Mastering plug-ins needed: Simple, comprehensive, intuitive, simple, easy, simple...

[orangepegs]

I'm probably the smartest person I know (sarcasm), but I have the patience of a 2nd grader. Well, that's at least half right. I've scoured this forum and others to come up with a handful of mastering plug-ins that should be great. My question is, of these, which are the simplest to use, but not so stripped down that I'm not going to be able to get my brilliance to peek through. I have self-diagnosed ADD to the 10th degree, and I don't end up using things if they take too much time to learn (ie, my Korg M3 workstation... I use it for piano and midi triggering... although, I hope one day I'm able to figure out the sound creation portion without having to read something... you know, just by pushing buttons until it works).

Limiters (in order of what I believe is going to be the best):

• Pro-L Fabfilter
• Massey L2007
• Elephant
• TC Brickwall

Compressors (haven't spent much time on research here... these are based on the overwhelming suggestions from the slutz):

• Elysia Alpha
• Voxengo Polysquasher
• Sonaris Mastering

[cdog]

If you have to ask this question, you definitely should not be doing your own mastering. In fact, I think very few people are able to do it. Mix it how you want it to sound, then send it out for mastering. For the prices this can be done for these days, its silly not to rely on someone who specializes in it.

[Michael E]

FabFilter Pro-L Good transparent limiter, good presets, and still a lot of stuff to learn If you would like to dig it deeper.

FabFilter Pro-Q Precision high quality EQ

Solid State Logic | Duende Native | Bus Compressor Easy to use, transparent and good sounding bus compressor. Hard to ruin the mix.

Professionals with cool gear, of cause better, but I would pay for mastering only for 100% commercial product.

[PBM]

Originally Posted by orangepegs

I'm probably the smartest person I know, but I have the patience of a 2nd grader. Well, that's at least half right. I've scoured this forum and others to come up with a handful of mastering plug-ins that should be great. My question is, of these, which are the simplest to use, but not so stripped down that I'm not going to be able to get my brilliance to peek through. I have self-diagnosed ADD to the 10th degree, and I don't end up using things if they take too much time to learn (ie, my Korg M3 workstation... I use it for piano and midi triggering... although, I hope one day I'm able to figure out the sound creation portion without having to read something... you know, just by pushing buttons until it works).

Limiters (in order of what I believe is going to be the best):

• Pro-L Fabfilter
• Massey L2007
• Elephant
• TC Brickwall

Compressors (haven't spent much time on research here... these are based on the overwhelming suggestions from the slutz):

• Elysia Alpha
• Voxengo Polysquasher
• Sonaris Mastering

What kind of music? EQ, which you've not mentioned, is likely to be most important.

Most ME's tend towards OCD, not ADD - you might ask yourself why ...

Cheers,

Eric

[orangepegs]

Originally Posted by cdog

If you have to ask this question, you definitely should not be doing your own mastering. In fact, I think very few people are able to do it. Mix it how you want it to sound, then send it out for mastering. For the prices this can be done for these days, its silly not to rely on someone who specializes in it.

Seriously, Cdog? So, if I don't know the answer to something, I should just not bother? Not sure how to say anything else without turning this into a bitchfest, so I'll just say that this is not the advice I was soliciting. thanks, goodbye.

Micahel, I will check those out, thanks

PS, I have very cool gear

[orangepegs]

Originally Posted by PBM

What kind of music? EQ, which you've not mentioned, is likely to be most important.

Most ME's tend towards OCD, not ADD - you might ask yourself why ...

OCD would probably serve me better here, but being in sales, ADD helps get the deals closed... so I can buy more gear.

The music style is similar in nature to Pink Floyd and Radiohead with the sweeping synth's and abnormal structural changes. It also has dynamics similar to those found in grunge era music such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc. There tends to be a lot going on during the chorus', bridges, and general whatevers, and I end up layering a lot of sounds. Because of the rollercoaster dynamics, there tends to be consistency issues throughout the mix, so a good limiter, compressor, and probably EQ, like you mentioned, are in order. I already have the Sonar EQ, and because I have solid recording equipment, I don't use it very much, except maybe to tweak the vox here and there.

I don't mind manual options, but rather, prefer them. I just need something straight forward, simplistic, and easy to learn.

[kittonian]

Slate Digital's FG-X is probably your best bet. It sounds amazing and does everything you'll need to make your mix nice and loud/punchy.

[Fabmaster]

For limiting, Waves L2 is the most straight forward.
No learning curve at all. (Almost) Always sounds ok when used within reason.
Compressors are (IMO) more difficult to use successfully without a lot of experience.

Fab

[Laurend]

Ozone is a good all-in-one solution. You don't have to use the sections you don't understand. Just begin by the maximizer and EQ sections and the learning curve will be soft.

[Cheebs Goat]

Voxango Elephant for sure. It will limit absolutely transparently. I took an acoustic guitar driven folk rock song to -4 db RMS with that thing and I swear it could not be identified against the original at -20 db RMS if they were level matched. On top of that, it added an amazing glue that fattened the bottom while sweetening the mids and opening up the air. The depth of the song increased and the deep impactful details were beautifully highlighted. It sounded like a window washer came and wiped a layer of soot off of my audio. And it did all of this so transparently. It literally sounded like the plugin was not engaged.

Just be careful that this is a mastering limiter. If used improperly, say on the 2-buss while mixing, the sound will be brittle, hollow, jagged, harsh, thin, crispy, and hard. Unless you are writing a song that is supposed to be brittle, hollow, jagged, harsh, thin, crispy, and hard. In that case it will sound soft, bloated, puffy, wooly, muffled, dark, smeared, murky, rubbery, and muddy. To it's credit, however, it still remains totally %100 transparent. It just won't be a very musical transparent, you know? So just don't use it for mixing and you'll be fine.

But as a mastering limiter? Total transparency along with the greatest sweetening ever. At the same time.




*dodges tomatoes*

[orangepegs]

Thanks Cheebs. Exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Have you ever played with the Polysquasher compressor? I was told that would be a viable option, as I am also looking for a good one of those... If so, can you provide as eloquent of a description of it?

[Cheebs Goat]

So as to not do any damage... I was seeing how contradictory I could be to my own statements. I was having a rough day and the sarcasm spewed forth. Sorry about that.

[jeff_free69]

Originally Posted by Cheebs Goat

So as to not do any damage... I was seeing how contradictory I could be to my own statements. I was having a rough day and the sarcasm spewed forth. Sorry about that.

I was about to ask how the difference could be so drastic between being the last plug in my mix 2 bus, or the first in my mastering chain.

I am mixing a project like this now because the band likes the closer to finished sound. Plus it saves iterations of applying limiting in the mastering phase and then realizing the vocal is now subdued or whatever...

We may take it to a pro, but the first crack at it will be in house.

[orangepegs]

Originally Posted by Cheebs Goat

So as to not do any damage... I was seeing how contradictory I could be to my own statements. I was having a rough day and the sarcasm spewed forth. Sorry about that.

Not to worry, I enjoyed it, and it was helpful nonetheless. Cdog's response was annoying, but yours was somewhat hilarious.

In fact, I'm leaning on your review, since I can't get as an in-depth analysis of the others. Good enough for me. Still want the compressor situation handled. I like the polysquasher because it has a cool name, so it's on the top of the list for all the right reasons. Of course, Michael had a decent response with the Solid State dealy job. Anybody else work with that one?

[Peaks]

Originally Posted by orangepegs

Thanks Cheebs. Exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Have you ever played with the Polysquasher compressor? I was told that would be a viable option, as I am also looking for a good one of those... If so, can you provide as eloquent of a description of it?

I don't think Polysquasher would be good for you, only because it has pretty unconventional settings (and you said you have ADD and don't like to read manuals). For one, it has no attack and release, though it does have threshold and ratio. Digging deeper into advanced settings uncovers 2 mode like settings which can only be described with a letters or a number, and then bizarre "Center frequency" and "Frequency distance" functions which control how dynamics are "timed" which even the manual says is "hard to visualize and make objective". Besides that though, it's not heavy on knobs, just what's there seems abstract.

Not trying to turn you off from using it, but I think this is one of the reasons why it isn't talked about as much as Elephant. Otherwise, it's pretty similar to Elephant in the way it also aims for transparency above anything else (he has other compressors specifically for character). It is made to "glue" things together if you need the mix to sound punchy or want to reduce space in an invisible "glue" way. If that appeals to you, I would try it. I usually like Voxengo things in general, they are so cheap too.

[mmarra]

Originally Posted by orangepegs

Compressors (haven't spent much time on research here... these are based on the overwhelming suggestions from the slutz):

• Elysia Alpha

...I highly recommend the Elysia Alpha compressor as it can be transparent or slightly colored when the warm button is engaged. It is also one of the most flexible compressors I have used.

The more I use this comp the more & more it becomes my go to mastering compressor.

Here's a review write up I found...http://everythingrecording.com/revie...essor-plug-in/. It is more from an individual recording/mixing side but still good review.

[Mr. Shore]

My Yamaha es7 has been a nice decoration to my room for so many years too... Didn't know it could or how to produce sound... Dude, you're a blessing for preset creators!

[polybonk]

Ozone 5 is about to drop.

Its probably got another one button solution that saves people from wasting $100 a track on an ME with decades of experience, full range monitoring, treated rooms and the best custom modified dedicated mastering hardware.

Plus its got 3d metering!

[Cheebs Goat]

Originally Posted by polybonk

Ozone 5 is about to drop.


Plus its got 3d metering!

That's one more D! An extra D for our eyes means we don't have to use our left ear now, right?

[polybonk]

It probably means you can dispense with your monitoring altogether and just use your eyes!

[Herbeck]

Originally Posted by polybonk

Ozone 5 is about to drop.

Plus its got 3d metering!

To give customers what they want is a mantra among ME's.
Why should software developers act differently?

[huejahfink]

It may be a little unfair to dismiss the product before we even know what it is capable of.
I've never been a fan of Ozone particularly (especially the multiband sections) but I think Izotope make quality products at a fair price. RX2 ADV is a fantastic program that I use pretty much every day so I'll be interested to take a look at what they've done with Ozone 5 Advanced.

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by polybonk

Ozone 5 is about to drop.

Its probably got another one button solution that saves people from wasting $100 a track on an ME with decades of experience, full range monitoring, treated rooms and the best custom modified dedicated mastering hardware.

Plus its got 3d metering!

Hahaha!

Big smile here, after the coffee spray.

JT

[sftd]

Orangepegs, lets hear a bit of your music to aid in our recommendations!

Sent from my PC36100 using Gearslutz.com App

[orangepegs]

Originally Posted by Cheebs Goat

That's one more D! An extra D for our eyes means we don't have to use our left ear now, right?

Lol, i'm so lost... Fabfilter has a nice bundle... which makes this whole decision process easier. Can somebody just choose it for me already?

Here's a link to my myspace page: www.myspace.com/lukehamon. The song Blackwhite is most representative of what I record. It's not mastered, nor is it polished (need to replace the vox and prob the drumming), but I think it serves the purpose... The others are old and recorded on cheap, analog devices like a Tascam 8-track somethingorother. blackwhite was recorded on my current system (prior to completing my Blue mic rig)

[polybonk]

Originally Posted by Herbeck

To give customers what they want is a mantra among ME's.
Why should software developers act differently?

I would never expect "snake oil" not to be a big part of the audio industry. Nothing wrong with inventing new things to address the needs that customers didn't know they had.

[polybonk]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

It may be a little unfair to dismiss the product before we even know what it is capable of.
I've never been a fan of Ozone particularly (especially the multiband sections) but I think Izotope make quality products at a fair price. RX2 ADV is a fantastic program that I use pretty much every day so I'll be interested to take a look at what they've done with Ozone 5 Advanced.

Not dismissing Ozone here. I would probably even use the limiter if I didn't have the TC brickwall. Just giving the OP the heads up on the "One preset to rule them all" solution that's shimmering, just on the edge of the horizon, like a thirst quenching desert mirage. Indeed my answer to the OP is held in the spirit of that which we always mumble incessantly to ourselves in the darkness of our mastering caves "give customers what they want" "give customers what they want".....

[sineborg]

Brainworx bx_xl limiter is quite good too. There's a mono-maker feature. Its quite transparent too.

Sonnox limiter is pretty decent too.

Well, the best way to find out if you need mastering done by others or DIY is to master one by yourself, and then send the same song out to a few mastering engineers within your budget.

Do a blind test and select the best!

[Cheebs Goat]

Originally Posted by polybonk

I would never expect "snake oil" not to be a big part of the audio industry. Nothing wrong with inventing new things to address the needs that customers didn't know they had.

Waves is coming out with a killer snake oil plug. It meticulously recreates the sound of suspending your speaker cable 6 inches above the ground with finely polished stones. Totally lifts a veil off of the mids and expands the air.

[sineborg]

Originally Posted by Cheebs Goat

Waves is coming out with a killer snake oil plug. It meticulously recreates the sound of suspending your speaker cable 6 inches above the ground with finely polished stones. Totally lifts a veil off of the mids and expands the air.

Interesting ;P