Bradshaw Leigh delves into the essentials of vinyl mastering, emphasizing the importance of understanding vinyl's limitations to achieve optimal fidelity.
He highlights the need to address low-frequency phase issues during mixing, as out-of-phase material can cause problems with the lathe cutter head, potentially damaging the vinyl. Using an elliptical EQ during mastering or cutting to sum low frequencies to mono can help, but it's best to fix these issues in the mix.
Leigh also discusses the challenges of sibilance in vinyl mastering. High-frequency bursts can be problematic for both cutting and playback, leading to distortion. While mastering engineers can use tools like acceleration limiters to manage sibilance, it's advisable to control it during mixing.
Additionally, he advises against heavy digital limiting, as it can overheat the cutter head, leading to reduced levels during mastering.