Mastering plugin...

[Ruben A]

yo

Think I´ve seen a plugin for ProTools/Logic... whatever... a kind of easy mastering tool, that helps you getting the music more "clean" and fitted into level... Do you know it??? Should be very easy to use.... Damn, what was it called??? damn :!

Maybe you know some other tools that I can use for mastering at my mac?

Now I know how much I miss my old studio setup - where I was able to play as loud as I could... headphones and apartments sucks!

[CV]

yeah theres loads of em

Theres TC Finaliser plug in , and a steinberg one , Waves multiband renaissance C4 , T-Racs loads,,,

I quite like the PSP plugs

http://www.psp-audioware.com/


I also use DBX Quantum hardware multiband

the best finalising hardware is by Weiss...http://www.weiss.ch/core.html

fun fun fun !

but remember Mastering is a highly specialised skill

it might sound good running your mix through a finalise , but are you doing good mastering? - All mastering engineers know a LOT about the physics of sound and frequency , plus a lot of knowledge about the medium , CD and vinyl...

[Ruben A]

yeah, I know.... It´s the hardest piece.... hmmm... Could be good to learn - but I have an idea of what to do. Just need the plugin.
Thanks


woops...god, now I know what a mistake I´ve done!!? shitshitshit... gotta fix that...huhuhu...shit.

[FORMAT]

hi
i think the mastering edition loudness maximiser is really the perfect tool for someone who doesnt know much about masterin... makes everything louder and phatter.

regards,
r.

[c s]

waves ultramaximizer

[emef]

Originally posted by FORMAT
hi
i think the mastering edition loudness maximiser is really the perfect tool for someone who doesnt know much about masterin... makes everything louder and phatter.

regards,
r.

yeah i likethat one too

[deccard]

most of the time i use waves renaissance multiband c4 compressor and waves l1 ultramaximizer.
for some eq-ing before i prefer the tc master eq.

so if you just want it as loud as possible and don´t know much about mastering than just use the l1 or something similiar like finalizer etc but running your stuff through a good tube compressor can produce very good results too..

[jamyna]

I fully acknowledge that mastering is a highly involved technical skill that cannot be instantly "solved" by a software plugin with a cool "skin" and flashy lights etc. etc. I have found this out myself by trying several different approaches to a mix, comparing these with each other and against some of my fav tunes (and then usually getting fustrated!) .

However, I wondered if you lot could advise on what kind of pre-master mix one should hand over to a mastering engineer? For example, has the mix been compressed / limited already? mixed down at 16/24/32 bit? An equal range across the frequency spectrum?

I know this is the sort of issue that people write books and books about, but any insight into your approach(es) would be appreciated!

[CV]

Well - I think it should sound good to you - your mix should give you a buzz , but be aware that using multi-band maximisers will physically make your mix harder to master , even though it sounds good to you... the waves will be square and the dynamics will be all mashed together...

So , I would finish your mix to 2 track and then bear in mind that it will be mastered professionally... Leave as much dynamic energy in there as possible , but beware of too much sharp attacks on Hi,s and avoid phase - Stereo out-of-phase bass end is uncuttable on vinyl , remember - Sharp mids can also be a problem... Vinyl side length is an important factor - make sure your total length is under 12 minutes per side - anymore than this reduces dynamics and level exponentially...

If you are going to CD , pretty much anything goes in terms of phase , but you should still be aware of digital headroom , i.e. listening out for peaks and clicks...

By all means , experiment with these mastering plug-ins during tracking stage , as you can make some great drum loops and add a lot of presence to individual bass sounds, vocals and other bits with this stuff...

[marcin]

here you will find some helpful informations about recording, mastering etc.

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/regular_htm/PWhiteworkshops94-01.html


good luck,
marcin

[c s]

i was told i should use a high pass filter on the main mix to make sure i only hear those low frequencies which can actually be reproduced on vinyl. good/bad idea ? cutoff at 50hz ? more ? less ?

[deccard]

a general masteringtip of that kind isn´t good at all i think.
personally i eq the bass or bassdrum or both at 20-30 hz with a lowshelf eq (but not as general rule).

[maikeru]

yeah im pretty new to this whole malarky about mastering and I really like the c4 plugin using it in logic when it feels like it wants to! (plugins shmugins...)

I hear what cristian is saying about the mastering being done by the professionals and I think I agree. I did a track for a local glasgow band and the guy at sony mastered it and to me I couldnt hear much of a difference but im sure he did some stuff to it...is it more eq'ing etc than compression more techno tracks that make it better or vice versa? oh and how would you know your steroe bass is phased out and thus unwriteable to vinyl I assume this is if you use a phaser over the bassline and reverse the phase on one channel to get it phatter? (yes/no Im new to this so please be gentle with me!)

oh and also can we start a thread about the nord modular again? I was hoping christian might be able to help me with some pointers on the lovely little red beast.... :)

thanks

[emef]

Originally posted by cristian

Stereo out-of-phase bass end is uncuttable on vinyl


what exactly does this mean

[c s]

i'd interpret it as being very low frequencies on both stereo channels which are, well, 'out of phase' - let's say the curves would look different in a wave editor for each channel, or one curve is 'moved forward or backward against the other one' although it's the same shape.

[deccard]

out of phase means also that it wouldn´t be monocompatible. which means if you route the left and right channel through a monochannel. both would erase themself cause they are (almost) similiar but the left channel with the negative amplitude of the right....
mh explaining this in english is a quest in itself...
if you turn your amplifier/mixer to mono the bass shouldn´t be less louder/pumpin etc...

[Ruben A]

No problems if you only use old monosynths....hahahahahah

[deccard]

but some people put effects on their bass....some people put flanger effects on their bassdrum too....some people drink coffee...mh
strange world

[c s]

coffee ? - yeah !

[OliverH]

I do use SEKD Samplitude for mastering.
It features 4-Band-Compression, a FFT-Filter (Cut the bass-
stay in phase) and a pretty good noise-Reduction
(which should be applied on submixes not on the final)
3BandStereoenhancer Spectoscope Oscilloscope ...zzzzzzz....
I have not been using any better software for trackpolishing
by the way labels usually pay "professional" mastering
so always keep a raw mix of your track..

[orgee]

i use Waves UltraMaximizer+ and it is pretty good, also try Waves MaxBass, but before Maximizer

[:KEiNZWEITER:]

Normally I use Waves Ultramaximizer...C4..etc....
Call my stupit but just try T-Racks .Its not a Plug,its a complete physical modeling 'analog' Masteringstudio.....and it sounds good...I was suprised how good it works....try it...

[OliverH]

T-Racks definitely rocks!
I have been using it for about half a year and it is worth the money.
Only problem are the low Q rates on the Equalizer.