Cool, that's the one I've got 

How do you do your own masters?

I use my ears.

Most of the time all I do is surgically apply EQ using a Sontec 432. 

Sometimes, I have to do parallel processing techniques and other tricks of the trade followed by EQ and final restoration like fixing bad edits or dropouts. Sometimes I do nothing at all. The decision to not do anything is just as valid a mastering decision as going all out with compression, eq, dsp correction and restoration.

It's always on a song by song basis.

Quote from: DaveBSC on August 27, 2012, 03:24:03 AM

Cool, that's the one I've got 

How do you do your own masters?

I use my ears.

Most of the time all I do is surgically apply EQ using a Sontec 432. 

Sometimes, I have to do parallel processing techniques and other tricks of the trade followed by EQ and final restoration like fixing bad edits or dropouts. Sometimes I do nothing at all. The decision to not do anything is just as valid a mastering decision as going all out with compression, eq, dsp correction and restoration.

It's always on a song by song basis.

Are you using original tapes? Is any of your stuff commercially available, or is it just for your own use?

We'll start out with details, in order with his first Capitol record...
This is in fact, Sinatra's 7th album but it was his very first Capitol album.  It was released as a 10" LP as a set of eight songs. One must keep in mind that this original eight song line up is how Sinatra conceived of the album and it is the best way to be heard. That said, shortly thereafter, with the introduction of the 12" LP, Capitol decided to bundle together his second album, "Swing Easy!" along with "Songs For Young Lovers".
The best way to hear this album is to find a pristine 12" LP with a gray label with prefix D on the stamper number. The D means it's an original west coast Los Angeles pressing and that it comes directly from the master tapes. The other option is to find the same LP with an N prefix. The N means it was made from a 1:1 dupe tape in New York. While it was pressed from a dupe tape, the sound quality is still superb.
Finding pristine vintage vinyl is quite the hard thing to do in 2012...nearly 2013...so we must look at what's easily available or relatively easy to find.
THE MFSL Vinyl LP
The MFSL vinyl LP comes DIRECTLY from the first generation master tape. How can you tell? There is a complete lack of echo! This is probably the best option currently available as the tone of the recording is fairly spot on and the vinyl noise, if the vinyl has been well kept, is hardly audible.
The British 21CD Set
The CD available on the British set is made from a dupe copy of the master tape. While it is not from the master, it still has good sound quality and there is no echo present. The tone is a bit sterile but it's nothing a little bit of EQ can't fix. 
The original Capitol release 2-for mastered by Larry Walsh
This two for set is not taken from the master tapes but rather from the master cutting tapes and has added echo.
The second Capitol release 2-for mastered by Bob "No-Noise" Norberg
This, like the original Capitol release, is drenched in echo. To make matters worse, it has too much no-noise applied. You're better off catching the plague than buying this release.