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!

[El°HYM]

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

Oh, a new List.

This should be fun!



- Limiter: OCELOT Limiter - https://fuseaudiolabs.de/#/pages/product?id=301122022
- EQ: Orra EQ - https://www.orraaudio.com/products/orra-eq
- Saturation: OBERTON - https://kreuzberg-audio.com/en/downloads/oberton
- Clipper: OCELOT Clipper - https://fuseaudiolabs.de/#/pages/product?id=301122023

Wildcard:

- TDR Special Filters Bundle - https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-special-filters-bundle

[rockheyday]

Well, they might be interesting for you all, you can check these if you are on Windows:

- Ceilix-L - Parallel Saturation Hybrid Limiter
- Balance 5 - Parametric Equalizer
- Tintar-S - Analog Color Saturator
- Clipper 7

They all have dual layer FFT spectrum display.

Happy mixing!

[TechHaus]

- Saturation: OBERTON - https://kreuzberg-audio.com/en/downloads/oberton

- TDR Special Filters Bundle - https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-special-filters-bundle

Cool, just saw that Oberton came out on Linux, and can't really find many folks talking about it. Have to test.

And TDR is coming soon to Linux, too!

[Teezdalien]

Plug-ins I use on a lot of masters:

ADPTR Metric A/B
TBProAudio ABLM2
DMG Limitless
Weiss DS1-mk3
McDSP ML4000
Acustica Ash
Acustica Nebula with Tim Petherick Surge EQ/GML 8200 Library
TDR Filter Bundle
TDR Limiter 6
TDR Kotelnikov
Tone Projects Michaelangelo

Plug-in I use occasionally:

Oxford Inflator
Leapwing DynOne 3
Kazrog KClip 3
Tube-Tech SMC2B

I'd say Tone Projects Uni-L will become a staple too.

[t.o.t.s.]

Sonnox Oxford Limiter or Pro-L2. I have maybe all the limiters? Not true but I do have more than a reasonable amount and I keep coming back to the Oxford. I like it.
SlickEQ Mastering
TDR Filter Bundle
Standard Clip or Newfangled Saturate.
Voxengo TEOTE on occasion
Waves or UAD API-2500
Span Plus

[dastewart]

I know it's no fun to say this but I'd say mastering is one area where it really is about the quality of the monitoring and the quality of the engineer. Get those two right and the rest of the gear is very much secondary.

However, this is fun so I'll play ....

ALWAYS
Unisum
Pro Q4
Pulsar 8200

MONITORING
Metric A/B
MSED
(Mixroom/Bassroom/Tonal Balance)

SOMETIMES
SSL Native Bus Compressor 2
Kelvin
Pro MB
Purafied 5420
JS Inflator

LIMITING UP TO NOW....
StandardClip
Pro L2
Loudmax

LIMITING GOING FORWARD...
Uni-L

[AsPeeXXXVIII]

My mastering chain changes a lot depending on whether I've gotten any new plugins, but the two mainstays since 2021 are ToneBoosters ReelBus and Barricade - the former for saturation, the latter for final limiting.