Best 2012 Programs for Complete Mastering to DDP

[inlinenl]

Make it sound great in nuendo, get a decent limiter for final level & get sonoris ddp to do the DDP ...
focus on a great mix ...

[mlien]

Thanks! Naturally will do.

But when I do initial song mixes, I tend to leave it dynamically open, preferring to press down and pump up on the overall level at mastering.

Actually, as far as mastering goes, I have rarely needed much EQ. Whether mastering at Bernie's or with Doug Sax, we only ever added a touch at the highest end and maybe a touch (or not) on the low end.

But I am doing this CD in my home studio, so I expect to need a bit of EQ management when comparing mixes on different systems. And EQing finished files is a lot faster than opening up an entire mix and doing it in there for every song.

And the biggest challenge I am having right now, is with compression and limiting. When I use Waves, I hear the pumping. I have tried easing off, but it's still noticeable even though the mix is still much lower in level than other mainstream mixes. :S

So... since you're recommending a good limiter, which would you recommend for transparent comp and limiting duties in mastering?

I'll check out Sonoris DDP! Thanks for that!

[inlinenl]

Hi Mlien,

I've got decent results with psp-xenon / elephant / fab_filter_pro ... all have demo's available .. but remember they're just for 1 or 2 dB if needed in my chain .. which has a few hardware boxes in there ...

be modest with the final level you want, back down 1 or 2 dB on average "commercial" RMS and it could still sound great .. maybe even better as some "pro" slammed masters ..

you could consider an allin1 mastering "box" like ozone .. just check it out , no rush ..

see what you find out and think has the best result ..

[mlien]

I'll have a look/listen to your recommends. Thanks! Will surely also demo Ozone and others.

I'll be happy to settle this once and for all... getting really frustrated hearing the artifacts of the plugs I've been using.

Hoping to narrow down options at this stage (still buried in behind-schedule production), and appreciate good advice from experienced users, also on the DDP aspects of mastering.

[mml]

Try slate fgx for limiting and mild compression. The limiting is the best when properly set up. Just be careful as it will distort if not set up correctly but it's the most open, widest limiter out there, and it comes with a compressor that is decent for macro dynamics. If you need something more heavy handed for compression, I like the waves API 2500 plugin quite a bit as its very versatile.

[DSD_Mastering]

For the time/money that you will spend searching for the right program/plug-in, you could have taken it to a "decent" mastering house and had them do it. You could attend the session, ask questions and learn what is involved.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Sequoia is a good choice for mastering, not cheap though. But it is an all-in-one solution.

[NotchontheRocks]

Mastering your own mix is never a great option, but if you want to make the most of it, work on your mix until you cant make it any better and dont listen to it again for about 2 weeks. When you listen to it again after the 2 weeks, use some subtle EQ, compression, and limiting on the stereo mix only. The key to "self-mastering" is really just a good mix that needs no more.

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[mlien]

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

For the time/money that you will spend searching for the right program/plug-in, you could have taken it to a "decent" mastering house and had them do it. You could attend the session, ask questions and learn what is involved.

Thanks for the reminder, DSD Authoring. I have mastered other projects as you suggest. But as I am in Taiwan right now, where no mastering facilities exist that I would trust (more than I trust myself), and with no budget as I've had in the past to fly to LA and master there, where a renowned mastering engineer-friend gives me killer deals on these low-ball projects, I am forced to DIY.

Thus my initial question about which programs can get it done best for less (as verses a question about the wisdom of DIY. :P )

For this same budget reason, Sequoia is out of the ballpark.

Try slate fgx for limiting and mild compression. The limiting is the best when properly set up. Just be careful as it will distort if not set up correctly but it's the most open, widest limiter out there, and it comes with a compressor that is decent for macro dynamics. If you need something more heavy handed for compression, I like the waves API 2500 plugin quite a bit as its very versatile.

Thanks much, mml! I definitely don't need a heavy hand. And to this point, I have been reading up on Slate's FG-X, and it looks interesting, but the SOS review seemed to suggest this plug-in was really for slamming rock mixes. Does anyone have experience using FG-X on more acoustic-oriented pop mixes?

Any other recommendable mastering compressor/limiters out there for moderately bringing up level while smoothing out the macro-dynamics?

And... anyone with experience with Sonoris DDP, CD Architect, Wavelab or other programs, for creating a montage of songs with somewhat complex ID markers within?

Thanks again!

[mml]

Slate gets that reputation because it can get really loud without noticeable artifacts (1-2db louder) on rock mixes. For that reason though, it can work great for mellower music because it is so tweakable. I've used it for both successfully (IMO). It takes some messing with to figure out what each parameter does and how much you can get away with, because it will distort if set wrong or too extreme, but just use your ears and it works great. I've gone from L2, to Massey 2007, to uad precision limiter, to now slate and it is by far the best. Everyone I've a/b'ed it with has been impressed. The compressor that comes with it is just whatever IMO, but it is included and clean. Like I said, if you want something for more character, or something to dig in with and get some movement happening, the waves API 2500 is excellent. I have a pair of trakkers and a vari-mu in the studio and I still use the plug quite a bit.

[mlien]

Thanks for the feedback, mml. I really liked what I read in the SOS review, regarding Slate's ability to smooth song sections. That is the trouble I have, a calm verse will go along nicely, but when the drums and choir come in, whoa, that Waves Renn Channel Strip starts revealing her pumps.

I'll be giving the Slate demo a run for it's money (well, no money, actually), and let you know how it feels. Thanks again!

And again... anyone on other not-too-pricey CD mastering song assembly/DDP programs?

[mastertone]

As for DDP creation, check out Hofa DDP

http://hofa-plugins.de/pages/start_e...urn-ddp_en.php

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[Lagerfeldt]

Originally Posted by mlien

And to this point, I have been reading up on Slate's FG-X, and it looks interesting, but the SOS review seemed to suggest this plug-in was really for slamming rock mixes. Does anyone have experience using FG-X on more acoustic-oriented pop mixes?

Any other recommendable mastering compressor/limiters out there for moderately bringing up level while smoothing out the macro-dynamics?

FG-X's got a definite sound which can be nice for some songs, but I recommend the FabFilter Pro-L limiter for a more transparent result.

It's not a fire and forget limiter like the L2 or similar, but spend a couple of hours on understanding the parameters, and I think you'll be very happy.

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

FG-X's got a definite sound which can be nice for some songs, but I recommend the FabFilter Pro-L limiter for a more transparent result.

Definitely definitely!
I love the FG-X but to be honest for the most part I am using pretty much all the other features EXCEPT hitting the ceiling to limit a track. I will generally use a cleaner limiter for that. The Pro-L rates pretty highly for me on the overall cleanliness stakes when it's set up well.

For a fairly modest budget, I think you could use a nice clean, but cost effective EQ like the Sonoris SMEQ or Parallel to make those little balance changes between the tracks, Fabfilter Pro-L to set your final level and ceiling, and then Sonoris DDP to make the master. It's a small investment but for your needs it should all do the job very cleanly, efficiently and will of course be there if you need to do everything in house next time round.

[mlien]

Great recommends, on both FG-X and FabFilter. I will check them both.

The Hofa program looks GREAT!!!... except for all the slutz complaining about errors, especially with the DDP function. Anyone having no-headache success making DDPi files?

I'm checking to see if Hofa can feedback on that a bit more. (Nothing like taking tech support for a pre-purchase test-drive! )

[mastertone]

I've had zero problems with the DDP function, and support is stellar!


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[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by mastertone

I've had zero problems with the DDP function, and support is stellar!

Interesting... I thought the program looked really good, but the 'new product' page on Gearslutz was mainly upset.
Perhaps they ironed out the wrinkles pretty quickly?

Might have to give this a demo still

[mml]

Will have to check out fab filter. Thanks for the heads up.

[mlien]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

Interesting... I thought the program looked really good, but the 'new product' page on Gearslutz was mainly upset.
Perhaps they ironed out the wrinkles pretty quickly?

Might have to give this a demo still

Agreed. I plan to check out the demo, and have emailed the company to confirm whether this program is functioning more the the satisfaction of users.

Will let you know if I get any reply.

[mastertone]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

Interesting... I thought the program looked really good, but the 'new product' page on Gearslutz was mainly upset.
Perhaps they ironed out the wrinkles pretty quickly?

Might have to give this a demo still

I have no idea what version they demoed, but it must have been one of the first.

Here is the changelog, hofa are very frequent on the updates:


Changelog HOFA CD-Burn & DDP Standalone

1.1.0: (2012-10-05)
- New Feature: Export tracks to audio files (Wav, Aiff, FLAC, Ogg-Vorbis, MP3 (if LAME is installed))
- New Feature: Export tracklist as textfile
- New Feature: Create zip files for DDP
- New Feature: Easy exchange of CD tracks in tracklist
- New Feature: Possibility to replace audio files for clips
- New Feature: Edit pauses in list / set all pauses to the same length
- Additional shortkeys: +/- increase/decrease Level of selected clips
- Additional shortkeys: Mute/unmute selected clips
- Improvement: modified import / paste position behaviour
- Improvement: Possibility to mute clips in audio editor
- Improvement: Possibility to change order of columns in track list
- Improvement: Display project name and path in header line
- Improvement: Show tracknumber at start markers in wave editor
- Bugfix: Glitch could occur in Beginning of samplerate converted files
- Bugfix: CD end was moved too far when removing last clip
- Bugfix: Use "Silence after last Track" setting when impporting clips / exchanging tracks
- Bugfix: Support 1-button mouse on Mac

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.0.8: (2012-08-17)
- New Feature: Select all following clips with Alt key
- New Feature: Set clip level by number input
- New Feature: Zoom/Scroll in audio editor using mouse wheel
- Improvement: Support for Mac OS-X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
- Improvement: Set audio editor to current position while playback
- Improvement: Allow importing multiple audio files from context menu
- Improvement: Allow importing DDP images with any filename of audio file (even without extension)
- Improvement: Ignore senseless markers after end of audio file in .cue files
- Bugfix: Import .cue files with .bin or .iso audio image
- Bugfix: Import .cue files with subindex markers
- Bugfix: Compressed audio files with high levels could cause clicks
- Bugfix: Keyboard input was not working on program start

1.0.6: (2012-08-16)
- New Feature: use Filename as CD-Text Title when importing file
- New Feature: Allow moving clips without moving markers by pressing shift
- Improvement: Window animation ot program start can be switched off
- Improvement: Playback volume slider showing level in dB
- Improvement: Playback volume slider can be reset by double click
- Improvement: Added more tooltips
- Improvement: Create new Marker when cutting clip
- Improvement: Create new Marker when importing clips with pause set to 0 frames
- Bugfix: Markers could have been deleted when moving clips several times
- Bugfix: Show position in waveform when skipping to other marker
- Bugfix: 12-digit UPC code was not written to CD. Extended to 13-digit code with leading 0
- Bugfix: Do not allow overwriting a DDP image that is currently in use by the project
- Bugfix: Window size was decreased with every start
- Bugfix: Clip level was not always visible

1.0.5: (2012-08-10)
- Bugfix: (Mac) Meter not working
- Bugfix: Check maximum size of CD-Text before writing CD or DDP

1.0.4: (2012-08-10)
- New Feature: Level, loudness and correlation meter
- New Feature: Menu entry: Reset to default settings
- Improvement: Check MD5 checksums when importing DDP image
- Improvement: Check checksum of UPC/EAN code
- Bugfix: (Mac) Sporadic error message when closing application
- Bugfix: Audio output device was not saved in settings
- Bugfix: CD-Text Album info was missing when importing .cue file
- Bugfix: Ignore DCP flag in .cue files and allow importing the file
- Bugfix: PQ time in "CD Tracklist.txt" corrected by 2 seconds standard pregap of track 1
- Change: Use ISO8859-1 encoding instead of UTF-8 for "CD Tracklist.txt"

1.0.3: (2012-08-03)
- New Feature: Import .cue files
- New Feature: Write MD5 checksum file in DDP
- New Feature: Show clip levels in dB
- Improvement: Hide/show control panel
- Improvement: Support ISO8859-1 character set for CD-Text
- Bugfix: ISRC could be missing in "CD Tracklist.txt" textfile
- Bugfix: (Mac) Could not open project file with double click

1.0.2: (2012-07-31)
- Bugfix: Wrong time display with Protools 10.2 on Mac
- Bugfix: Some keys used by Samplitude could not be used in editboxes
- Bugfix: (Windows) Burning speed selection did not work correctly
- Bugfix: "Save as" did not work when project was not modified
- Bugfix: Some ISRC fields could become deactivated when scrolling list
- Bugfix: Skip back during playback did not jump over marker
- Bugfix: Some Edits were not visible immediately
- Bugfix: CD-Text list was not corrected when deleting a track
- Bugfix: Undo/Redo sometimes not working for CD-Text edits

1.0.1: (2012-07-27)
- Bugfix: Protools 10 on Mac could crash when loading plugin
- Bugfix: Skip Tracks while playback running did not work correctly
- Bugfix: New created project could have a fade out defined
- Bugfix: First ISRC code could be missing when importing DDP
- Bugfix: Editing CD-Text could not be left with "Enter" or "Esc" in Protools

1.0.0: (2012-07-25)
- first release

[HOFA]

Hi all,

we had a few issues with DDP import within the early releases but these are fixed for a while now. To our knowledge the DDP export works without problems, e.g. we didn't hear of any problems with exported DDPs.

If you run into any problems please let us know. Although we do thorough tests before any release there are always use-cases we didn't cover due to varying work flows etc.

Also, we are always interested in feedback and suggestions. Feel free to mail us (plugins@hofa.de).

For those interested in testing the DDP export as well, please contact us.


Christian
HOFA-Plugins

[mlien]

Thanks Christian! I look forward to testing your software soon!

[Adebar]

Originally Posted by mlien

Any advice or other suggestions for taking an album to the final CD master stage with current software?

Sonic Studio soundBlade LE supports all you looking for.

[inlinenl]

wow, that HOFA software looks good & the price is a killer to the other DDP options ..

[DominicWyeth]

+1 for hofa DDP. I'm using the standalone and the service and support is excellent.

[huejahfink]

Dominic, do you mind me asking ?

Have you had a whole bunch of successful CD runs using the HOFA DDP program to export DDPs for manufacture?
No issues at the plant etc?