What are your Go-To Mastering Plugins (Limiter), (EQ), (Saturation), ...etc.

[Muziksculp]

Hi,

What are your Go-To Mastering Plugins ?

i.e. (Limiter) (EQ), (Saturation), (Clipper), ...etc. ?

Cheers,
Muziksculp

[zedeloc]

Standard Clip, Elysia Alpha 2, Pro-Q4, Pro-C2, Pro-L2, Pro-MB, Saturn 2, Split Eq, True Iron, ATR-102, Ozone Vintage Limiter and Maximizer, Deedger, Arbiter... all depending on the situation. And invariably a good amount of automation

[Kaboom75]

Softube 670 - Pultec - FabFilter Pro L2

It's about time somebody circuit modeled all the components in a Pultec.

[billinder33]

Frequent use (listed in general chain order, obviously varies depending on the track):
BuzzCut - transient softening input clipper
Pro-Q - cleanup EQ
Unisum - mid-side compression
AMEK Mastering Comp - stereo compression (upwards compression vibe)
Vertigo VSC - stereo compression (analog vibe)
Limen / De-edger - high frequency taming
SlickEQ Mastering - broad strokes EQ
Ultrasonic/Infrasonic - high and low bounding filters
Imager - width excitement, typically over 5khz
Krafter - multiband clipping
Pro-L - basic limiting and true peak
DpMeter - loudness metering
ISOL8 - 'coatroom' and mono check
ADPRR Metric A/B - advanced metering and reference checks

Occasional use:
Pro-MB - low end taming, surgical multiband compression
Relab Maselec - broad, 'vibe' multiband compression
Michaelangelo - 'vibe' EQ
2 True Iron instances in dual mono - harmonic width enhancement
Limitless - frequency adjustment via limiting
DynOne - frequency adjustment via dynamics
Ozone Maximizer - occasionally its the right limiter for the job
Basslane - bass width tinkering

TBD:
Uni-L - just got it, potentially a more flexible Pro-L replacement


TLDR; mostly clean EQs, tons of dynamic options, lots of visual feedback and metering, generally avoid saturation.

[nilhartman]

TDR filters
OD Ancora, Finesse, Limen
Unisum or MDWDRC2
Kirchhoff, ApQualizer or GrandEQ
Gyrator X, Iron Glass or Michelangelo
ApShaper
Uni-L

[billinder33]

MDWDRC2

Thoughts on this one? Any reason you would reach for this over Unisum?

I know a lot of people like it, but between the interface and the price I've resisted demoing it.

[nilhartman]

It's quite a different beast, even though you can get Unisum to venture in MDWDRC2's territories.

Keep in mind that, at its core, MDWDRC2 is a true RMS compressor, and that - IMO - you can use it without ever changing sidechain detector's exponents. So you have something super fast to dial in, very programm dependant, that can do anything from invisible leveling / densification to insane punch. I barely ever use the peak detector now (which is actually quite similar to the Main detector) but have familiarized myself lately with the Release Override, it can basically counterbalance an overall slow timing for the Main detector with some sort of faster auto-release if crest factor suddenly increases.

I've fully accepeted that I'll use different tools and strategy to target peaks / transients though. I've combined MDWDRC2 and Unisum (in that order) quite a few times as well : MDWDRC2 as a deluxe signal conditionner, Unisum do lock and tucj everything in with elegance and attitude (if dialed accordingly).

I also felt like I was reluctantly compelled to purchase it once I tried it back when it was released as it instantly proved to be super useful to me.

[billinder33]

It's quite a different beast, even though you can get Unisum to venture in MDWDRC2's territories.

Keep in mind that, at its core, MDWDRC2 is a true RMS compressor, and that - IMO - you can use it without ever changing sidechain detector's exponents. So you have something super fast to dial in, very programm dependant, that can do anything from invisible leveling / densification to insane punch. I barely ever use the peak detector now (which is actually quite similar to the Main detector) but have familiarized myself lately with the Release Override, it can basically counterbalance an overall slow timing for the Main detector with some sort of faster auto-release if crest factor suddenly increases.

I've fully accepeted that I'll use different tools and strategy to target peaks / transients though. I've combined MDWDRC2 and Unisum (in that order) quite a few times as well : MDWDRC2 as a deluxe signal conditionner, Unisum do lock and tucj everything in with elegance and attitude (if dialed accordingly).

I also felt like I was reluctantly compelled to purchase it once I tried it back when it was released as it instantly proved to be super useful to me.

Thanks for all the info Nil!