About Our Music

Technical details about our tracks

All tracks are recorded in 24-bit audio, mastered as 24-bit aiff files and converted to 128kbps mp3 for download. This mp3 encoding level is generally considered as 'near CD' quality. The encoding level for preview versions (i.e. accessible via the players) is 96kbps.

We do not 'hot master'. That is, unlike some genres of contemporary music, we do not ramp up the audio compression simply to make a track sound louder. We are dead against the habit of reducing the dynamic range of music by applying excessive "brickwall" limiting.

Tracks with drums are mastered to -0.1db gain. Quieter tracks, generally without drums, are mastered to about -4db.

Purple Planet's work methods

We compose, perform, record and mix all our own material. We like our music to have a natural, not synthetic, feel so we use loads of acoustic instruments; guitars, basses and percussion instruments. Our preferred computer gear/DAWs are Apple iMacs running Logic Pro, Propellerhead Reason and Native Instruments. We get instrument samples from all over - but want to give a particular mention to the terrific stuff from http://www.petethomas.co.uk/. He sells them for charity which is particularly cool.

Individually we’ll often get a musical idea out of nowhere and record a very basic track, often with just the melody or chord progression, and put it down as quickly as possible. Alternatively we’ll work “to order”, coming up with something to suit a particular mood or request. Once we’ve done our initial bits separately we’ll come together to swap tracks and work on things collaboratively.

When Chris and Geoff meet to record the sessions are quite militaristic, partly because Chris is very impatient and partly because we always have so much to do. Multiple takes are frowned upon and we tend to get rather ‘animated’ about things. Despite all this, our sessions are actually very enjoyable, as our different strengths and approaches complement each other very well. When working separately, Chris is ultra-methodical and obsessed with detail, whereas Geoff is quite freeform. Geoff also has an eccentric habit of watching (and listening) to TV whilst recording – even during takes.