EQ and mastering software

[ragani]

For those of you who use ProTools, what software plugins do you use for EQ-ing your tracks and mix? For those of you who use both ProTools and Logic programs-- do you do all your EQ work mainly in PT, or do you use Logic for its tracks and PT for its respective tracks?And finally-- what mastering software do you all use? For those of you who use both PT and Logic, do you master only in PT?I'm starting to make some headway here... any help you all can provide would be secretly and thoroughly relished...Raags

[andreh]

Hi Raags-I use a variety of EQ plugs with Pro Tools (McDSP, Sonnox, MDW, Waves) but I find the stock EQ3 plugs to sound pretty darn good...certainly good enough to achieve broadcast-quality results. The only thing that bugs me about them is that each band has a limited frequency range in which it operates, similar to how many analog console-strip parametric EQ's work. I guess it makes a better "analogy" this way, but the limitation is irritating since it's purely aesthetic. The Sonnox "works" this way as well.For the tone-sculpting side of mastering (level balancing, EQ'ing, compression, M/S processing, limiting, etc.) I usually create a new PT session into which I import all my mixdowns for a given project, give each one its own track, and use PT plugs for processing.For CD prep (track ordering, crossfades, PQ codes, etc.) I use CD Architect for CDDA's, and GEAR PRO Mastering for DDP's. Both of these programs run only on a PC. There are some Mac solutions for CD preparation, but most of those that offer "ready for duplication" options such as subcode creation and DDP exports are pretty expensive.André

[silvercord]

I am a fan of Izotope's Ozone 3 for eq-ing and mastering...besides eq, it features a very cool "mastering reverb" thatgels the whole mix together in carefully appointed amounts,there's the multi band compressor which brings life to the mix(probably the best feature) there's an mutiband aural exciter(which i never use) and the loudness maximizer which has different types of compression and dithering settings...,and multiband stereo imaging...and you the choice to use all or one or two or whateverabove at the same timei usually just surf the presets until i find a sound that is close to what i want and then go in and adjust from there...I love this thing! peacegeoff

[ragani]

Thanks, André and geoff-- I'm going to check into those ideas. André, do you use a variety of EQ plugs for the purpose of achieving different results? I'll check out the ones you listed and see what might work best for me. I do use a Mac (G4 now, but will be upgrading at some point, hopefully soon!).geoff, I'm definitely going to check out Izotope's Ozone 3-- that looks like just the package I might have been wanting! Thanks for your reply! Raags

[crs7string]

Raags,I've been using Ozone 3 for about a year and it is very easy to use and add a final "sheen"to a mix. It comes with a lot of presets as a strarting point. There are pesets for drums, bass , acoustic guitar, etc.Isotope also has a bundle available with Trash and Spectron. I have these too and have not used them much but is probably worth looking at. (Trash does distortion effects, Spectron does all kinds of strange stuff)Chuck

[brennanhester]

I've been using Ozone 3 for a long time, too. Good stuff.

[andreh]

Quote:André, do you use a variety of EQ plugs for the purpose of achieving different results? I'll check out the ones you listed and see what might work best for me. I do use a Mac (G4 now, but will be upgrading at some point, hopefully soon!).Different tonal results, but also differing CPU loads and workflow/feel...these are things you have to experience for yourself to understand what works best for a certain scenario, but I wouldn't sweat it too much at this point. Find one good EQ plug that works for you and make the most of it rather than getting caught up in plug-in fever...at least until your mixing skills are so good that a different plugin will affect your tone more than better-developed ears (you may already be there ).Given that you're using a G4, the Digi EQ3 is a good candidate IMHO since it's fairly CPU efficient, it's modular (1, 4, & 7 band versions available) AND it sounds really good. Plus, it's free! I also use a Mac when I'm running Pro Tools or Digital Performer. The PC gets turned on for medium to large orchestral sessions that require Gigastudio, or when I need to prep a CD for duplication...otherwise mastering chores are handled on the Mac side as well.HTH,André

[andreh]

Quote:I am a fan of Izotope's Ozone 3 for eq-ing and mastering...besides eq, it features a very cool "mastering reverb" thatgels the whole mix together in carefully appointed amounts,I've heard good things about Ozone 3, though I haven't heard it in action.However, I would warn against using a global reverb on your mixdown unless you don't have access to the multi-track session and it REALLY needs some ambiance added to it. The contrast between wet and dry parts in a mix is what sets them off from one another, and this is lost if everything is placed in the same "space" with a global verb.Acoustic and orchestral tracks can take this treatment a little better since generally they're meant to sound like all their parts are in the same acoustic environment, but even then you lose control over how "wet" individual parts are (and therefore their perceived distances from the listener) with a global verb applied.You actually can affect individual parts at the mastering stage to a certain degree with tools such as multi-bands compression and targeted EQ. Also, the use of MS [mid/side] processing can allow parts that are only in the left or right speakers to be affected differently from parts that are only in the center or the mix. Again, though, these are tools that should generally only be used when access to the multi-track session is not available, since that's where most problems requireming these tools should be fixed.Like they say, though, if it sounds good it is good...so whatever works!André

[ragani]

Thanks, guys for the notes about Ozone 3. André, what you wrote is really helpful to me-- thanks for taking the time to make those notes for me. I absolutely understand the limitations of global reverb too-- I never use it on any of our CD productions, as I prefer to go track by track as needed per instrument.And why hadn't I heard of Digi EQ3 yet?? I'm going to go find that, as I'd like something to at least allow me to tweak things a bit once they are in the final mix process. Yes, just one or two for me to use to get started would be just perfect. I'm not a gear geek yet, but I feel it lurking there inside somewhere... Thank you, all. Raags

[ernstinen]

I just bought the 7.4 ProTools update and haven't installed it yet. But in 6.4, I've used a T-Racks EQ which is pretty good, but recently realized that I have the Waves mastering plugins on my PC (I bought 'em awhile ago and haven't really used them). So now I use both the T-Racks and the Waves when mastering some tracks with extreme EQ problems. Once in awhile I'll use a Digi EQ as well, if there's one frequency that I'm having a big problem with. --- I've been mastering some live recordings my band did using 2 PZMs and a DAT machine. Serious EQ problems on one of them. It really was the soundman's fault, but that's ancient history! Ern