Mastering with Plug-ins only

[Razik]

What is your mastering chain using Plug-ins only and what are your main monitors?

Here is mine.

Liquid Mix- EQ+ (API 2500)
Liquid Mix (Manley variable Mu)
Waves Linear Phase Multiband
Waves S1
Renaissance DeEsser
FabFilter Pro.L

Monitors: Focal CMS 65

http://soundcloud.com/razikmastering/cant-believe-blind-digital



Razik Mastering

[MASSIVE Master]

If I'm using plugs, the chain is dictated by the mix (and is probably much shorter than yours - no offense). Probably Samp's native EQ and dynamics for 90% of the 'bulk' work and whatever else the mix deems necessary for the task.

Tyler Acoustics Decade series D1's.

[mftorso]

I'm getting a lot of good results with PSP's Neon EQ

[t_d]

i see like 3 or 4 compressors/limiters in there.... wow.

and maybe get the de-essing to happen in the mix stage..

and do you always need the S1? widening can sound great, but only when the track needs it.

[Razik]

It’s true that one Eq one compressor and one limiter can probably do the job, but I use gentle compression by different compressors so I don’t squash the track and the S1 to adjust and even up the left and right channels.

[DrAudioBot]

It varies depending on the track. Mostly between 5-10 plugins

these come to my mind:

- DDMF LP 10 (sometimes in M/S mode)
- Wavearts Multidynamics (sometimes only lowest band active for gentle bass control)
- MeldaProduction MFilter (surgical EQ)
- T-Racks Opto compressor (very gentle 1-2dB. Smooths out nicely. Great musical sounding comp)
- MeldaProduction MDynamics (perfect for mastering with all the fine tuning inside)
- Nebula (Mostly EQ's or tape programs)
- PSP NobleQ (for shaping)
- MeldaProduction Stereoprocessor (if needed! Has an exciter per band like Ozone + width per band. Cool tool)
- MeldaProduction MDynamicsLimiter (favorite limiter)

Yeah, a lot Melda stuff. It's because I own the Totalbundle and make use of it ;-)

[Benedict]

Fabfilter Q
Ozone 4
Fabfilter L


Genelec 8030


I only do demo masters for myself

[Doc No]

SSL X-EQ, DMG Equality, UAD MP, Precision EQ(!!!)

SSL X-COMP, UAD Multiband-COMP,

Sonnox Surpressor

Fabfilter Pro

[bryan k]

I only mainly use 3 plugins.....

Flux Epure - EQ
IK T-Racks - Clipper
Slate FG-X (compressor and loudness maximizer)

[lovenara]

I love ozone and the chain in it is eq>multiband comp>xciter>stereo image>limiter

[LV mastering]

lisasmile wrote

Edit: but I do agree with leaving the de-essing outta there

You mean : no de-essing ???? never ??
Sounds strange to me....

[Razik]

Anyone else uses Liquid mix emulations for mastering?

[daez]

I use brainworx digital v2 for eq followed by slate fgx for loudness. I only compress if its wild but I mostly master stuff I did so comp isn't an issue usually. I consider this low end mastering but it works marvelously most all the time.Kind of hope slate come out with a good mastering eq to go with fgx.

[inflater]

If I use plugins is EQ Acustica, compresor softtub cl1b,and oxford limiter.

[Doc No]

Originally Posted by daez

I use brainworx digital v2 for eq followed by slate fgx for loudness.

+1 for bx digital v2

[Tuco B]

i tend to stick with samplitudes stock plugs most of the time but use the elysia alpha a LOT and the fabfilter pro-L cos i love its simplicity.. i like to try and keep things as simple as possible ..
of course there are exceptions to every rule and i`ll sometimes reach for other plugs if necessary...

[dotl]

1. Sonoris Mastering EQ and Brainworx dynEQ (if needed)

2. Sonoris Mastering Compressor or/and Slated Digital FG-X (comp only)

3. Soundtoys Decapitator (rarely)

4. FabFilter Pro-L

[Razik]

FabFilter Pro-L is a great limiter.

[Torpedo]

Originally Posted by Razik

FabFilter Pro-L is a great limiter.

The best for me...

[DanSheetsMusic]

I have had REMARKABLE success with...

SSL Buss Comp
Manley Massive Passive Mstr
L3-Multi

SSL with the analog button on is great and I really only squeeze about 2db of reduction. The Manley is an EQ you just have to experience to understand, but I'm loving it. Then the L3 comes in and really pulls everything together and can make any finally freq adjustments.

Works well for me

[Reiner]

As said above...it always depends on the material you working on...

Flux - Epure (surgical stuff)
Sonnox - Inflator (sometimes a little bit for some saturation)
Sonnox - Limiter or Massey Limiter
the Glue or AbbeyRoad TG 12413 (sometimes, barley moving)

other stuff is outboard

[Cellotron]

It's very rare that I master with plugins only - but in these cases it usually is just one eq (usually with the Sonoris EQ) - into one limiter (usually Voxengo Elephant, but sometime PSP Xenon, GVST GClip, or Stillwell Horizon+) followed by Sonoris Dither. With plugins for me nearly always the simpler the chain the better the end result!

In the box I will also when needed selectively de-ess with Digital Fishphones Spitfish, and selectively remove clicks and crackles with Acon Digital Decrackler.

Other tools used once in a blue moon include the JMS Audioware Hi-Res EQ, Wave Arts Dehum, Acon Digital Denoiser, Stillwell Audio Transient Monster, Voxengo LF Max Punch, Flux StereoTool, Sonoris MS Codec, Knufinke SIR2, and a number of others.

For monitors the path is Lavry Blue & Lucid DA9624 DAC's -> Coleman M3PH-II monitor controller -> Pass Labs X250 -> B&W Nautilus 802's.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[huejahfink]

My current ITB template.... note that I do not use all of these in one project at all, but they are there in template 'racks' in Cubase5, waiting in bypass. I have many other plugins so the template method helps my workflow considerably. (Do Powercore / UAD / Liquid Mix / Duende count as ITB?? Well they are all digital plugins anyway... so I suppose they do for the purpose of the thread.)

Algorithmix RED (mainly used for mids to highs. Sometimes I will use the dual mono instead for M/S)
TC MD3 (mainly for bass, low mids EQ - usually in L/R stereo, but sometimes in M/S)
Abbey Road TG12412 (alternative all-purpose EQ)

TC Dynamic EQ (mainly in LP mode for sibilance or vocal 'shrillness' control if necessary, but occasionally in MP mode to add a little extra punch to drums or tackle wayward low-end note)
Waves LinMB ( alternative "relationship counsellor" if necessary)

Waves C1-SC (love the upward comp mode on this thing, but the upward expander is very useful too)
Sonoris Mastering Comp (sat there on demo for a week, a definite purchase I will make ASAP)

Slate Digital FG-X (usually just for the comp or dynamic enhancement options, sometimes for peak saturation)
TC MD3 (sometimes just for the soft clipper set to -1dB, rarely for MB comp although it does this very well when I want it)
Voxengo Elephant 3 (shaping limiter)
TC Brickwall Limiter (for handling ISPs if relevant, but sometimes as main limiter)

BX Solo (Never rendered, but sits in the corner of my project so I can quickly check M/S)
TT Dynamic Range Meter

Rendered as 24bits.

Finally,
Izotope RX 2 Advanced (is used to do final QC or missed repairs, re-sampling if necessary, truncate silence, fades, and apply final dithering to 16bit. If tracks need obvious repair work when it comes in, I will load into RX before I hit Cubase, and again after with the rendered file)

A few other plugins which get used from time to time...

Waves MPX (started using this recently, can work wonders on some stuff)
Sonalksis Free-G Stereo (for making handy gain adjustments between plugs)
Sonnox Dynamics (sidechain mode is very quick and easy - usually for when just a snare or kick is poking out in a way that EQ can't reach)
Softube CL1B Powercore (nice for softening things from time to time)
Flux Stereotool (for when L/R is out of whack 'noticeably', but also just as a handy phase meter)
Waves Trans-X Multi (for getting underneath weak drum parts)
Voxengo Transmodder (for getting underneath weak drum parts)
Voxengo Soniformer (when I really need to work 'miracles')
TC VSS3 (for fixing tails or edits, but sometimes a small amount across the whole mix if client wants it)
Sonnox Inflator (sometimes where a little 'grit' is useful or last resort for "just make it louder - I don't care about the distortion so much" recalls)


Sony CD Architect (For CD projects)

My monitors are Dynaudio Acoustics BM15a
I do my QC and repair work with Beyerdynamic DT990

[Razik]

Originally Posted by LV mastering

lisasmile wrote
You mean : no de-essing ???? never ??
Sounds strange to me....

I usually use the de-esser to cut unwanted frequencies made by the compressors and limiters aren't you guys doing the same thing?

[huejahfink]

Hey Razik
If I do any de-essing, it is usually to tame sharp esses in vocals, or any other inconsistently shrill/sharp high-end peaks. I will use a dynamic EQ for the task.

If "the compressors and limiters" are causing high frequency spikes in the audio, I'd stop using them.
Perhaps I misunderstand you?
What do you mean by 'unwanted frequencies made by the compressors and limiters'?

[Razik]

Well what I mean is instead of using low pass filter I use the de-esser.

[huejahfink]

OK. For me that is two different tools for two different jobs.....

Job one - I want to UNIFORMLY roll off the top end.
Apply low pass filter.

Job two - I want to tame certain parts of the highs ONLY when they get to a certain level.
Apply dynamic EQ, de-esser etc

...so, which compressor is giving you trouble with the high end that you need to fix this way?

[Razik]

Waves Linear Phase Multiband.

[huejahfink]

Really? Hmmm. The only thing I can think of would be to make sure you feed LinMB a low enough signal because it can clip internally quite easily.

[mmarra]

My favourite plugins to use on a given day are:
- SPL PassEQ
- Tritone AngelTone Mastering EQ (Sonny mode)
- Waves API 2500
- STN Variable MU Compressor/Limiter (Varis Vari-Mu Tube Compressor Emulator)

I never really use these plugins all at once but really like the way each one of them sound for different situations.