Which is the best mastering compressor plugin ?

[tribeofenki]

.
I will donate my ears to George Massenburg.

...due to the styles of the OP, Mpressor by Elysia should work well, too.

[BringItBack]

Cytomic's The Glue works well.

[Kayo]

For me.. hands down TC- MD4, MD3, and Dynamic EQ... Period!

KAyo

[aleatoric]

None! All plugins suck!

Just kidding, I really like PSP Mastercomp, super transparent and tons of flexibility.

PSP Old Timer is also really nice. Much less flexibility than Mastercomp but has a super cool vibe to it. I really wish it had some additional controls though.

The Flux offering are definitely something to look into as well.

[dj.quash]

I cant beleive no one has mentioned Sonalksis in this thread. The DQ is an amazing plugin comp and the mastering suite is deff up there with UAD and Waves. There pricey but hey they sound truly amazing!!

[Tarekith]

Voxengo Polysquasher

[fradoca]

if you want total transparency use the Voxengo Polysquasher.
If you want color T-racks fairchild 670,Tubetech cl1b or PSP Oldtimer
will do the job as well

just my two cents


cheers

[Siryne]

This might be a good place for me to mention, PSP MasterComp is also one of my favorites HOWEVER. It is not at this point completely compatible with Logic 9.1.1 and OS 10.6.4. It causes sessions to crash as soon as you open them and whenever you instantiate it the plug will make a pop in your system.

I have been in contact with PSP and they tell me they are working on an up date and that indeed there is a compatibility problem with the aforementioned. They intimate that it will be a while before we see this update as so much code has to be re compiled for cocoa.

MasterComp is basically unusable at this point in the configuration I described. I recommend you use great caution in that area.
Peace!

[edva]

Just started using the Slate FG-X, and it is the best I've ever heard. I am substituting it and bypassing previous mastering comps and limiters in archived projects, and the improvement makes me regret that FG-X was not available to me previously. A clearer, more artifact-free, and bigger sound than ever before.
Now if only their downloads worked as well as their product...........

[edva]

Originally Posted by edva

Just started using the Slate FG-X, and it is the best I've ever heard. I am substituting it and bypassing previous mastering comps and limiters in archived projects, and the improvement makes me regret that FG-X was not available to me previously. A clearer, more artifact-free, and bigger sound than ever before.
Now if only their downloads worked as well as their product...........

Downloads working here now, life is good.

[Marando]

Waves API 2500 is very versatile! I also like Cytomic The Glue, it rocks! thumbsup

[HomeProducer]

I recently use Softube CL1B sometimes in mastering. Nice color and pumping, good for electronica. Great character.

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by HomeProducer

I recently use Softube CL1B sometimes in mastering. Nice color and pumping, good for electronica. Great character.

thumbsup

[dotl]

Originally Posted by HomeProducer

I recently use Softube CL1B sometimes in mastering. Nice color and pumping, good for electronica. Great character.

Have you changed your mind about plug-ins in general or just about this one?

Is that why you've deleted your post on Softube CL-1B thread where you stated that plug-in developers have NO CLUE???

...but you've been quoted: HERE


I liked this part very much, really...EPIC!!! I'm gonna put it as my signature:
''WHY THE **** a software company must be pointed to their errors? They claim "they know the math"...''

[OMU]

I used MD3 a lot in mastering. A new favorite is the MIO compressor. None of them are native tough..

[Kid_Fiction]

PSP master comp rocks...! but, as has been said before, different compressors for different songs... its just how it is. There's no one size fits all!

The waves ssl is OK, I didn't really get all that much from it... I'm a big fan of "the glue" esp for parallel compression. It can give a very clean sound imo. In terms if price its without competition too, 99 well spent! I also have Waves API for the same job on tracks that need more colour.

Lagerfelt's SSL presents for the logic comp work well too, which is a testament to the power of good ears and (i guess) good room acoustics over good plugs!

On the topic I guess I have to mention that the clearest compressor around, is no compressor at all! Look into soft clipping, eq, limiting and everything else, as well as your room acoustics/monitoring.

[jeremy.c.]

Since I hate the multiple redundant posts as much as anyone, I'll thread jack a little and piggyback on my own question.

I'm looking to improve what I can do at the mastering stage. I mainly have and use the UAD Precision Mastering Suite (Precision Limiter, Prec EQ and Prec Multi-Band) in addition to a few other comps and EQs (Fatso, Cambridge, Pultec, Neve 1073, Neve 33609, Fairchild, LA2A, 1176). I do not have the SSL or Prec Buss Comp.
I have been intrigued by the Slate FG-X, but is there anything else that would fill in a gap in my setup? Or am I pretty well set in plug-in land?

I'm also curious to hear an analog chain on my own material versus an ITB chain. What would I stand to gain by going OTB if anything?
(Obviously I'm wanting to use a proper ME for my own project for his/her ears more than the gear, but I need to know what to look for)
Thanks!

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by OMU

I used MD3 a lot in mastering.

Another very clean plugin from TC.
"Multiband" seems to be a dirty word for some, but MD3 works very well and cleanly with no crossovers as a regular wideband comp too!

MD3 is not a character solution, but what it does - it achieves with little damage I'd say.

[Barendse]

Originally Posted by fradoca

if you want total transparency use the Voxengo Polysquasher.
If you want color T-racks fairchild 670,Tubetech cl1b or PSP Oldtimer
will do the job as well

just my two cents


cheers

T-rackS Fairchild 670 does a nice job. Setting 5 with 1 dB GR might do the trick. Pull back the input and the plug becomes cleaner but I like at the default setting.

[edvirgo]

Originally Posted by Digital Network

Hello,

I thought of buying hardware compressor but I already spent a lot of money in my studio. Then, I'm searching for the best compressor plugin. I'm on Logic 8.

I saw Sonnox Oxford Dynamics ...

Can you give me your advises ?

Cheers,
Vincent

Hi Vincent

Try Focusrite Liquid Mix. It has 40 Comp Emulate and 20 Eq Emulate Legendary.... No regret...i have one value for money round $350

[edva]

Or try Slate FG-X, the compressor is great.

[panchouu]

API 2500, great for masters. PSP MasterComp is good, and Vintage Warmer as a Brick Wall, it gives a great color IMO.

I'm not a huge fan of the SSL comp, but I do use it as the compressor in my live keyboard rig master out (on mainstage) (but that's a whole different story).

[Brain.wavs]

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

I like the SSL Duende buscomp & X-Comp, Paul Frindle's Dynamic Spectrum Mapper and Flux compressors as plugin solutions for this purpose

thumbsupDuende is a great software solution not only for mastering but mixing as well. I frequently use the bus comp, X-comp & x-eq when mastering dance music and love them all. Still can't wait to get the real deal bus comp though Let software only be a temporary mastering tool for you while you are teaching yourself the trade.

[soundgeezer]

Funny, I have not heard one compressor that made a mix sound better. I prefer Limiters much more. I only use compressors in parallel mode when mastering.

just my 2ct

[fradoca]

Originally Posted by soundgeezer

Funny, I have not heard one compressor that made a mix sound better. I prefer Limiters much more. I only use compressors in parallel mode when mastering.

just my 2ct

thumbsupthumbsup

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by soundgeezer

Funny, I have not heard one compressor that made a mix sound better. I prefer Limiters much more. I only use compressors in parallel mode when mastering.

I hold an opposite opinion on every single statement made

Seriously though, I don't get why one would want to compare brickwall limiting and compression. Different functions for different applications...

[Waltz Mastering]

Originally Posted by soundgeezer

I have not heard one compressor that made a mix sound better.

Which ones have you tried? Agree that most if not all ITB compressors have never brought much of anything to the table when it comes to "sound" (sterile),.. but sometimes their function alone will make them useful under the right circumstances.

[Glenn Bucci]

Ammunition compressor in Samplitude/Sequoia hands down is the best compressor plug in I have ever used for mastering. Here is tutorial 1 on the plug in. (there are several tutorials on this wonderful compressor. http://www.samplitude.com/video/tuto...0Part%201.html

[Bob Olhsson]

The one that sounds best for the particular program material!

Choice is good because all compressors are very complex and have relatively unpredictable results. Sometimes a plug-in sounds better than hardware and often both sound better bypassed.

If there's any real formula, it's knowing that what we need to do is almost never the same twice. It's all way more of an experiment that most people want to know. It comes down to trustworthy monitors and a humble willingness to admit that sometimes doing practically nothing sounds best.

[fradoca]

I would also take a look at this set of plugins :

ArtsAcoustic | because sound matters

i demoed them for a few days with really positive impressions.
You can tweak a lot of parameters for m/s compression.
You can achieve a clean analog sound and if you crank up the
input volume the sounds gets colored as it would be with tubes compressors.
You also have negative ratios that can be useful for certain songs or
particular styles of music.

the Glue is also great for parallel compression