Mixing/Mastering

  On 4/6/2011 at 2:28 PM, acidphakist said:

I'd be remiss if I didn't remind folks that 'mastering' is not typically something you can/want to do yourself.

 

However, if you are asking how I try my darnedest to get the loudest, clearest mix possible, I like to use Waves SSL buss compressor and L3 multimaximizer on the stereo buss. If I'm feeling grungy, I'll skip the L3 and run the mix through Sound Toys Decapitator.

I use whatever EQ I feel like playing with along with the Waves SSL Buss and L3 as well. The SSL Buss just adds that layer of "something" on the end of my tracks that I just love. My knowledge on mastering is minimal at best though, so I tend to keep my mastering buss minimal as well...for now.

any recommendations for an affordable waves bundle?

Feelin' that GAS?

  On 4/10/2011 at 7:35 AM, uptown devil said:

any recommendations for an affordable waves bundle?

Buy something else over Waves. There is plenty of stuff that's nearly as good or can be better that doesn't charge 5 grand for their software.

  On 4/10/2011 at 10:06 AM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

  On 4/10/2011 at 7:35 AM, uptown devil said:

any recommendations for an affordable waves bundle?

 

Buy something else over Waves. There is plenty of stuff that's nearly as good or can be better that doesn't charge 5 grand for their software.

yeah i only have like $500 to play with.. was thinking maybe the ozone 4/alloy package or the waves ssl 4000 which a few ppl have mentioned. any others cheap ones you'd recommend?

  On 4/10/2011 at 10:06 AM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

  On 4/10/2011 at 7:35 AM, uptown devil said:

any recommendations for an affordable waves bundle?

 

Buy something else over Waves. There is plenty of stuff that's nearly as good or can be better that doesn't charge 5 grand for their software.

It really chaps my ass how often people around here make a blanket statement and provide no backing examples.

Could you please list some of the software you are referring to?

The main reason I was didn't provide competitor examples in backing my statement is because I felt that was irrelevant to my 2 cents. You're telling people they shouldn't master their own music/take that aspect very seriously but then we should suggest that spend 5 grand/10 fold more than the competition on mastering software? I do think it's ass backwards for a relatively inexperienced amateur to spend much more on his mastering software than his monitors, room, instruments, microphones, interface, live performance rig etc. etc. etc. etc. If you're really ready to spend that much money I think you should know that you have the knowledge/experience to get as far as you possibly can with other warez/devices/rooms/monitors and that you need the best of the best to possibly do any better. There is lots of great software out there, try demos out and see what you feel you can squeeze the most out of. Bottom line is it's really hard for me to suggest spending that much more when there is people who can do more with the default Reaper js plugins for 40 dollars than your average joe spending all his hard earned money on Waves. It ain't easy for me to say yeah dude spend a fuck ton of money on Waves and you gonna be a mastering producer god from teh heavens.

I use WaveArts plugins (no relation to Waves).

The only one I don't have is Dialog, and I probably won't get it as I hardly ever work with vocals.

Wave Arts

(^ that is page 1 of 3)

  On 4/11/2011 at 8:06 PM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

You're telling people they shouldn't master their own music/take that aspect very seriously but then we should suggest that spend 5 grand/10 fold more than the competition on mastering software?

Waves isn't just for mastering. Those compressors and EQs are extremely helpful for mastering your mix.

You still haven't listed any competing software. I'm only asking because II'm curious to see what's available.

P.S. It's disingenius to say it's $5k-$10k. You can get individual plugs for $250, so if you are going legit you could spend about $500 to get professional compression and multiband limiting.

my 2 cents are: there's no plugs in this world that beat waves c1/l2/l3/q10/rEQ/maxxbass at what they do best. of course, simply owning them will not make you better, and if you're already a great engineer with a great set of ears DAW-native plugs will do (i personally use all the FL natives all the time as well in conjunction with waves shit, and i've found ableton natives and cubase natives in the past to be equally presentable, even characterful in some cases).

but if we're talking super-transparent and impactful workhorse bread-n-butter dynamics processing and surgical EQing nothing comes close to waves, and for discerning engineer they're a must.

and of course, you also need sonnox, voxengo, psp, T-racks, and all sorts of other shit for what each of THOSE do best.

P.S. not to mention the more creative suit of FX-centric plugs from Waves, some of which are a sound-designer's best friends.

P.P.S. the pricing is irrelevant, ho ho ho and a bottle of rum

P.P.P.S. if you're johnny tread-lightly, or a POLICEMAN or something, and the pricing IS relevant, then fuck waves and invest in outboard, or a UAD card at least, or something.

hi there

Bob Katz has some nice articles covering the process of mastering(and much more) on his site.

  Quote

Bob Katz is probably already familiar to most people reading this, but for those who haven't come across the name before, he is one of the best-known and most highly regarded mastering engineers in the USA.

Articles @ DigitalDomain

AudioFAQs @ DigitalDomain

SoS Review on "Mastering Audio Book" by Bob Katz

really meaty stuff..

cheers,

io

fuck bob katz, fuck k14, welcome to 2011

  On 4/14/2011 at 6:57 AM, Lube Saibot said:

fuck bob katz, fuck k14, welcome to 2011

Chant with me!

"OZONE! OZONE! OZONE! OZONE!"

It's amazing they were able to replace a brain and ears with a simple computer program.

  On 4/14/2011 at 3:24 PM, acidphakist said:

  On 4/14/2011 at 6:57 AM, Lube Saibot said:

fuck bob katz, fuck k14, welcome to 2011

 

Chant with me!

 

"OZONE! OZONE! OZONE! OZONE!"

 

It's amazing they were able to replace a brain and ears with a simple computer program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QufqYGfuohs&feature=related

yamean!?

  On 4/14/2011 at 3:24 PM, acidphakist said:

  On 4/14/2011 at 6:57 AM, Lube Saibot said:

fuck bob katz, fuck k14, welcome to 2011

 

Chant with me!

 

"OZONE! OZONE! OZONE! OZONE!"

 

It's amazing they were able to replace a brain and ears with a simple computer program.

is this a jab at me?

  On 4/14/2011 at 5:31 PM, Lube Saibot said:

  On 4/14/2011 at 3:24 PM, acidphakist said:

  On 4/14/2011 at 6:57 AM, Lube Saibot said:

fuck bob katz, fuck k14, welcome to 2011

 

Chant with me!

 

"OZONE! OZONE! OZONE! OZONE!"

 

It's amazing they were able to replace a brain and ears with a simple computer program.

 

is this a jab at me?

A brotherly punch in the arm. Katz's book is still good reading, even in 2011.

Yeah I'm reading it now. at least 60 percent of the information is still relevant.

I have literally no clue who Bob Katz is.

What makes him so special?

He wrote a good book with a fold out poster.

  On 4/14/2011 at 8:20 PM, acid1 said:

He wrote a good book with a fold out poster.

so it could accommodate the full magnitude of kim kardashian's butt?

  On 4/14/2011 at 10:26 PM, hahathhat said:

  On 4/14/2011 at 8:20 PM, acid1 said:

He wrote a good book with a fold out poster.

 

so it could accommodate the full magnitude of kim kardashian's butt?

If that's what is on the poster I'm buying the book.