Simplest (1 knob) mastering VST?

[Ploki]

Landr isn’t tho

I mean, landr will 100% do a better job than someone who doesn’t really know what mastering is and is looking for a sub 100$ “one knob mastering plug”.

In any case, ozone elements is often free or dirt cheap (10$?) on the kvr market and has essentials.

[fisherKing]

i have started doing my own mastering... i use ozone 9 (advanced). i start with the master assist, then tweak until i get what i want (i just added 'soothe 2' to the equation; amazing. and great we can add 3rd-party plugins to ozone).

OP is looking for a sub $100 solution. Ozone 9 Advanced is a bit higher than that

yes, i know that. the point was about doing one's own mastering... ozone elements would be worth checking out.

[george]

In any case, ozone elements is often free or dirt cheap (10$?) on the kvr market and has essentials.

They were giving away Ozone 8 not long ago https://www.kvraudio.com/news/izotope-o ... er-2-46304

Ozone 9 is $129 and probably one of the best options OP could get https://www.kvraudio.com/marketplace/oz ... by-izotope

Of course top of the line Ozone 9 Advanced should give you the best results, but comes at a $499 price tag

[Ah_Dziz]

If you have a good mix then I would try just a decent multiband compressor. In my experience with mastering, it’s usually just controlling a few errant frequency peaks that are causing trouble and then matching the level and tone to other tracks which will be released along with whatever song you’re working on.

hm, i prefer less destructive approaches to controlling annoying resonances than a multiband comp.
it's like trying to fix a wrist watch with a hammer.

I’m not sure how/ if you use multiband compressors, but this is the most common scenario I grab one for. It allows for using the compressor like a dynamic EQ while leaving other parts of the mix alone. There are actually a couple on the market that are “one knob” mastering processors, and they can be used to good effect in lots of cases (all of this is assuming that the mix is ok to begin with).

As long as it’s a MB compressor with a flexible crossover configuration, it is rather simple to find the parts of the spectrum that are “poking out” in an unpleasant way, and apply compression to them only when they happen and in a transparent manner. I wouldn’t try this with something like the Softube multiband compressor or any nonlinear “analog” style compressor. Actually, after a small amount of setup, the OP could use the MB compressor in reaPlugs for free along with their other stuff. If he/ she can figure out the most common mix problems that they have, then a simple preset can be made and have all the thresholds ganged together (giving a “one knob” type solution. Also this bundle includes other useful tools for many situations which allow for surgical manipulation of the spectrum and loudness.

This is the simplest solution I can think of that would be flexible while still allowing for simple control, and there are tons of them out there for free up to pretty expensive.
Jj

[Passing Bye]

i really don't understand how one-knob mastering plugins could do a better job than AI like Landr or iZotope.

+1000

[Kongru]

Ozone 8 was on sale for £50 on Plugin Boutique recently, if that comes up again I'd definitely recommend that.

[Elektronisch]

Ozone 8 was on sale for £50 on Plugin Boutique recently, if that comes up again I'd definitely recommend that.

Or you can get at the KVR market for 10 eu or cheaper, because that version is sometimes bundled with hardware or some other software.

[imrae]

I could then use this as a baseline to then hire professional mastering.

Can you explain this part in more detail? What's your plan here?

I'd like to not have to pay someone else to do my mastering some day. If I can do it for smaller personal projects, including video, I'd be happy.

Also, by "practicing" on projects I usually would hire out, it would give me something to say/compare to/experiment and discuss with the mastering team.

I think I see two slightly conflicting goals here.

You'd like a quick, easy option to finish small projects that don't need professional results. A "one-knob" tool might work for this; for a lot of video content you could probably slap an L3 UltraMaximizer on there and call it a day.

But if you want learn about mastering, one knob isn't going to cut it. You need to think about frequency balance, dynamics, stereo imaging and listen for "problem" resonance or harshness, as well as loudenating. Even if these could be reduced to "corrections" in one direction, you still kneed independent control over each - which leads to something like T-Racks One.

My favourite kit for playing with full mixes is TDR Slick EQ M with TDR Limiter 6 GE. PThe free version of Nova would be fine for most frequency-dependent stuff, but I like having access to the expander options in Nova GE. Apart from that I often add a different compressor/saturator after auditioning a few, and my "secret weapon" for stereo enhancement is actually Waves Doubler.

So basically my recommendation for mastering kit is the Tokyo Dawn bundle, but it can be built up over time starting with the free versions. T-Racks or Ozone would also be fine, but TDR is cheaper, less overwhelming in options and feels less "biased" towards over-processed modern music. The quality of processing is definitely not worse and probably better.

[fisherKing]

i love my tdr limiter (the 6 GE), but you'll have to pry ozone 9 advanced from my cold, dead hands (i always wanted to use that expression).

guess it depends too on the type of music you do, but OX9 seems able to handle anything i throw at it, and love that it can used standalone.

[Turello]

If you have a good mix then I would try just a decent multiband compressor. In my experience with mastering, it’s usually just controlling a few errant frequency peaks that are causing trouble and then matching the level and tone to other tracks which will be released along with whatever song you’re working on.

And the mono compatibility? The stereophony? Macro/micro dynamics? The importance of mid/side corrections? The adaptability for various formats/platforms? Metadatas etc..?
When I'm involved into a mix to work, i usually use the mb comp (or better a dynamic EQ) to fix bad resonances instead of try to get loudness... Sometimes can help just a linear phase EQ with mid side functions but by the way there's something wrong in all that...

[Ah_Dziz]

If you have a good mix then I would try just a decent multiband compressor. In my experience with mastering, it’s usually just controlling a few errant frequency peaks that are causing trouble and then matching the level and tone to other tracks which will be released along with whatever song you’re working on.

And the mono compatibility? The stereophony? Macro/micro dynamics? The importance of mid/side corrections? The adaptability for various formats/platforms? Metadatas etc..?
When I'm involved into a mix to work, i usually use the mb comp (or better a dynamic EQ) to fix bad resonances instead of try to get loudness... Sometimes can help just a linear phase EQ with mid side functions but by the way there's something wrong in all that...

I doubt that would be doable with a single knob. It seems like you might be getting some rotten rough mixes though if they need that much help. The MB comp can cover lots of the same ground as a dynamic EQ, or a static EQ or simply pull down all the thresholds a bit so that it only catching stuff that sticks out massively. Most of them will let you adjust every band simultaneously. Anyway. That’s about as close as you will be getting to “one knob mastering” if you’re doing it yourself. Especially since OP wants to get something cheap. You could always just whack it through a multiband brick wall limiter I guess and call it a day.

The main problem is that the thing he want isn’t a real thing. Nice MB Compressors are versatile and plentiful (even for cheap/ free). Hence the recommendation.

I would try mastering with a free plugin suite like Voxengo or GVST or even Melda. They all contain enough to put the little bit extra on a mix/ mixes. There are tons of good resources out there for learning what everything does and what you need to do with it. It won’t be anything like 1 knob though.

Also, who does mono compatibility these days? I’m asking for real. I haven’t had to make a mono dub of anything ever and I make music for a ton of different platforms and produce, mix and master other people’s music for even more.

[Passing Bye]

Also, who does mono compatibility these days? I’m asking for real.

Ones that care about reproduction over bluetooth speakers, people sharing or wearing one earbud, stores/moles/venues loudspeaker systems or anyone not sitting in perfect stereo position.

[Ploki]

Also, who does mono compatibility these days? I’m asking for real.

Ones that care about reproduction over bluetooth speakers, people sharing or wearing one earbud, stores/moles/venues loudspeaker systems or anyone not sitting in perfect stereo position.

Mono compatibility doesn't really cover earbud sharing scenario tho.
If anything, the opposite. Something panned hard L will be 100% mono compatible, in the usual sense of the word.
Mono compatibility and balanced stereo field are two very different things that need to be approached separately

[zacha]

Ozone 8 Standard is on sale again, just for a day. US$49 at Plugindiscounts https://plugindiscounts.com/product/izo ... ial-offer/

[Elektronisch]

nvm