Production Final mastering chain

[danielRR]

Right now I'm just using the standard plug ins included with Logic, usually something like:

-30hz low cut,
-EQ
-multiband compressor
-limiter

What do you all use? I've never used anything like UAD or Waves plug ins...does anybody here? Curious what those sound like...they're mighty expensive though.

Any tips or tricks ? anything particular to mastering House/Techno ?

[lilsensa]

Re: Final mastering chain

I would also like to know. Good question, dude.

[jeffrey collins]

Re: Final mastering chain

Never used the big expensive plug in's. Mostly because I can't afford them, I know I could get a free version, but I get such good qualities from my basic plug ins from Ableton.

Anytime you wanna think about trying to get some "better" plugins. Take yourself over to...

where you can check out Nathan Fake in his studio making some amazing music on 5 year old software.

[danielRR]

Re: Final mastering chain

@Jeffrey: Totally... I often try to remind myself that SO MANY tracks I've loved over the years were made with less sophisticated software and much less powerful computers, and without computers at all...

It's all about best utilizing what you've got.

I'm trying to learn, which is why I was hoping some other producers could lend some knowledge.

[diegoff]

Re: Final mastering chain

If you want something not so difficult, you can try Waves´ L2 and L3 (maximizer), and then multiband compressors. After that, if you want to give some eq, try to use some "passive" eq.
There are some emulations that work very good.
IK Multimedia has the T-Racks 3, It´s awsome! I love how it works (btw, it eats your computer). It has the classic TRack processors, plus: a compressor based on Fairchild´s, an eq based on Pultec´s, an optocompressor and other eq. It gives great results.
you can watch it here: http://www.ikmultimedia.com/t-racks/.../moreinfo1.php

and other compressor I love is Waves´ API 2500. It´s nice, really sounds good... and rerquires lots of processing power.
Watch it here: http://www.waves.com/Content.aspx?id=3612

But there are many tools that work. Everything finally depends in how you use them, and what you hear at the end. There´s no "magical plug in". Yo ucan use what your program brings (i.e.: I use logic 8, and the apple pack that comes with it has great plug ins, not so nice for the eye (interface), but the results are great). I used guitar amps and bass amps emulators, and I quit them when I heard the ones that came with my software.
That´s just my opinion. Try them, but in the end, it depends in you.
hope it´s usefull for you.

[lilsensa]

Re: Final mastering chain

Just found this... It's for Logic, but I assume it can be used in other mastering situations.. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Apr0...cnotes0403.asp

Limiting For Mastering
The final link in the chain is always the limiter, and the Emagic Adaptive Limiter is ideal for this purpose, as it effectively limits and normalises at the same time. I set the target output level at -0.5dB to leave just a little safety headroom and then push the gain of an already 'close to peaking' signal up by between 3dB
The Exciter can often brighten a track much more effectively than EQ.and 6dB to force the limiter into action. This increases the overall loudness of the track and shouldn't affect the sound significantly, but try to ensure that the limiter is only acting on signal peaks. If there's any sign of the mix sounding squashed or harsh, back off the amount of limiting.

[lilsensa]

Re: Final mastering chain

Also, video showing the "how to's" of mastering in Logic...

http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/Logic401

[Steve Graham]

Re: Final mastering chain

have someone else do it imo

[lilsensa]

Re: Final mastering chain

^^^True. It's not too expensive either.

[diegoff]

Re: Final mastering chain

In mastering studios, with real hardware, the last step is eq. They use passive eq's (ie: Pultec), so there is no energy added. Compression destroys the equalization, remember that. A limiter is a compressor with <<<<<<ratio.

[danielRR]

Re: Final mastering chain

diegoff & lilsensa .... thank you! great info.

I wouldn't mind having somebody else master my tracks in the future but I don't think any of them are worth mastering yet, so I'll do it myself the best I can for the time being.

This website has a lot of great info, including some basics on mastering.

http://audio.tutsplus.com/

Anybody else trying to learn the ropes on anything production, I highly recommend that site... I've learned so much on there.

[lilsensa]

Re: Final mastering chain

Medway (Jesse Skeens)...Look him up...He will master tracks for decent price.... His going rate was around $40 a track when I sent him this piece of shit first track that I made.... He's quality.

[Steve Graham]

Re: Final mastering chain

Is Jesse still over seas?

[lilsensa]

Re: Final mastering chain

^^Dunno.

Can't really say that I know him personally, but his credibility in dance music is what drew me to him.

[Steve Graham]

Re: Final mastering chain

oh hell yeah, we were talking about booking him in Tampa, but last I saw/heard he was in Amsterdam