Stephen Marsh using PMC IB1S Ultra –Precision Reference Monitors at new mastering facility.

“My IB1S systems let me know what is going on in the upper mid-frequencies and the ultra-critical high end.”

Irvine, CA: When leading music and DVD mastering engineer Stephen Marsh recently moved to new digs in Hollywood, California, he remained true to his first love in reference monitoring: PMC’s outstanding Model IB1S three-way monitors powered by Bryston 7B power amplifiers. “They just feel good,” Marsh enthuses. “My IB1S systems let me know what is going on in the upper mid-frequencies and the ultra-critical high end.”

The IB1S features PMC’s patented ATL™ - Advanced Transmission Line – design; wide-dispersion, soft-domed mid- and high-frequency units are coupled with the firm’s 10-inch carbon-fiber and Nomex flat-piston LF driver, whose patented design increases dynamic handling and eliminates distortion often caused by cone break-up. A matching low-profile Model IB1SM-C center-channel version also is available, along with a SB100 subwoofer for surround systems. A Film Filter option provides HF roll-off of 1.5 dB and 3 dB per octave, or flat.

“My pair of IB1S monitors sounds very, very detailed in the upper-mid range,” the award-winning mastering engineer continues, “which makes them ideal for analyzing vocals, guitars and symphonic sources. The sound imaging is astonishing – I enjoy a wide sweet spot at my console. Since my control room is somewhat narrow – which normally upsets imaging – it’s a tribute to these PMC monitors that I can work across a large monitoring area. My work covers a lot of genres in a typical week - any genre, any volume, the IB1S monitors have all the depth and width you could desire.”

Marsh’s recent session highlights include Los Lobos The Town and The City, Keb’ Mo’s Grammy^® Award-wining Keep it Simple and Bitchin’ for The Donnas, plus soundtracks for Rolfe Kent’s award-winning score Sideways as well as the iTunes Originals series of digital releases for Apple featuring artists from The Black Eyed Peas and Death Cab For Cutie, to Elvis Costello and Patti Smith.

“The IB1S is an extremely flexible three-way system,” explains Maurice Patist, PMC USA’s VP Sales and Marketing, “that has found applications in a number of critical monitoring environments. It is used in mastering, broadcast and post-production for either stereo or 5.1-channel surround arrays when partnered with its dedicated IB1SM-C center-channel unit and custom-designed SB100 subwoofer. The MF and HF units fitted to the IB1S feature wide dispersion, while the flat-piston LF driver provides enhanced bass response down to 25 Hz. And the IB1S’ popularity within the Hollywood film scoring and post-production community can be attributed to its Film Filters option, with switchable HF roll-off.”

Stephen Marsh Mastering’s primary mastering console was built in-house with custom tube and discrete electronics designed by Steve Firlotte of Inward Connections. The console features EAR, GML, Masalec, Weiss, Dangerous, Avalon, Waves and Inward Connections processing, Apogee conversion and proprietary wiring feeding a custom monitor chain with PMC mains. “Our systems include a full-blown HD-Accel Pro Tools system for source playback and a Sonic Studio Soundblade mastering platform with Full No-Noise and DDP,” Marsh points out. “In addition, analog decks of all descriptions are available for playback, along with all standard digital formats.”

More information from Stephen Marsh, Stephen Marsh Mastering | 310.598-6038 | info@stephenmarshmastering.com