IK and Gavin Lurssen set to unveil revolutionary mastering product at NAMM 2016

[JJ_Jettflow]

All this mastering plugins which suggest they can master with one knob are nonsense. This started years ago with this "EQ matching" idea from Harbal. The idea to master a song only while matching the frequency balance from another song...
Also this "we built a plugin with the sound of the XYZ mastering engineer" is nonsense. This is something where all people with a bit experience of mixing/mastering fall off the chair laughing.
Hopefully this "revolutionary mastering product" by IK will not fall in the same category trying to sell some of this "one knob instant mastering" plugins.

Are you sure the "EQ matching" was in Har-Bal first or Ozone? I saw EQ matching in Ozone 3 and that was in 2008. FYI, Har Bal is far from a "one knob" deal as well. While it has a couple of features that are automated, for the great part, it is a full function mastering plugin that the engineer has complete control over all eqing, compression, etc.

But what I find worse than these "one knob instant mastering" ( by that I assume you mean LandR) deals is software for "home mastering". If one understands the principle to mastering then they would understand that home mastering is akin to home surgery.

Mastering involves the use of extremely high-end audiophile hardware (speakers, amp, cables, etc) being placed in a listening environment that has been tuned to be as acoustically perfect as possible. The music is then manipulated by an experienced mastering engineer with very accurate eqs, compressors and various other audio tools to correct the music and to make a coherent collection out of a set of mixes that may vary considerably from one to another.

The idea is that if the music is listened through a very accurate sound system in a near-perfect environment, then someone with the proper skills will be able to detect the problems and be able to correct them....but it only works if the person knows what to listen for and how to fix it and these are highly specialized skills that take years to develop.

I do not think that this is something that be achieved at home and trying is a waste of time and money.

[ftech]

The exact place an ad probably shouldn't be placed because intelligent people are going to rip it to shreds (if there's a reason to).

There has been some childish foot stamping and yelling, but I've yet to see much in the way of an intelligent dissection.

Please show us your intelligent dissection..

My comment wasn't aimed at you, but the people who seem to have a problem with IK and their chosen form of communication for whatever reason, real or imagined.

Which, is not intelligent. That's the point. If you want intelligent discussion then engage in it. Calling other people childish is not intelligent discussion. In fact, I would argue that the only thing that has been intelligent discussion in this thread is the discussion of the value of un-intelligent ads posted in a general discussion forum.

So, according to your rules, observing that people acting in a child-like manner is more offensive than saying someone lacks intelligence?
Alrighty then.

[chk071]

Don't get the fuss anyway. If there weren't people attracted by this kind of marketing, then they wouldn't do it. Case closed really. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Ranting about it on the internet will neither change it, nor will it make you look particularly intelligent, to stick with the "intelligence" thing. Also makes finding info in such a thread very difficult, and separating the useful stuff from the pointless discussion will also be pretty tedious.

[ghettosynth]

The exact place an ad probably shouldn't be placed because intelligent people are going to rip it to shreds (if there's a reason to).

There has been some childish foot stamping and yelling, but I've yet to see much in the way of an intelligent dissection.

Please show us your intelligent dissection..

My comment wasn't aimed at you, but the people who seem to have a problem with IK and their chosen form of communication for whatever reason, real or imagined.

Which, is not intelligent. That's the point. If you want intelligent discussion then engage in it. Calling other people childish is not intelligent discussion. In fact, I would argue that the only thing that has been intelligent discussion in this thread is the discussion of the value of un-intelligent ads posted in a general discussion forum.

So, according to your rules, observing that people acting in a child-like manner is more offensive than saying someone lacks intelligence?
Alrighty then.

Well, yes, but, that isn't what I said. I said that calling other people childish isn't "intelligent conversation.

Look at you, you're still not talking about the product, instead, you're trying to poke at the fire with more sticks. If you want to talk about the product, then talk about it, nobody is stopping you.

[4damind]

Are you sure the "EQ matching" was in Har-Bal first or Ozone? I saw EQ matching in Ozone 3 and that was in 2008. FYI, Har Bal is far from a "one knob" deal as well. While it has a couple of features that are automated, for the great part, it is a full function mastering plugin that the engineer has complete control over all eqing, compression, etc.

The first release of Har-Bal was 2003 and it's (as far as I can remember) also the first plugin with such a spectrum matching feature. Today there are of course more tools available. Also Voxengo CurveEQ has such matching feature.

[JJ_Jettflow]

Are you sure the "EQ matching" was in Har-Bal first or Ozone? I saw EQ matching in Ozone 3 and that was in 2008. FYI, Har Bal is far from a "one knob" deal as well. While it has a couple of features that are automated, for the great part, it is a full function mastering plugin that the engineer has complete control over all eqing, compression, etc.

The first release of Har-Bal was 2003 and it's (as far as I can remember) also the first plugin with such a spectrum matching feature. Today there are of course more tools available. Also Voxengo CurveEQ has such matching feature.

But it still a poor feature. Never found any acceptable results from any of the matching EQ stuff.

[djshire]

The global leader, technological leadership, industry-leading innovative products, woaaa, got anything a bit smaller maybe?

After 20 years earning it, sorry to disappoint but no we don't have anything smaller for you.

[antithesist]

EQ matching goes at least back to some early Steinberg plug-in if not farther.

[Compyfox]

I don't think that EQ matching will be one of the "new modules", that's not "analog".


My vote is still:
T-RACKS 5, with or without overhauled Routing Matrix (Shell, hopefully with overhauled FFT and signal meter)

Again, we will know for sure in a couple of weeks.

[antithesist]

EQ matching goes at least back to some early Steinberg plug-in if not farther.

Free Filter

[djscorb]

It's strange but IK do seem to make people a bit hot under the collar. They are pretty much the only vendor that annoy the living crap out of me and it's because of the marketing BS, CS BS, jam points, credits etc. It's just a big mess of shite to learn that gets in the way of what should be an incredibly simple process; demo, like, buy and use.

Out of all my tools I have largely abandoned using any of my IK stuph. The constant sales and group buys always seem to make a few people feel as if they have lost out, the nfr status of CS purchases combined with their plugs having almost zero resale value due to said sales isn't great either.

With other vendors, I demo, buy in real currency and just make music without ever thinking about it again.

Having to jump through hoops with CS, bloated and aggressive installers, or worry whether I should have bought some jam points, credits, Quatloos etc. to get a better deal and whether that has rendered my purchase nfr etc. is not useful or something worth wasting energy and time navigating for me. Who has time for any of that crap? There are more important and interesting things to dedicate time to in my world than second guessing a system that feels like a marketing student with ADHD was given free reign to show off every little gimmick and tactic in the book.

Imagine if every vendor had systems like this? It would be near impossible to know if you were being ripped off or not and you would waste countless hours trawling through faqs and contacting support etc trying to suss it out or get straight answers.

Well, almost no other music software vendor does this kind of crap which demonstrates to most intelligent people that it's not a concept people like or want. At least not in this sector. Musicians and audio geeks tend to be a bit more left of centre and anti establishment than other consumers and the fact that IK don't seem to get this is something that really bugs me. Insult my intelligence and you won't squeeze a penny from me!

When you put all this stuff together, for me at least, it leaves a very bad taste in the mouth.

So, when I see an IK Multimedia announcement, I check to see it's not an API2500 (as has been asked for by countless users for years now, myself included) and then my next step is to utter a very loud "MEH" and move on!

I guess it comes down to being a lover of irreducible complexity and elegance. IK's approach is bloated, confusing, a hassle and is hated by many. Probably the same types as me, who appreciate elegance and don't have time for marketing BS and all the IK nonsense that gets in the way of demoing, installing, purchasing and using the damn product.

Plus I think their graphic design and GUIs suck, but that's purely a taste thing!

Unless a plugin does something unique and fantastic for me I will always tend to gravitate to the more indie smaller devs who are experts in their fields; Valhalla, u-he, DMG, Cytomic, Exponential audio etc.

This release won't change any games. Mastering is about experience, taste and great monitoring. These things tend not to come in VST/AU format

Cheers and sorry for the long post.

Scorb

[simon.a.billington]

Man there's too much negative vibe floating around.

It's simply an announcement,take it or leave it. It's just informing us of an up and coming product in a relevant space no need to get all narky about it. It's not like the guy is pedalling some kind of pyramid scheme.

I, for one, appreciate this kind of information.

[Touch The Universe]

Mastering involves the use of extremely high-end audiophile hardware (speakers, amp, cables, etc) being placed in a listening environment that has been tuned to be as acoustically perfect as possible. The music is then manipulated by an experienced mastering engineer with very accurate eqs, compressors and various other audio tools to correct the music and to make a coherent collection out of a set of mixes that may vary considerably from one to another.

The idea is that if the music is listened through a very accurate sound system in a near-perfect environment, then someone with the proper skills will be able to detect the problems and be able to correct them....but it only works if the person knows what to listen for and how to fix it and these are highly specialized skills that take years to develop.

I do not think that this is something that be achieved at home and trying is a waste of time and money.

That is mastering in the time of record labels and cds, fast forward to digital age and post cds era-- something still needs to be done tweaking a full mix to enhance and safe to play-- mastering, which can be done at home. Different goals- same process.

[djscorb]

I was hoping to be constructive in my negativity. There's no point moaning into thin air if you want something to change!

Someone made the point that this is an announcement of an announcement. That made me laugh

There's really nothing to discuss yet other than IK marketing so no one should be surprised if that ends up being the subject of the thread!

[ghettosynth]

I was hoping to be constructive in my negativity. There's no point moaning into thin air if you want something to change!

Someone made the point that this is an announcement of an announcement. That made me laugh

There's really nothing to discuss yet other than IK marketing so no one should be surprised if that ends up being the subject of the thread!

Spot on mate. I thought you were very constructive. I didn't really go into my own details, I got off the bus very early. I have some t-racks freebie thing that came with a sound card, I installed it, it bugged me with popups to buy expanded versions, I uninstalled it. I do have an IK product that I like, but it's made of plastic and requires no software. It does work well, and better than the cheaper alternatives.

RE: jampoints and quatloos, LOL @ quatloos, and I agree that it's not worth the effort to try and figure out what they're worth. It's like a free to play video game, should I use my gold to keep playing, or save it for some power ups?