Jerboa Mastering: The MBP + 5254
© 2023 Alexander Popelier
Can you please tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do?
I’m Frederik Dejongh, full-time mastering engineer since more than 10 years at Jerboa Mastering, Belgium, and with 25 years of experience in all tasks within music. I’m still grateful and happy to do what I love every day.
So what does the name “Rupert Neve” mean to you?
Personally, a lot. The 1073 is my favourite preamp for recording, and I had a pair back in the 2000s. And the 1081 is my preferred EQ for mixing into the 33609 for buss compression, so Rupert Neve was a huge influence in ‘my’ sound from the very beginning. It’s the sound of a record to me, still today. Moving towards mastering over the years, I’m very happy I still have my compagnons de route in the form of the RND Master Buss Processor and the RND 5254.
When did you acquire your first piece of RND gear?
At the beginning of the year 2020. I wasn't looking for new gear when somebody pushed the MBP in the studio to give it a listen. I didn’t know what to expect, but I ordered a unit the very same day. Absolutely loved it! Since that day, it’s been making my life easier.
“Making your life easier” – can you please elaborate?
The MBP just sounds like a record to me, it’s that simple. You will never see the gain reduction meters flickering, but how music reacts to the unit inline is really lovely, and you can change the groove and focus of a song in a very pleasant way, always a beauty to listen through.
What about the 5254? Where does that fit in to your process?
The 5254 is my go-to fun-box when more creative mastering is preferred. I must say I’m impressed by what it can do in this last stage before music gets released with respect to the original mix. When a tight low end is necessary, with a good portion of energy and life in the top end of the frequency spectrum, mostly in the alternative genre, this one is in for sure. It’s a very distinctive sound, and you instantly hear if it will work or not the moment you put it in. It’s hit or miss, but when it works, it’s banging!
How about the difference between the two of them?
Night and day, and also very cool together. The MBP is my workhorse, never missing a beat and in line all the time, spot on. The 5254 becomes handy when the mix lacks character and a good injection of this is required without messing up the balance of the mix.
© 2023 Alexander Popelier
Amazing, thank you. Any tips for aspiring mastering engineers on how best to use their compressors?
As little as possible, better to let all units in line do a little rather than have one unit go full throttle. I personally don’t see a compressor as a compressor nowadays, because mixes that come in are way more squeezed than they were back in the days. I see them more as a tool to vibe to. The compressor is the way to bring back life to the song or enhance the mood. To me, in-the-box mixes are very static and flat-sounding most of the time. Some electricity from the real deal instead of the perfect zeros and ones is what’s mostly missing to connect with a human soul in a much more pleasant way.
We completely agree – that’s what it’s all about. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Keep up the awesome work and thank you for keeping the vision and spirit of our legend, Rupert Neve himself, alive.
