End chain / mastering 101

[LeVzi]

I've been reading loads of threads about what people use on their stereo bus or their mastering chain.

Some use Ozinebwhuch seems the most popular.

But I see things like Teote, or Soothe, or gulfoss and I am wondering now is it better to use singular plugins or opt for a 1 stop solution like ozone.

Tbh I try to keep it minimal, just make things loud, without distortion, but maybe id get a little extra from ozone or maybe something like blyss in addition to my current chain might be beneficial.

I'd be interested in thoughts. Tbh not sure I'd benefit from something like soothe, not always much crazy resonances in EDM, at least now that I hear maybe I'm missing them.

[Ploki]

I dont use soothe on master unless its a very specific problem that needs solving and i cant get the mixer to fix it - if i’m doing my own i’ll always fix in the mix.
Soothe is a problem solver not soundgoodizer

Imho for edm, a good compressor, a good clipper and a good limiter.
I’d look into Voxengo OVC-128 for clipping pre-limiter to catch overshoots from clipping > 1-2dB limiting. I use ovc128>elephant 95% of the time at the end of the chain.
Teote with 2-3dB max gain change at the beginning, 32bands or even less - very coarse.

Compressor before clipper, maybe even parallel.

I had ozone but if you dont use AI stuff you can get similar quality elsewhere. Its not bad by any means tho, great sounding modules.

[LeVzi]

I dont use soothe on master unless its a very specific problem that needs solving and i cant get the mixer to fix it - if i’m doing my own i’ll always fix in the mix.
Soothe is a problem solver not soundgoodizer

Imho for edm, a good compressor, a good clipper and a good limiter.
I’d look into Voxengo OVC-128 for clipping pre-limiter to catch overshoots from clipping > 1-2dB limiting. I use ovc128>elephant 95% of the time at the end of the chain.
Teote with 2-3dB max gain change at the beginning, 32bands or even less - very coarse.

Compressor before clipper, maybe even parallel.

I had ozone but if you dont use AI stuff you can get similar quality elsewhere. Its not bad by any means tho, great sounding modules.

Yeah I just tend to try to fix everything in the mix first. But sometimes some sneaky crap tired ears can't pickup gets through, and I heard this recently after listening to something on standard headphones.

Teote looks really interesting tbh, I need to look more in to that.

I just tend to use inflator into limiter 6, seems to have the loudness sorted.

I can't see Ozone giving me any more than I have, other than that AI.

[vurt]

usually flatblaster or nowt.
ocassionally a stereo enhancer to center the bass a bit.

[an-electric-heart]

I mostly use Ozone modules, but I mix with Ozone's Tonal Balance Control, so that I get the EQ right while mixing and need to do very little EQ at the mastering stage. Then it's just Ozone's compressor, then I do use Gullfoss, finally Ozone's Maximizer.
I used to use IK's Lurssen Mastering Console, but now I kind of think it does too much.

[Mathematics]

Use your ears. No single plugin or suite will replace that. Now, for a basic "here, listen to this track I'm working on," a single plugin might work if the mix is in the ballpark of a good mix. If that doesn't cut it, something like Ozone can be used first to carve out a decent mix. So, to answer your question. Neither is a solution. You may need both or neither. If neither, then you need to go back to the mix.

IMHO, Teote works so well on spectral shaping. It is by far, ONE of the best plugins for doing that. I'm not speaking in definitives because there are tons of friendly people here ready to dissect everything you/I say. Take everything here with a grain of salt. Now, Voxengo got it right with the Teote plugin. Gullfoss...it's good but it is very limited to just improving what you have, again...IMHO; meaning, if you already have something well mixed and balanced to begin with, it can add that bit of sheen as a second opinion. Of course, this is one scenario. I own...most of the popular AI EQs, so I have some experience with almost all of them. Soothe...a problem fixer, not a Master Buss plugin that I would reach for. If you think you need it on the MB...check your mix first, the problem is there. MSpectralDynamics...that is another diamond of a plugin. It can literally, flatten the spectral curve. It is way too diverse for this thread, so I leave it to you as an exercise to research it. Lol.

Ozone today, is a great tool for getting a mix in the ballpark but not a final solution. Seriously. I have used that with the whole Tonal Balance Control and while it IS good...nothing beats....nothing....beats using reference tracks. I highly suggest testing out plugins that compare and contrast your mix to itself or reference tracks. For instance, MCompare let's you test different bounces of your mix blindly. Metric AB...I love this plugin so much...search for it. Mastering the Mix's Reference is another great plugin. I use all of them to check my mix/masters, which leads me to this point...just use your ears. Using these plugins as an opinion/reference are such great tools that basic mastering songs is becoming more attainable to the regular artist, but nothing beats using your ears.

[martinjuenke]

usually flatblaster or nowt.
ocassionally a stereo enhancer to center the bass a bit.

I should try to use only Reaktor FX for a certain time: would be an adventure. If that works I would bang my head against all four walls for spending so much monies on glitzy analogue bettermakers.
I have the strong feeling I will bang my head...

[vurt]

usually flatblaster or nowt.
ocassionally a stereo enhancer to center the bass a bit.

I should try to use only Reaktor FX for a certain time: would be an adventure. If that works I would bang my head against all four walls for spending so much monies on glitzy analogue bettermakers.
I have the strong feeling I will bang my head...

depends what you are after, some people want mastering to add some final sheen to the piece, i want it "around broadcast lufs but with no additional processing"
i find i can do that fairly well with the mixer, maybe needing a little compression to tame some peaks.
as i only record two track, live, (currently) i want "you" to hear what i hear

[LeVzi]

IMHO, Teote works so well on spectral shaping. It is by far, ONE of the best plugins for doing that.

How does it react in flat mode to the likes of trance or techno, any idea?

[AnX]

I've been reading loads of threads about what people use on their stereo bus or their mastering chain.

Some use Ozinebwhuch seems the most popular.

But I see things like Teote, or Soothe, or gulfoss and I am wondering now is it better to use singular plugins or opt for a 1 stop solution like ozone.

Tbh I try to keep it minimal, just make things loud, without distortion, but maybe id get a little extra from ozone or maybe something like blyss in addition to my current chain might be beneficial.

I'd be interested in thoughts. Tbh not sure I'd benefit from something like soothe, not always much crazy resonances in EDM, at least now that I hear maybe I'm missing them.

Apart from ozone, I've not heard of any of those

When I do my own, I use waves stuff, when it's sent off, I've no idea what they use, or care (ie remixes etc)

I use prob 4 things, I don't like the idea of an 'all in one, press one button' mastering solution

[LeVzi]

I've been reading loads of threads about what people use on their stereo bus or their mastering chain.

Some use Ozinebwhuch seems the most popular.

But I see things like Teote, or Soothe, or gulfoss and I am wondering now is it better to use singular plugins or opt for a 1 stop solution like ozone.

Tbh I try to keep it minimal, just make things loud, without distortion, but maybe id get a little extra from ozone or maybe something like blyss in addition to my current chain might be beneficial.

I'd be interested in thoughts. Tbh not sure I'd benefit from something like soothe, not always much crazy resonances in EDM, at least now that I hear maybe I'm missing them.

Apart from ozone, I've not heard of any of those

When I do my own, I use waves stuff, when it's sent off, I've no idea what they use, or care (ie remixes etc)

I use prob 4 things, I don't like the idea of an 'all in one, press one button' mastering solution

I am moving away from it too tbh, I have enough stuff to make a semi decent attempt at a master. I do find liste int to tracks on different media's I'm hearing shit I didn't before. I'm only a hobbyist so no need to send stuff off, but in particular the high end was not good and a few nasty frequencies were there that needed taming and I'm thinking teote might be perfect for this.

[Mathematics]

IMHO, Teote works so well on spectral shaping. It is by far, ONE of the best plugins for doing that.

How does it react in flat mode to the likes of trance or techno, any idea?

I'm not sure exactly for Flat Mode on that genre specifically as most of that music is already close to a given slope...you'll have to ask the developer about this but...from my observations, I do believe the modes react with respect to Fletcher Munson curves.

To be honest...there's no need to get technical...I just use my ears. If it sounds closer to "that" sound that I'm trying to get, then whatever setting I end up with, is the right one.

[Mathematics]

But I see things like Teote, or Soothe, or gulfoss and I am wondering now is it better to use singular plugins or opt for a 1 stop solution like ozone.

Tbh I try to keep it minimal, just make things loud, without distortion, but maybe id get a little extra from ozone or maybe something like blyss in addition to my current chain might be beneficial.

The whole use of these plugins is to balance "energy" in certain frequencies. If you want certain ones to be heard at certain times...then there is no such thing as a 1-stop solution. If what you want is loud...you've got your work cut out for you because, as you know...I hope you know...you better know...there's a way to make something perceivably loud without smashing the limiter. Let me give you a friendly reminder of something called wave-shaping...

[Mathematics]

I'm out for now. Interesting topic. I hope you guys find your answer.

[LeVzi]

I'm out for now. Interesting topic. I hope you guys find your answer.

And me, I'm really interested in how these plugins could help me with harsh high ends that I might not be hearing and maybe even the same inthe mids and low .

I am pretty sure my hearing is badly damaged over years of not really caring enough about it. A little help could really benefit me.

And after all that's what Teote is named "That's easier on the ear"

And we are taking small things here , I'd hope my mix downs really aren't THAT bad.lol