Low-cost mastering EQ plugins
- KVRAF
- 3828 posts since 15 Mar, 2002 from Underworld
Yes, mastering EQ doesn't have to be surgical but gentle. You've chosen good. SlickEQ is one of the best, if not the best, at any price. Now pair it with a free VladG's Limiter No6 and you've gotten yourself a nice mastering setup for little investment.
However, when you're mastering your own tracks it's important to remember a couple of things: Don't do it the same day. Give your ears some time to rest. Use reference tracks to compare to. The most important one is: make a really great mix. Don't try to repair *anything* with mastering. It has to sound really good to begin with. Mastering is just for beautifying it, or in many cases nowadays destroy it, unfortunately.
Cheers!
However, when you're mastering your own tracks it's important to remember a couple of things: Don't do it the same day. Give your ears some time to rest. Use reference tracks to compare to. The most important one is: make a really great mix. Don't try to repair *anything* with mastering. It has to sound really good to begin with. Mastering is just for beautifying it, or in many cases nowadays destroy it, unfortunately.
Cheers!
It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. - Jiddu Krishnamurti
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- KVRAF
- 4709 posts since 26 Nov, 2015 from Way Downunder
DDMF - LP10
Venomode - Pivot (tilts or shelves)
Klanghelm SDRR (more saturation but has some tone shaping)
I would say LVC Audio's TonedPLUS too (some gorgeous transformer modelling to boot) when it's on 50% sale - and Analog Obsession BXQ @ $29 on sale.
Don't overlook the regular SlickEQ GE either
Venomode - Pivot (tilts or shelves)
Klanghelm SDRR (more saturation but has some tone shaping)
I would say LVC Audio's TonedPLUS too (some gorgeous transformer modelling to boot) when it's on 50% sale - and Analog Obsession BXQ @ $29 on sale.
Don't overlook the regular SlickEQ GE either
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- KVRAF
- 4709 posts since 26 Nov, 2015 from Way Downunder
Excellent take-home advice right there.DuX wrote:Don't try to repair *anything* with mastering.
If you are mixing and mastering your own stuff, you have the ultimate luxury of going back to the mix - so instead of dynamic EQ zero'd in on the kickdrum to pull it down a few db.. just go back to the mix and turn it down!
It's a double-edged sword though because then, if you're like me, you become obsessed with chasing the "perfect mix" dragon But I've learned so much in doing so.
- KVRian
- 621 posts since 11 Jun, 2011 from Detroit
+1DuX wrote:
However, when you're mastering your own tracks it's important to remember a couple of things: Don't do it the same day. Give your ears some time to rest. Use reference tracks to compare to. The most important one is: make a really great mix. Don't try to repair *anything* with mastering. It has to sound really good to begin with. Mastering is just for beautifying it, or in many cases nowadays destroy it, unfortunately.
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- Banned
- 3889 posts since 3 Feb, 2010
For mastering daw eq does the job well. As for compression and brickwall limiting not all daws tools do the job as well as some vsts. I recommend to invest in UHe Presswerk, IK Stealth Limiter and Waves C4.
Presswerk is amazing all purpose compressor and with ability to do negative curve wich makes it an amazing compressor to use for dance music tracks.
Stealth limiter is probably one of the loudest and cleaneat limiters.
Waves c4 is just simply great multiband compressor. I like it use alot to control the low frequencies. Considering how old it is i cant guarantee its better then most of what daws has today but i like how its simple to use and how effective it is.
Presswerk is amazing all purpose compressor and with ability to do negative curve wich makes it an amazing compressor to use for dance music tracks.
Stealth limiter is probably one of the loudest and cleaneat limiters.
Waves c4 is just simply great multiband compressor. I like it use alot to control the low frequencies. Considering how old it is i cant guarantee its better then most of what daws has today but i like how its simple to use and how effective it is.
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- KVRian
- 662 posts since 12 Jul, 2013
Speaking of Waves: their Linear Phase Multiband Compressor is still at sale for 29$ and with a bit of patience the Linear Phase EQ will come around for the same price, sooner or later. You'll get them even cheaper at third party resellers like everyplugin, audiodeluxe, jrrshop (and others) and you might also be able to grab them in the Sell/Buy area for cheap.
Still, the TDR stuff is absolutely top notch
In regard of the "Do I need this/that plugin?!"-Question I also highly recommend Andrew Scheps
The whole Q&A is really worth watching imho:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX1csjx3YNU
Still, the TDR stuff is absolutely top notch
In regard of the "Do I need this/that plugin?!"-Question I also highly recommend Andrew Scheps
The whole Q&A is really worth watching imho:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX1csjx3YNU
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- KVRAF
- 4709 posts since 26 Nov, 2015 from Way Downunder
Oh, this is insanely good value for money (currently $11-something with code)
http://kazrog.com/products/valveq/
http://kazrog.com/products/valveq/
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- KVRAF
- 1863 posts since 11 Apr, 2008
TDR Nova (Free). Not only EQ but also Dynamic. Awesome EQ. I like shelves especially
http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-nova/
http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-nova/
- KVRAF
- 1770 posts since 23 Sep, 2004 from Kocmoc
Replace Limiter No6 with the new TDR version but yeah they both workDuX wrote:Yes, mastering EQ doesn't have to be surgical but gentle. You've chosen good. SlickEQ is one of the best, if not the best, at any price. Now pair it with a free VladG's Limiter No6 and you've gotten yourself a nice mastering setup for little investment.
Soft Knees - Live 12, Diva, Omnisphere, Slate Digital VSX, TDR, Kush Audio, U-He, PA, Valhalla, Fuse, Pulsar, NI, OekSound etc. on Win11Pro R7950X & RME AiO Pro
https://www.youtube.com/@softknees/videos Music & Demoscene
https://www.youtube.com/@softknees/videos Music & Demoscene
- Banned
- 7624 posts since 13 Nov, 2015 from Norway
The one by rs-met ? Love that one. Simple and clean gui.camsr wrote:I like EasyQ a lot, (used to use MEqualizer), has a great filter plot/GUI and sounds like any other normal EQ.
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