recommendations for "mastering" app?

[evernaut]

i worded that original post very carefully in an effort to prevent people from hijacking it and turning it into a "proper-definition-of-mastering-ozone-sux-waves-sux" thread.

I'll reiterate the question:


Should I invest in a host program like Peak or Wavelab? If so, what suggestions would you have?[/i]

Well, I use either Wave Editor or DSP Quattro on OS X ...but Wavelab is a fabulous app too. Really, though, you could just use Audacity if you want a wave editor to run Ozone in.

Render your files in Live at whatever bitdepth and sample rate you've recorded at, open it up in , say, Audacity...open Ozone...go to the 'cd mastering with exciter & widener' preset and tweak from there. I normally disable the mastering reverb or dynamics and concentrate on the loudness maximiser and eq functions.

The Mbit+ dither is also the best you can get in software form...Waves L3 running a very close second. Play around with Ozone..it's a fabulous bit of gear...ignore the disdainful comments. You wanna get this thing done cheap? You already have Ozone? No-brainer.

And I'm not disagreeing that dedicated mastering engineers can do a better job...of course they can...but they cost money and you have to weigh up if your work is worth the extra $$.

[evernaut]

Another VERY useful little tip - depending on the style of music - is to put a high pass filter at about 30-40Hz. There's not much going on down there that's generally useful and it can muddy the mix and eat into your headroom.

[Svetla]

i dont understand...
what is the advantage to mastering the rendered file from Live in a seperate app? why not just use Live? what would be a benefit of using a different app?

[evernaut]

i dont understand...
what is the advantage to mastering the rendered file from Live in a seperate app? why not just use Live? what would be a benefit of using a different app?

It's not a must-do thing...you can load a mastering vst/au and use it in Live. Other dedicated wave editors have better metering and more useful editing facilities should you need them. And most deal with downsampling in a better way than Live, should you need to do that.

[dm_hawk]

thanks, evernaut!

that's very helpful, especially the tip about the hipass filter. i do quite sub-heavy minimal techno, so headroom is always a problem - my basses tend to be either sloppy or non-existent.

[leedsquietman]

If you want to release a pro release and can afford it then by all means it should be done at a pro studio.

For demos or your own personal work on a small release, there is no reason why you shouldn't do it yourself, but make sure that you go easy on the presets and spend some time reading up on the subject and take the time to make it sound as good as it can. Particularly go easy on the volume maximisers and mastering compressors.

Ozone is OK (nothing special but can be used to good effect) - it is a set of tools - how good or bad it sounds is in the hands of the user, bad workmen blame the tools.

Someone with good ears who knows how to use an EQ and compressors etc. should be able to use it to some degree to enhance the sound. Ditto with other plugins. I use Soundforge and 3rd party vsts mainly from PSPaudio and Voxengo to good effect.

Once again, Waves are good tools but massively overpriced unless you don't care about using cracked software. Some of the top of the line plugins by Waves, PSPAudio, Sonnox, Sonalksis, or DSP cards like UAD1 have some real nice plugins with a distinctive sound - but if all you're doing is hosting a few tunes at Myspace for demo purposes whatever, is it worth paying the extra?

Books on mastering by Bob Katz and Booby Owsinski are good reading.

One other thing to consider - those who are pedantic would consider the process of getting the mix right for pressing to the CD/vinyl etc as MIX FINALIZING and only part of the mastering process which also includes sequencing, editing, preparing the PQ lists and making the final arrangement red book compliant or not etc and the actual burning to CD or pressing to vinyl as well as processing the final mix.

[tricil]

Books on mastering by Bob Katz and Booby Owsinski are good reading.

Booby?

[threv]

Books on mastering by Bob Katz and Booby Owsinski are good reading.

Booby?

fucking sweet