what's the best software to use for mastering???

[Wun Moshen]

Originally Posted by EnSkorSang

Brandon, what is this 'pretend mastering' your on about- whats the difference between that and 'real mastering'...is it just the fact that a pro mastering dude has lots of experience or is there something special all the professional masterers have that for some reason the rest of us cant?
Its very disheartening to think I have to shell out £500 or more, or settle for a 'pretend' master.

From what I learned, professional mastering consist of a acoustic treated room with expensive professional high end sonic equipment along with software. I think they use the software in combination with the hardware as a form of audio calibration to get the things at the right level...

[brandondrury]

Could Massenburg do a better job on my system than me?? Absolutely!!

For the record, I'm not sure that George masters his own work. He's more of a tracking/mixing type dude the way I understand it. He showed me his room when we toured Blackbird here and most mastering engineers have zero need for an Icon.

Brandon, what is this 'pretend mastering' your on about-

Pretend mastering is a term I made up. It means you pretend you know what you are doing. If a person is "special" mastering software they are DEFINITELY pretending because big boys don't use "X mastering software". They use API EQs and Manley compressers (or equivalent) just like they were tracking a vocal or something. There is no need for specialized mastering tools.

I remember when Eric Conn let me A/B a mix he had mastered for me with and without his EQ on. I picked the one without EQ, but it was such a subtle different that I felt like a retard because it really didn't make any difference to me. This is actually what you want. Why people don't master with their best EQs and compressors is beyond me.

Brandon

[lunaticpro]

Mastering is a tuff subject. I only master songs out of necessity because most of the bands I've recorded don't have the extra money to get it mastered somewhere else. So I fall in the category of "pretending" but in a way, aren't we all pretending in a sense = this is called the "Home Studio forums" after all.

I chose to record bands as a hobby and not as a living so I only cater to bands in the genres of rock, punk and metal because in my area, there is enough studios concentrating on country, norteno, tejano, and hip hop. Being in a band myself, a local local promoter, pa sound engineer, and run a small home studio, I learned this in the last 7 years. Gone are the days when bands would getted signed by passing on a garage recording of themselves to a famous band or producer. With all this file sharing going around- major labels will not invest in a band that hasnt already invested in a good sounding demo/cd.

With that being said, we as home studio owners are the stepping stone to getting a good band signed to a good label. Majority of the times we must act as a (one stop), recording engineer, producer, master editor, for these bands that have excellent music but are struggling to make it.

Taking that in consideration , it behoves us to use what we got in mastering audio and not racks and racks of expensive high end professional studio stuff.
Ive used various programs depending on the bands sound.

I agree with the previous post stating that Ozone 3 can be alittle overkill - but for more extreme metal and hardcore punk - Ive found that tweaking it alittle fits these type of bands in a overall mix.

Ive also used Cool Edit pros Real Com. compressor as well as Wave arts Final Plug for light rock, and hard rock bands. Nice and subtle but smooth as well.

Just my thoughts. Sorry I made it long.

[lunaticpro]

Mastering is a tuff subject. I only master songs out of necessity because most of the bands I've recorded don't have the extra money to get it mastered somewhere else. So I fall in the category of "pretending" but in a way, aren't we all pretending in a sense = this is called the "Home Studio forums" after all.

I chose to record bands as a hobby and not as a living so I only cater to bands in the genres of rock, punk and metal because in my area, there is enough studios concentrating on country, norteno, tejano, and hip hop. Being in a band myself, a local local promoter, pa sound engineer, and run a small home studio, I learned this in the last 7 years. Gone are the days when bands would getted signed by passing on a garage recording of themselves to a famous band or producer. With all this file sharing going around- major labels will not invest in a band that hasnt already invested in a good sounding demo/cd.

With that being said, we as home studio owners are the stepping stone to getting a good band signed to a good label. Majority of the times we must act as a (one stop), recording engineer, producer, master editor, for these bands that have excellent music but are struggling to make it.

Taking that in consideration , it behoves us to use what we got in mastering audio and not racks and racks of expensive high end professional studio stuff.
Ive used various programs depending on the bands sound.

I agree with the previous post stating that Ozone 3 can be alittle overkill - but for more extreme metal and hardcore punk - Ive found that tweaking it alittle fits these type of bands in a overall mix.

Ive also used Cool Edit pros Real Com. compressor as well as Wave arts Final Plug for light rock, and hard rock bands. Nice and subtle but smooth as well.

Just my thoughts. Sorry I made it long.

[captainjoe]

what's the best software to use for mastering???

Your ears.

[ChicoBluez]

I guess I'll chime in...I use AAMS.

It's:

Easy

Automatic or do it yourself mastering

Choose a pre sampled EQ curve (about 40 to pick from) or make your own from your favorite CD.

End result is very Pro sounding (imho).

I downloaded the freeware and purchased it as soon as the trial period ended.

Chico

[brandondrury]

So I fall in the category of "pretending" but in a way, aren't we all pretending in a sense

It depends on if you mean "pretending to have real studios" or "pretending to be making real music". I know I've been a part of some real music.

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by ChicoBluez

I guess I'll chime in...I use AAMS.

So this software can model audio attributes of other CD's? I'd like to try it but all I found was:

AAMSAccredited Asset Management Specialist (College for Financial Planning)
AAMSAdvanced AFSATCOM Monitoring Subsystem
AAMSAdvanced Automatic Monitoring System
AAMSAgency Asset Management System
AAMSAggregate Area Management Study
AAMSAir-to-Air Missile SeekerAAMSAir-To-Air Missile System
AAMSAmerican Accordion Musicological Society
AAMSAmerican Air Mail Society
AAMSAmministrazione Autonoma Monopoli di Stato (Italian)
AAMSArea Airspace Management System (US FAA)
AAMSArmy Acquisition Management System
AAMSArmy Aircraft Maintenance Shop
AAMSAssociation of Air Medical Services
AAMSAutomated Aircrew Management System

[ChicoBluez]

Originally Posted by Electriclight

So this software can model audio attributes of other CD's? I'd like to try it but all I found was:

AAMSAccredited Asset Management Specialist (College for Financial Planning)
AAMSAdvanced AFSATCOM Monitoring Subsystem
AAMSAdvanced Automatic Monitoring System
AAMSAgency Asset Management System
AAMSAggregate Area Management Study
AAMSAir-to-Air Missile SeekerAAMSAir-To-Air Missile System
AAMSAmerican Accordion Musicological Society
AAMSAmerican Air Mail Society
AAMSAmministrazione Autonoma Monopoli di Stato (Italian)
AAMSArea Airspace Management System (US FAA)
AAMSArmy Acquisition Management System
AAMSArmy Aircraft Maintenance Shop
AAMSAssociation of Air Medical Services
AAMSAutomated Aircrew Management System

Sorry...I should have posted the link for AAMS:

AAMS

Chico

[shakerAU]

I find T-Racks pretty good, though there are probably way to many presets to confuse the issue..

Cheers
John