Mastering challenge plug-in

[kundevelop]

If you accept a challenge to do a mastering in your studio using only 2 plug ins, which one would you pick up? assuming you are going to work on an average good mix, the ones you receive often and don't loose to much time on it cause it sound already quite good.

please skip this topic if you think it is a stupid question

faust

[lerone]

alogorithmix red & voxengo elephant.

[staudio]

Ozone 4 comes to mind because it is really many different tools in one plug, I guess thats cheating though right?

[kundevelop]

it is not cheating, Ozone 4 load in just one slot so it is 1 plug in, maybe a combo one. so you can load even 2 if you need.

[papanauta]

Ozone 4 & Massey Limiter.

[mildav]

Originally Posted by papanauta

Ozone 4 & Massey Limiter.

+1thumbsup

[Kayo]

UAD + TC MD3 = A great combo!

Cheers,
FD

[cooker]

I'm going to buy a special mastering package for nebula today or tomorrow, hopefully it will cover most of my needs.

[Cellotron]

Sonoris EQ2 - Equalizer - Sonoris Audio Engineering
& Voxengo Elephant 3 - Audio mastering limiter (maximizer) plugin - Elephant - Voxengo

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[alex_333]

Ozone 4, Crysonic Spectraphy

[psykostx]

First, Is there a native version of the massenburg eq?

Second, 2 plugin challenge? thats silly, of course Ozone is cheating!

Third, Obviously, you would use a limiter and eq if you could only pick 2.
But then you couldn't really master, so you'd have to get a little more functionality and pick Ozone or Tcracks instead of eq or lim.

Does Propellerhead Record have the same mastering suite from Reason? If so, I pick that and win this challenge with ONE PLUGIN!

[alex_333]

I pick that and win this challenge with ONE PLUGIN!

Yeah, respect! :D

[KRStudio]

alogorithmix red and AMunition from Samplitude.

[kundevelop]

Originally Posted by psykostx

Third, Obviously, you would use a limiter and eq if you could only pick 2.
But then you couldn't really master, so you'd have to get a little more functionality and pick Ozone or Tcracks instead of eq or lim.

So it is not possible to do proper mastering stage using only 1 good limiter and 1 good EQ and of course good monitoring system and the right room. I think many mix, if well done, doesn't need harmonic exiting or spacial enhancing...isn't it? but I am not a pro...are you using ozone mastering concept frequently?

Faust

[Joe_caithness]

PSP Neon HR
Oxford Dynamics

[kundevelop]

Originally Posted by Joe_caithness

PSP Neon HR
Oxford Dynamics

interesting...I was thinking about Oxford Dynamics only for channel edit but yeah...why not.

[jinksdingo]

psyk
Massenberg design Works

tc electronic System 6000 MDW Parametric EQ Plug-In

[wado1942]

I can quite easily go through an entire mastering session without even 1 plugin and often do.

But if I could only own 2 plugins, I guess they would be the WAVES Renaissance Compressor and VoxengoSPAN. The RC was the first plugin compressr I could tolerate and I guess I've never seen the need to constantly upgrade when I have a bunch of hardware compressors. The SPAN is a great level meter, even if it constantly averages instead of using a time window. Plus it's great for pointing out monitoring deficiencies in real time with the FFT graph.

[psykostx]

Originally Posted by jinksdingo

psyk
Massenberg design Works

tc electronic System 6000 MDW Parametric EQ Plug-In

Sick! Not quite Native, but Sick!

[psykostx]

Originally Posted by kundevelop

So it is not possible to do proper mastering stage using only 1 good limiter and 1 good EQ and of course good monitoring system and the right room. I think many mix, if well done, doesn't need harmonic exiting or spacial enhancing...isn't it? but I am not a pro...are you using ozone mastering concept frequently?

Faust

Are you a set and forget kinda person?

Sometimes that one snare hit needs verb on top of the mixer's verb (listen to Lateralus, one of my fav mastering works to listen to, ever), or that lower midrange is still too clear during the breakdown because the mix uses synth instruments (A lot of the quieter passages on any NIN album). I'm not a ME, but I definitely don't think an EQ and a Lim could suffice for a full job. I'm sure lot of mastering engineers won't bother with anything but EQ and Limiting if they don't particularly want to spend time on a project... a lot of people tell me "I'm so good at mixing, it only took the engineer 2 minutes to mix my 30 minute demo. " If it only took 2 minutes its because he/she felt it wasn't worth their time to perfect.... IMO ...I don't think Tool would have settled for 2 minutes of mastering time....

PS: Automation is crucial if you are going to use Ozone...I wouldn't set and forget a damn thing, especially not on ozone. If I touch a knob once, its gonna change again at some point...especially on EQ, because that just means the mixer was ignoring/couldn't hear that frequencies that I think need work. that said, I don't really like Ozone, but if you don't have money, it will give your local mastering house a run for its money.

[kundevelop]

get it, thanx for reply. I don't really like Ozone too but it could be usefull for sure.
Lateralus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
isn't it? I would like to have a listen to it.
cheers.

faust

[psykostx]

Originally Posted by kundevelop

get it, thanx for reply. I don't really like Ozone too but it could be usefull for sure.
Lateralus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
isn't it? I would like to have a listen to it.
cheers.

faust

Yup. Having one ME do a complete project simply would not be possible without digital media to preserve the quality and automation to make the moves. You would have to have a team of engineers, each responsible for a certain portion of the work. That is why computers have been used in mastering as long as they have been around. Ever catch the VH1 Classic Album series? It took 5 people at the mixing board just to move the faders on Dark Side of the Moon. Another 3 to work the synths and countless other people to do all the little things we take for granted.
One knob turn simply can't make up for all of that! I hope I inspired people with my rant...

This is turning out to be a great post!

Also: Does Propellerhead Record have the mastering suite from Reason? I bet (just based on how good reason sounds) the built in FX and channels in Record are KILLER. Anyone buy the Reason/Record package and know for sure?

[psykostx]

Originally Posted by wado1942

The SPAN is a great level meter, even if it constantly averages instead of using a time window. Plus it's great for pointing out monitoring deficiencies in real time with the FFT graph.

SPAN sounds interesting for the math stuff, ever try the Waves Dorrough for feel?

YouTube - Waves Dorrough VS Hardware Dorrough

Dunno if it comes with FFT tools or Oscilloscope, looks like its worth savin up for tho, agreed?

[bmanic]

Originally Posted by psykostx

Dunno if it comes with FFT tools or Oscilloscope, looks like its worth savin up for tho, agreed?

You got to be kidding.. right?

Cheers!
bManic

[psykostx]

Originally Posted by bmanic

You got to be kidding.. right?

Cheers!
bManic

I know that Dorrough makes hardware FFT graphs, Oscilloscopes, and analyzers, I just don't know if the plugin also has them. Anyone?

Where is the joke? The saving up $750 for another version of something you already have part? Perhaps if they charged you more money, it would make it work better? I don't consider $750 a joke for a working house, when there is so much else that requires immediate funds. You should always save incrementally for something you don't need immediately even if business is good and you can afford it right away. What if you change your mind?

Also: Anyone try Propellorhead Record yet...Reason had such a great sound and I always thought Propellorhead should make a mastering suite, but alas they went with recording...bet its still kickass tho!

PS: If you have the real Dorrough meters and that's why you are so sarcastic, why not let us know how you think they compare to the software?!

[Table Of Tone]

Probably Oxford Suppressor and Flux Pure Comp II.

I say that because I haven't got a clue what digital EQ I would use!

This is a hard one as I very rarely use plugins!
Only when there's a problem that I can't sort out using my analog stuff, which doesn't happen that often!

[RussMaGuss]

Speaking of Ozone...... I recently acquired it, and am trying to open it in Logic Express, but to no avail.... This was the first plug in that I've actually downloaded, and I can't seem to figure out how to open it up on any channel strips... I have no Idea how to use it. It shows up when I look it up on my mac ( Library/Audio/plug-ins/components or vst or mas ) I just don't know how to open the damn plug-in!

Sorry, I'm a complete noob when it comes to mastering, but that's why I'm here, is to learn. Thanks for any help in advance!!

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by RussMaGuss

Speaking of Ozone...... I recently acquired it, and am trying to open it in Logic Express, but to no avail.... This was the first plug in that I've actually downloaded, and I can't seem to figure out how to open it up on any channel strips... I have no Idea how to use it. It shows up when I look it up on my mac ( Library/Audio/plug-ins/components or vst or mas ) I just don't know how to open the damn plug-in!

Sorry, I'm a complete noob when it comes to mastering, but that's why I'm here, is to learn. Thanks for any help in advance!!

Go into library/audio/plugins/components and check it's there.
If it's not there, install it again!

Open a session in logic and click on one of the slots in the output bus.
Go to the bottom of the logic/AU plugin list and you will see another window.
If ozone is the only third party plugin you have, it should simply just say izotope.
Click on that and another window should say ozone 4 (or whatever version you have).

When you open it for the first time, you will need to authorize it, so your puter will need to be on line.
Put your details and serial number in the correct boxes and press submit at the end.
When you go into your izotope account, it should show that you have authorized it.

If you get an ilok account and a key, you can use it on another puter.
Hope this helps!
You should be able to get it sorted.

[RussMaGuss]

hmm, well I looked it up in my library again, and it's still there, but when I open the plug-in list and go to AU, it only shows the Apple ones, and nothing that says Izotope, it's really weird and I can't figure it out

[Larry Mal]

Russ: Under preferences, you'll find a plug in utility, I think it's called Audio Units Manager or something. Check out the screen shot. Anyway, if you don't see Ozone there, then you need to reinstall it more than likely. Did you have it install as an AU or VST?

But you really should make your own thread about this, we are derailing other folks discussions, OK? You can PM me if you have any further questions about this.