Right now I am using the L1 for the mastering inflator... I am trying to upgrade, and I would like to hear some opinions from folks who have used the Slate FG-X and the Oxford Inflator. Thanks
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Right now I am using the L1 for the mastering inflator... I am trying to upgrade, and I would like to hear some opinions from folks who have used the Slate FG-X and the Oxford Inflator. Thanks
Mastering plugins:
PSP Vintage Warmer
PSP MasterComp
PSP Neon EQ
PSP Xenon limiter
Brainworx Digital v2 EQ
Waves C6
Waves LP Multiband Comp
Waves LP EQ
Waves L3
SPL Vtalizer
Slate FG X
UAD plugs are good for mastering
You may be told that any plugin can be used for mastering but thats not true. Some plugins are written/coded for higher fidelity that translate much better. They are are more expensive but the quality is noticeable.
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Logic Pro 9 - Aurora 16 - SSL X Desk - Cranesong HEDD - Avalon VT747 - Focusrite Mix Master - PSP Plugins - Waves Plugins - SoftTube - Blue Kiwi - Blue Robbie
In short you will gain color and perceived looudnsee with nflator
FGX is a whole dynamic processor with the abitlity to have some at Zero DB cranked up and at the same time with preservation of transients and dynamic perception...
So 2 diffrents tools ...if i had to choose one : FGX hands down !
I've used BOTH FG-X and Sonnox Inflator. First of all, the inflator will not do what you want simply on its own. You will need to use a limiter along with it.
2nd- The FG-x comes with a super clean transparent compressor and great metering. For the $.....I think the FG-X "hands down" crushes a Sonnox limiter/inflator combo.
In my old days when I do a self mastering job, i had to use.....
Kinda see where im going with this? You get alot of BANG with the FG-X and it eliminates the need of alot of processors. I hear Fg-X is only sale for a limited time right now too........GO GET IT.
Don't sleep on PSP Vintagewarmer or MasterComp. Depending on the style of music of course. The MasterComp is great on soft and mid-tempo material. The Vintage Warmer across the board is excellent.
Hi there! Check out this video tutorial of the FG-X where I increase the level of a mix by a whopping 10db with an almost inaudible difference between the mix and final master! Sonnox is a great tool as well and you should definitely demo both!
Yes I downloaded the FG-X demo yesterday, used it on 4 different mixes.
Basically I think it is a good plug in. I really like some of the unique controls like Dynamic Perception, which to my ears sounds like an upward expander, and it makes sources pop and sit better, and also seems to open up the top end frequency wise.
I thought it was strange though, because I tried it on several different styles of music and found that I got the best results with very similar settings. And I did not like the gain whatsoever. I ended up using it mostly for the dynamic perception feature and then used the Massey 2007 after it to get more RMS and level boost. To my ears, the gain on the Massey is significantly cleaner.
Overall I think it is an interesting plug in but I would want to try other options like the Oxford before actually buying one. I guess the Oxford Limiter has the inflator built it, but it's called 'enhance'... is this correct? Thanks.
Right now I am using the L1 for the mastering inflator... I am trying to upgrade, and I would like to hear some opinions from folks who have used the Slate FG-X and the Oxford Inflator. Thanks
I would definitely advics getting the Inflator for mastering (and for mixing) if you like it's flavour, but not if you don't already have a good compressor/limiter.
FG-X is great, the compressor is uber smooth and I think it would be great if they released it separately. Really nice. It will get your mixes nice and loud like Slate shows in that video.
Not to throw too many options on the table, I would just say Brainworx_XL is killer. It will give you a lot to work with.
It has 3 bands effectively making 3 stems,
1. Mid Lo 2. Mid Hi 3. Side
So useful for shaping the balance on the mix without even using eq yet.
It also can add harmonic excitement (3rd+5th order) which really does sound good, so good they put in in a new plug-in on it's own.
It has compressors for each band and while I've not used them extensively they are useful, especially since you can take the signal of one band and feed it to the side-chain compressor of another.
It's XL control (the added harmonics) sounds different to me than the Inflator, maybe not as beefy, but I much prefer it and if I could only have one it would be the XL.
Again one more suggestion, the soft clipping in Compassion sounds really beautiful. I wouldn't know how to use it as a mastering tool though, perhaps only to control dynamics, but I haven't been able to get it to limit all that nicely yet, it is very complex. But if you can figure it out or if anyone else here has tried it for that task It will also give you "inflation" (in a really, really nice way).
Hope someone else can chime in on that last aspect.
Location: France (before in the Netherlands). My French is not really good but try me. It's good for me to practice some French gearslutz talk.
Posts: 1,355
Depends on what music you're into....
If you want uber loud techno the FGX will not take you there...sonnox limiter will.
I think the FGX was made with rock music in mind....
Location: France (before in the Netherlands). My French is not really good but try me. It's good for me to practice some French gearslutz talk.
Posts: 1,355
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Slate
Some of the punchiest most dynamic and LOUD sounding dance tracks I've ever heard were done with fg-x. I'll post some samples this week.
Edm is better with fgx's ITP slider down a notch or two.
Cheers,
Steven
What rms are we talking about here? I mean, punchy..dynamic and LOUD can mean anything right? ;-)
Was talking about "uber loud"...probably not what most (me included) are striving for...but it did show (in my comparison between FGX and sonnox) which one went loudest...
And yes, "Uber Loud" can mean anything as wel LOL.
The fgx can add 20db of gain and can get things verrrrrry loud. Send me a snippet of your mix to slate@stevenslate.com and I'll crank it and send you the fgx settings I used!
Location: France (before in the Netherlands). My French is not really good but try me. It's good for me to practice some French gearslutz talk.
Posts: 1,355
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Slate
The fgx can add 20db of gain and can get things verrrrrry loud. Send me a snippet of your mix to slate@stevenslate.com and I'll crank it and send you the fgx settings I used!
Cheers,
Steven
Thanks, that's very kind.
Thing is, I already did send some Mixes to Fabrice at the time the FGX was just released. That's were I've drawn my conclusions from...
I'll try to find the exact same files. Maybe you can shed a new light on my findings.
The FX-G is so amazing. I have the TK-Audio mastering compressor but I'm seriously thinking about selling it. I also have like duende x-comp and other stuff but the FX-G can make stuff so loud and punchy like nothing else.
I guess the Oxford Limiter has the inflator built it, but it's called 'enhance'... is this correct? Thanks.
Hey Black Diamond,
elsewhere on the forum Paul Frindle, the maker of both the Inflator and the Oxford limiter, explains that the two processes are very different. Download the demos and try for yourself. I think it's a golden combo, limiter then inflator.
Hi George, if you need help with FG-X settings let me know! As you can hear on the video, with a rather dynamic and punchy song, the FG-X easily took it up to mastering levels without ruining the sound.
Hi George, if you need help with FG-X settings let me know! As you can hear on the video, with a rather dynamic and punchy song, the FG-X easily took it up to mastering levels without ruining the sound.
Glad to help you out however possible old friend!
Cheers,
Steven
I am fine with the plugin. it sounds different the Sonnox which is a good thing, but it's not so "loud" as the sonnox on crowded dense mixes.
what bugs me the most is the unreliability of the FX-G. somethimes it's there sometimes it's not.
yes I ran trough all the support help/Forum help I can get and FX G is the only plugin that is acting so weird. I am just tired of trying. maybe other guys are more lucky then me.
again, when I've run into situations like you describe, I have been extremely successful in finding a setting on the FG-X to make the mix go to loud mastering levels without changing the sound and tone of the mix. Hit me up bud!
again, when I've run into situations like you describe, I have been extremely successful in finding a setting on the FG-X to make the mix go to loud mastering levels without changing the sound and tone of the mix. Hit me up bud!
Cheers,
Steven
next time the plugin shows up in my DAW , I will think about it.. I had some talk with Major mastering gurus and the conclusion is, that the Sonnox is for loud.
Howie Weinberg, Ted Jensen, Ue Anastasi, Dave McNair, and quite a few other legends have gotten along with the FG-X!
The FG-X can push something as loud as you desire, I'm not sure I understand the issue but I'd be glad to help anyone who wants it slate@stevenslate.com
Location: France (before in the Netherlands). My French is not really good but try me. It's good for me to practice some French gearslutz talk.
Posts: 1,355
Quote:
Originally Posted by George Necola
next time the plugin shows up in my DAW , I will think about it.. I had some talk with Major mastering gurus and the conclusion is, that the Sonnox is for loud.
thanx Steven. appreciated.
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Exactly my findings...
At the time of release I did test the FGX extensively...posted my findings and Fabrice (who made the pluggin) asked me to send him my test audo files.
He tried to match the sonnox loudness but could not.
He was very nice and helpful I have to say.
@ Steven, I think I might have deleted those files...and frankly, I don't feel like going through this whole testing process again. Again, thanks for the offer but I think I did know what I was doing at the time I tested the FGX.
Either way, it's probably a very good plug but not for loud..more specifically..loud Techno (or Dance as you call it ).
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