Mastering Plugins

[silverorlead]

Hi all,Just wanted to drop a line to see if people had some favorite mastering plugins. I'm using Ozone 3 right now, but I'm not really able to get the sound I'm looking for, even after hours of tweaking. Mostly I'm just not a fan of their presets, I don't find them very good starting points. Any help, recommendations, or tips would be greatly appreciated!Sincerely,Bri

[silvercord]

Hi Brian...im sorry you have been having trouble with Ozone 3...if i may ask whats your style of music?i have used ozone 3 for just a few months but, hmm i love it todeath...i know browsing the presets can often give the song you are previewing a real nasty sound.i often just start from scratch, 1st with the e.q and then on tothe other areas...also...i have found i get way different results monitoring on myphones/ near fields...which programs did you use before ozone?hope you find the keys to be able to really open up your mix,Brian!

[wodinlord]

I also have Ozone 3 and I have found that the presets usually overdo things. They may sound good at the time but later, as you play it other places, sound very overprocessed. I have to dial each area in myself and use it judiciously. And I don't use all of the processors it has, only what I feel the mix needs. Then I really like it. I'm not a big fan of their multiband limiter, but like the exciter and stereo imager. It does have a bit of a learning curve to get used to. I also have found that routing everything to a bus and then having that bus only pass the effected signal allows you to blend it into the mix with better results. A good mastering job usually involves just minor tweaking. Hope that helps.Wodinlord

[milfus]

for just all around use and functionality, I have to weigh in about waves, bit pricey, but they do what they do unparalled in some fields, and a debatable first place in the others, there are a few sets that can match em in diff areas, but I have yet to see a contender that was as well rounded

[53mph]

I don't know about your budget but for a no-brainer plugin, lower end of the budget plug-in you can't go wrong with Trackshttp://www.t-racks.com/Main.html?prod_TR_Plug

[devin]

I'm in the same boat as silverorlead, looking for the next step in mastering tools.Is anyone using any UAD stuff for mastering? I have the UAD-1 card with software running, and I was curious about their mastering suite as well.For those using Universal Audio, May is apparently "Mastering Month", with 20% off or something like that (haven't checked it all out though...a fellow musician just told me to go look).Sorry to add more questions than answers...I did the Ozone3 trial, and I found the presets very 'dynamic'. I'm sure learning more (and toning it down) would make it a good step.

[silverorlead]

Thanks all! silvercord and wodinlord, I think you have a good point, I'm used to starting with presets and then tweaking to make the sound I want, but I think there's just too much going on in all of the Ozone 3 presets!I'm going to try starting from scratch and building up using Ozone (which is obviously a pretty powerful tool, just one I'm not very adept with yet) rather than starting with the presets and going in the other direction.Thanks again!-Bri

[milfus]

if you havent currently, the best thing you could do, is train your ears for frequencyget a lot more milage that way

[soundsgreat]

Gotta agree with milfus here...... there are no audio mastering plugins, there is only your gut instinct, a good set of ears, or alternatively a professional mastering engineer with the appropriate gear. Just record and mix your tracks clean, and if the situation arises, pass it on to someone who knows their stuff.cheers, niteshift

[wodinlord]

May 13, 2008, 9:42am, soundsgreat wrote:Gotta agree with milfus here...... there are no audio mastering plugins, there is only your gut instinct, a good set of ears, or alternatively a professional mastering engineer with the appropriate gear. Just record and mix your tracks clean, and if the situation arises, pass it on to someone who knows their stuff.cheers, niteshiftJeez, not another one. Do you hear colors and shapes, too? LOL Just kidding, guys.(or gals, maybe...) You are right in a professional context, but not everyone here is a professional. They can't have a pro master every submission to Taxi, but the listings often require "broadcast quality" So, everyone has to do all they can to achieve that. They need to at least know that their mixes have enough level and apparent loudness and reasonably balanced EQ. I would rather help them do better than tell them to give up trying. Mastering is not a beginner skill, no doubt. (I used to insist on using no one but Bernie Grundman, when at all possible - loved him) It does take a seasoned, experienced ear to do it well, but you don't get better at what you don't try. So, Silverorlead, keep trying!Just my humble 2 cents.Wodinlord