Tracktion Software

thisdude · Post by **thisdude** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 5:23 pm

How does finalmix compare to some of the other mastering tools out there? I've looked online but can't find any objective reviews. I'd like to hear some opinions, especially on the presets.

I'm on mac and the NFR version of tracktion comes with Finalmix for PC only, but I may switch if these tools are worth it.

Thanks

valley · Post by **valley** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 5:55 pm

thisdude wrote: I'm on mac and the NFR version of tracktion comes with Finalmix for PC only, but I may switch if these tools are worth it.

Beno has said that FinalMix will be coming to mac RSN. Hold tight.

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 6:22 pm

thisdude wrote: I'd like to hear some opinions, especially on the presets.

I haven't explored the presets much.. don't really approve tbh! I tend to select one that looks like the x-over is set about right, and tweak from there..

I don't own any other dedicated mastering apps either, so I can't make a comparison.. I do think it sounds great though!

The compression is very flexible & powerful, with the ability to define transfers with up to 5 breakpoints.. I haven't compared the EQ to any others yet, but I rarely cut more than a db or so when mastering (if it needs more I re-mix it!) and it sounds fine to me. Not likely to run out of bands either!

The soft clipping is handy too, I've mastered several tunes using just a touch of that, with no limiting at all..

Between this, the Tls Maximiser and my own Dynamic EQ, I don't feel the need to spend any money on mastering software atm..

braj · Post by **braj** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 6:31 pm

I personally do use the presets and tweak from there. I'm no expert so it is really handy. FM kept Tracktion alive for me, since I now use it only for mastering. But it does a lovely job IMO.

thisdude · Post by **thisdude** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:00 pm

Wow, thanks for the quick replies. I will hold tight on mac for a while, but lately there seems to be many reasons to switch my music machine to pc.

I agree, relying on presets is a little like painting by number, but until I actually figure out what I'm doing it seems like a good place to start. I try to get it as close as I can in the mix, then use multi-band compression for that little extra sparkle sparkle. From the little I've read, Finalmix seems to offer much more, but until I can actually get my hands on it, I just don't know how it would compare to say TC Works, Waves, or even that sound hammer mastering thing in Soundforge? Better, same, worse?

The original asking price on the website leads me to believe that it's a serious tool... maybe I'm just in shock that they were giving it out for free. Is it the exact same version that was sold on the website?

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:46 pm

thisdude wrote:TC Works, Waves, or even that sound hammer mastering thing in Soundforge? Better, same, worse?

You could spend a lot of money on TC or Waves plugs to acheive the same result..

..or the same money could go a long way towards a cheap pc!

Wave Hammer is a different beast, being a brickwall limiter (the one common mastering tool that FM doesn't include); I tend to use the free Tls Maximizer for that sort of thing..

The original asking price on the website leads me to believe that it's a serious tool...

Its definitely a serious tool.

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:07 am

thisdude wrote:I'm on mac and the NFR version of tracktion comes with Finalmix for PC only

Just in case you missed it:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=70176

well timed!

Tracktion Software

KVR Audio

Any reviews on FinalMix Mastering Tools?