!

3. Mastering. basically after mixing, the final stage at the studio will be mastering. it helps to connect all the songs, level up the volume and brighten the sound. at the end, produce a master copy for duplication

> the album production team probably listened to the songs in the album for more than 10 times just to make sure it's what we want.. we probably will be the one who won't listen to the CD after it's out.. haha.. ironic..

4. CD duplication. using machine to mass produce the master copy.

> after last experience (some players just refuse to play CSI, even though it's an original), we are kinda careful with the duplicater. so thx to Nick, who gave us his contact. Lord, may this duplicater does a good job...

5. copyright. Malaysia doesn't have a specific law to protect intellectual property, i.e. song. all we need is to record down the date of composing and 'tadah' - it's copyrighted... (--') however, whoever produce an audio CD album must have a company to point it to, so that the company owns the production. (individual also can own it but it's better to have a company for covering purpose)

> so, i was part of the 'office boy' (or what ppl call the 'runner') for the company registration. so tedious, running here and there, preparing the documents, get the directors to sign, hand in the SSM (company registration department). really time consuming.

6. Original hologram. in order to sell it in public, all audio CD must have the 'TULEN' hologram to prove its originality. without it can be a very 'dai wok' (大祸 - big trouble).

> just to fill up all the forms took me half a day.. and half of it i don't really understand.. haha.. but at least now i know what to fill up.

7. CD face printing. this is to make sure the CD itself has some design on it. just blank also can, but people might put the wrong side into the player.. also another avenue for designer to show off their power...

> ha, this is interesting. for the duplicater to print the design, she wants a color separation film of the design. so she suppose to call our local color separator to tell him the specs. when she calls him, he didn't pick up.. then she called me to 'chase', finally i got the guy, and he then call back to the lady... huh.. she didn't pick up... macam hide 'n seek... (--")

8. CD cover printing. this is to list down the lyrics, the info on the production crew, i.e. producer, singers, composer, arranger, sound engineer, etc. also another avenue for designer to show off..

> thx to jeffo, very quick and creative. his design is really good (if the song not to ur standard, also buy bcoz of the cover la...)(haha). lots of arrangement with the printer guy.. finally when i went and collect.. then i realize they only printed 1000 copies (err.. suppose to be 3000)... aiyoyo.. (--'")

well, a very long process and lots of effort, but it's rewarding...
finally gonna launch it...
wow, very anticipating le..

this Sun...
u'll see it...