Mastering what do you all use?

[Mush]

I get great results using these.

1. waves c4
2. freefilter
3. bbe sonic maximizer
4. disco dsp thrill me


Mush

[bugs]

I definitely think it is possible to do your own mastering. The mastering process is the last of the processes to be integrated into the auteur production model. Making scores was said to be better left to "professional copyist", recording was said to be better left to "recording engineers", etc. I think, bless them, professional mastering houses have their investments of time/effort/skill and equipment to protect. The trend of increasingly powerful DAWs and very high-end software in all areas of the production process hearld an era of integration rather than division of labor. The more people involved with the process, the more it costs. It doesn't mean that it is inherently better. The only real reason for the division of labor anymore is the production schedule--the mass production schedule to be precise. Division of labor is an industrial era phenomenon, whereas integration is post-industrial. What integration gives is a unified, handcrafted sound that is unique and eventually proceeds to higher quality artistic expression. This integration has been going in music since the time of Beethoven and will continue. It is becoming less and less necessary to farm out tasks in the process, especially in the area of electronic music.

Note: Another mastering processor to check out is the "Assimilator" plug-in offered for TC PowerCore.
This is reverse engineering at its finest.

But, I don't think you really need $50,000 in equipment to produce a good sound. What you need is a good ear, skills and good taste--the same things you need in any aspect of the composition process. We want personal style in all aspects of the art.But we want mastering that is in service to the piece that is being mastered, not the "personal" style of some expensive mastering house, all of whose product tends to sound the same. Mastering is not artistic product in and of itself. Mastering houses would like you to believe that you are incapable of completing this step on you own--not true, not magic either.

"If it sounds good, it is good." - Duke Ellington

It is nice to work with other people from the social point of view. But things designed by committee tend towards the lowest common demoninator. If you want it done right, learn to do it yourself. Spend the money on services about which you know nothing or are a waste of precious time like cleaning the house or bookkeeping.

Obviously, this is all IMHO.

[Igor 4000]

I get great results using these.

1. waves c4
2. freefilter
3. bbe sonic maximizer
4. disco dsp thrill me


Mush

Do you use the Sonic Maximizer across the entire mix?

[Igor 4000]

I'm mastering my next disc right now and I actually just had this conversation with my studio engineer. He was telling me that mastering was originally a technique for vinyl to make sure that the blade didn't punch thru the dub plate or cut joining grooves. For digital audio the process should only be needed to equalize track levels across the disc for a consistent sound. So I went back to my mix worked on that for a while, and sure enough I got a good master using only a limiter to bring up levels. Re-EQing and Compressing are largely unneeded. That said, I use T-Racks because it has the best sounding comrpessor and limiter (IMHO).

That's actually my approach as well. Just HarBal along with something like TLS_Maximizer.

[chagzuki]

I've moved away from multiband compression. I used to always use it but I find wideband better these days.

[seamoss]

I definitely think it is possible to do your own mastering. The mastering process is the last of the processes to be integrated into the auteur production model. Making scores was said to be better left to "professional copyist", recording was said to be better left to "recording engineers", etc. I think, bless them, professional mastering houses have their investments of time/effort/skill and equipment to protect. The trend of increasingly powerful DAWs and very high-end software in all areas of the production process hearld an era of integration rather than division of labor. The more people involved with the process, the more it costs. It doesn't mean that it is inherently better. The only real reason for the division of labor anymore is the production schedule--the mass production schedule to be precise. Division of labor is an industrial era phenomenon, whereas integration is post-industrial. What integration gives is a unified, handcrafted sound that is unique and eventually proceeds to higher quality artistic expression. This integration has been going in music since the time of Beethoven and will continue. It is becoming less and less necessary to farm out tasks in the process, especially in the area of electronic music.

Note: Another mastering processor to check out is the "Assimilator" plug-in offered for TC PowerCore.
This is reverse engineering at its finest.

But, I don't think you really need $50,000 in equipment to produce a good sound. What you need is a good ear, skills and good taste--the same things you need in any aspect of the composition process. We want personal style in all aspects of the art.But we want mastering that is in service to the piece that is being mastered, not the "personal" style of some expensive mastering house, all of whose product tends to sound the same. Mastering is not artistic product in and of itself. Mastering houses would like you to believe that you are incapable of completing this step on you own--not true, not magic either.

"If it sounds good, it is good." - Duke Ellington

It is nice to work with other people from the social point of view. But things designed by committee tend towards the lowest common demoninator. If you want it done right, learn to do it yourself. Spend the money on services about which you know nothing or are a waste of precious time like cleaning the house or bookkeeping.

Obviously, this is all IMHO.

I couldn't agree more

[pough]

Mainly Voxengo, though I have a few others. I hope the original poster has made note of the fact that Ozone is now a VST...

[Muff Wiggler]

my most valuable mastering tool, other than ears and speakers, is pink noise

honestly

[bongo_x]

saying that pro mastering is a waste and you can do just as good of a job at home is pretty ridiculous. you're kidding yourself and obviously just don't know enough about it. no one is paying those guys that kind of money just for the hell of it. some of you seem to be forgetting that most of the records you hear are mixed by good pro engineers and they still have it mastered afterwards. they're not just doing it for traditions sake. you also can't say "I had something mastered and it sucked, so mastering is useless". no, your mastering guy sucked. I've heard really bad mastering (from pretty big name places) and just because a guy calls himself a pro doesn't mean he's good. you need to research the GUY (not just the house) before you lay down your hard earned cash. and if it doesn't sound good send it back.

if you're releasing music to the public that you're trying to sell you're cheating yourself and the people buying it if you don't have it done right. it's even more important with things recorded in "budget" situations since they can probably help the little things that are gonna bum you out forever and make your stuff not-quite-good-enough.

on the other hand it's equally silly to say that everyone needs to have all their stuff mastered by pros. if you're not selling it, you're wasting your time and money going to a pro. especially with electronic music I think you can get pretty good results yourself if you work at it.

I think the guy just wanted some advice on plugins and "go to a mastering house" is not really helpful.

for quickly getting something sounding good I've been using T-racks lately on the laptop. I know there will be some giggling because it's not a "serious" tool (but neither is Tracktion, right) but I've gotten some pretty good results. one nice thing is that even the presets sound pretty good and there's a good variety of them. you can something decent sounding by starting there even if you aren't sure what you're doing. I also use the Waves Ren EQ, Ren Comp, L2 and C4 but that's a much more expensive package and takes a little more skill perhaps. sometimes the Bomb Factory 1176 actually sounds pretty kick ass on the buss but I don't know if they make a VST or not.

ok, I'm out of opinions now

Billy

[Rock]

Well I can understand hiring a mastering guy to do the job right. But how can you learn when you sluff everything off to somebody else? Why not just leave the music writing to Bach while you're at it...

Speaking of Bach, I don't think he does his own mastering...

[valley]

Speaking of Bach, I don't think he does his own mastering...

I think he's waiting for Tracktion to support AU before commiting to plugin purchases.

[Gridlocked]

Doesn't matter how many plug ins you use, or what ones...(I would say!)

The most important thing to good mastering is properly postioned speakers with a totally flat response and an amp that will not colour the sound.

Then playing the final result on as many different systems as possible, although that goes without saying.

And if you have to do your own mastering, leave it for as long as possible from the time you do the final mix down to the time you start mastering...Think weeks, even months. Not days.

[Mush]

Igor 4000 wrote:

Do you use the Sonic Maximizer across the entire mix?

MOst of the time I use it across the whole mix . I find that combination gets me where I want to go.

I find the best thing to do is just compare mixes with some of your favorite artists and try to get as close as possible to pro mixes.

Mush

[Sleepwalker]

Im thinking of bying eather Ozone or TrackS.
What do you think is the pros and cons, and price difference, versus the value?


Regards,
Kim

[christianmusicmaker]

Try to read some info about linear phase EQ.
Firium is one of this kind and so is better in complex audio (mastering)... Huge latency so cannot be used in a mix...
You tried firium and you find it does not have enough band ???? You can almost draw your curve..

Eqium is perfect in a mix (on one track).

One is 129$ both are 169$.... Buy both...

I may get both.

In any case, the max level of quality I can achieve @ home is good enough for me, thanks to modern CPUs and DACs.

Same here

I'm mastering my next disc right now and I actually just had this conversation with my studio engineer. He was telling me that mastering was originally a technique for vinyl to make sure that the blade didn't punch thru the dub plate or cut joining grooves. For digital audio the process should only be needed to equalize track levels across the disc for a consistent sound. So I went back to my mix worked on that for a while, and sure enough I got a good master using only a limiter to bring up levels. Re-EQing and Compressing are largely unneeded. That said, I use T-Racks because it has the best sounding comrpessor and limiter (IMHO).

A few gems in there! Some people would pay to get that information. I have heard alot about T Racks I think their EQ plug comes with Protools LE

I get great results using these.

1. waves c4
2. freefilter
3. bbe sonic maximizer
4. disco dsp thrill me

Nice collection...disco dsp is the one I know the least about and free filter...just how good are they? Comparisons?

Note: Another mastering processor to check out is the "Assimilator" plug-in offered for TC PowerCore.
This is reverse engineering at its finest.

But, I don't think you really need $50,000 in equipment to produce a good sound. What you need is a good ear, skills and good taste--the same things you need in any aspect of the composition process. We want personal style in all aspects of the art.But we want mastering that is in service to the piece that is being mastered, not the "personal" style of some expensive mastering house, all of whose product tends to sound the same. Mastering is not artistic product in and of itself. Mastering houses would like you to believe that you are incapable of completing this step on you own--not true, not magic either.

"If it sounds good, it is good." - Duke Ellington

It is nice to work with other people from the social point of view. But things designed by committee tend towards the lowest common demoninator. If you want it done right, learn to do it yourself. Spend the money on services about which you know nothing or are a waste of precious time like cleaning the house or bookkeeping.

Obviously, this is all IMHO.

All good...thanks for taking the time to post that much info! I agree with you and will have a look at the assimilator.

I have heard that the Powercore and the UAD 1 are serious rivals to Protools in the mastering stakes and that the plugs are fantastic. There is a review of the UAD 1 in the latest edition of Future music (149).

That's actually my approach as well. Just HarBal along with something like TLS_Maximizer.

Heard of Harbal...what exactly does it do?

I've moved away from multiband compression. I used to always use it but I find wideband better these days.

You have lost me... Whats wideband and why is that better than a multiband compressor? Just very curious...

Mainly Voxengo, though I have a few others. I hope the original poster has made note of the fact that Ozone is now a VST...

Hi pough, yes I know about Ozone being a VST plug now.I think the upgrade is £25 for existing users if I read my email for Izotope correctly I have some free voxengo plugs and the Convolution suite... Impulse modeler, Pristine Space 8channel convolution reverb and a deconvolver.

I highly recommend pristine space it is brilliant and Aleksey (Mr. Voxengo) is all over the forums over there..very helpful, which voxengo plugs have you got?

my most valuable mastering tool, other than ears and speakers, is pink noise

honestly

Err... Please explain...?

saying that pro mastering is a waste and you can do just as good of a job at home is pretty ridiculous. you're kidding yourself and obviously just don't know enough about it. no one is paying those guys that kind of money just for the hell of it. some of you seem to be forgetting that most of the records you hear are mixed by good pro engineers and they still have it mastered afterwards. they're not just doing it for traditions sake. you also can't say "I had something mastered and it sucked, so mastering is useless". no, your mastering guy sucked. I've heard really bad mastering (from pretty big name places) and just because a guy calls himself a pro doesn't mean he's good. you need to research the GUY (not just the house) before you lay down your hard earned cash. and if it doesn't sound good send it back.

if you're releasing music to the public that you're trying to sell you're cheating yourself and the people buying it if you don't have it done right. it's even more important with things recorded in "budget" situations since they can probably help the little things that are gonna bum you out forever and make your stuff not-quite-good-enough.

on the other hand it's equally silly to say that everyone needs to have all their stuff mastered by pros. if you're not selling it, you're wasting your time and money going to a pro. especially with electronic music I think you can get pretty good results yourself if you work at it.

You see both sides of the coin

I think the guy just wanted some advice on plugins and "go to a mastering house" is not really helpful.

for quickly getting something sounding good I've been using T-racks lately on the laptop. I know there will be some giggling because it's not a "serious" tool (but neither is Tracktion, right) but I've gotten some pretty good results. one nice thing is that even the presets sound pretty good and there's a good variety of them. you can something decent sounding by starting there even if you aren't sure what you're doing. I also use the Waves Ren EQ, Ren Comp, L2 and C4 but that's a much more expensive package and takes a little more skill perhaps. sometimes the Bomb Factory 1176 actually sounds pretty kick ass on the buss but I don't know if they make a VST or not.

T Racks again! It must be good. I would be surprised if anyone laughed a T racks user. I have heard good things about it on many forums. Reviews are good too.

Waves are a bit pricey but seem to be the top of the pile for mastering.

Bomb factory is new to me, who makes it?

Doesn't matter how many plug ins you use, or what ones...(I would say!)

The most important thing to good mastering is properly postioned speakers with a totally flat response and an amp that will not colour the sound.

Then playing the final result on as many different systems as possible, although that goes without saying.

And if you have to do your own mastering, leave it for as long as possible from the time you do the final mix down to the time you start mastering...Think weeks, even months. Not days.

I listen to my mixes everywhere I can!I agree.

Im thinking of bying eather Ozone or TrackS.
What do you think is the pros and cons, and price difference, versus the value?


Regards,
Kim

I can only tell you of the pros fro Ozone as I use the DXi plug (Console as the wrapper)

1. Great sound.

2. Easy to use

3. Goood detailed pdf's really help.

4. Very good value for money.

5.Has a mulitband imager, exciter, compressor, EQ and reverb plug.

6. 64 bit internal processing.

7.Graphically superb.