ProTools is OK for mastering. Few additional plug-ins dedicated to mastering may complete your rig.

Cool I didnt know that.

Is it just okay or is it the best?
I have a huge budget and want to do some research on what people think is best.

If you're interested in Hi-resolution formats, Pyramix is also a good candidate.
But software isn't the key point when mastering. Acoustics and monitoring are much more important. Sure you can spend here your huge budget.

Ya thats the verdict ive gotten. I got great monitors for mastering and recording. Think im going to go with pro tools and wave platinum bundle because i already have it. Thanks though for responding. Yes im mtrying to go as cheap as possible without getting low end hardware or outdated equipment. thanks again though

Waves limiters aren't the best IMHO

i allready have it though. T rack is nice i heard though..

SCARPYDOOOOO, post: 391550 wrote: Im going to be opening a recording studio in the near future, and cant decide on what mastering software to use.

Scrappy,

Sorry to say but you're missing some fundamental issues...

You ask the question as if "mastering" is just some extra plug-ins you toss on the end of your mix, but it's not. If you're opening a recording studio then stick with making the best investment in your recording/mixing tools. Mastering requires a different studio, different tools and a different mindset.

That being said, if you're looking for a mastering workstation software then I would recommend looking at SADiE or Sequoia as your top contenders, then Pyramix, Wavelab, Sonic, DSP Quattro, or Wave Editor.

If you try the Samplitude/Sequoia family, you're probably just going to dump PT anyway. So I'd start there. :smile:

Im stuck with pt no matter what and i have seen people use t rack with pt with great results. I was just wondering if there was something better out there than t racks. ill look into samplitude.

I don't like T-rack. Only the 670 emulation is great in their package.
I much prefer the last Ozone version.

Please read http://recording.org/recording-studio-instruments/52966-help-building-studio-no-clue-what.html#post391294. Nuff said!

Massive Mastering, post: 391568 wrote: If you try the Samplitude/Sequoia family, you're probably just going to dump PT anyway. So I'd start there. :smile:

yup. thumb

I must say if you want to start a mastering studio, I would start with wavelabs, soundforge, and get some good wave plug-ins to go with it. You can also visit a mastering company and get a song mastered. Then try to duplicate their sound once you get the track back from them. I have done this. http://www.kbjrecords.com is who I used because they send you a report showing what they did to the song. This can help you learn and only costs $25 bucks with free corrections

acorneau, post: 391566 wrote: Scrappy,

Mastering requires a different studio, different tools and a different mindset.

.

thumb

from my experience ... it's not good to mix engineer do mastering too...

I agree with CalvinB...I think it's best to start with a WaveLab or Sound Forge with some waves bundles...

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.gmmaster…"]GM MASTERING | Online mastering service[/]="http://www.gmmaster…"]GM MASTERING | Online mastering service[/]

Or get a serious DAW like Sequoia and never look back. check it out:
http://www.samplitude.com/en/news/samplitude-academy-mastering-with-samplitude.html

Master to a second computer or something like the Korg MR-2000S BK and never look back.
I strongly believe one of the secrets to a killer mix is to master to a second box, do not do the SRC or mixdown on the same box you are mixing on.
Check out the Lavry AD11 / mixdown to something even as simple as reaper loaded on a laptop as your second computer.

Laurend, post: 391556 wrote: If you're interested in Hi-resolution formats, Pyramix is also a good candidate.
But software isn't the key point when mastering. Acoustics and monitoring are much more important. Sure you can spend here your huge budget.

acoustic and monitoring are crucial in any audio engineering work, not just mastering,
but mixing and recording too,
focus on those 2 and the rest of the tools are not so important

Red Mastering, post: 392931 wrote: acoustic and monitoring are crucial in any audio engineering work, not just mastering,
but mixing and recording too,
focus on those 2 and the rest of the tools are not so important

That would be a given, software is what the question is. :)

audiokid, post: 392932 wrote: That would be a given, software is what the question is. :)

I know mate, but sincerely I must agree with Thomas B. on this

Samplitude for mastering -what about goldwave?

You get what you pay for. I would take just about anything over goldwave. It's garbage IMHO. Reaper is only $70 and it's not designed for mastering but I'd take that over goldwave. You may as well use Audacity. I would NEVER use audacity for anything other than minimal editing and file conversion and even then I would choose just about anything over Audacity but hey, at least it's free and you're not spending your money to find out that it's nothing like what you are looking for.

Acid, Steinberg Wavelab, Magix Music Maker, Sonar Essentials, Cubase Essentials or even Pro Tools Essentials(and I'm not a fan of Pro Tools......lately). Anything would be better than spending money on Goldwave.

Acid has a great workflow for working with an Audio Montage. Each track with it's own effects chain, automation, meta data editing. All that being said, mastering is better left to the pros if you plan on making any money. If you're just making cds for your friends, pick a decent program. Personally I would go with Acid because it has a very simple workflow. I am not a mastering engineer however.

Ozone isn't bad. In addition to the compression and limiting the tape saturation options are pretty nice. It's not as warm as analog though. If you want to master modern bright sounding digital music you might give it a shot.

King Jesus Musik, post: 394615 wrote: Samplitude for mastering -what about goldwave?

Correction, Sequoia for Mastering, although you can get most of the suite for Samplitude, Sequoia has it all, done.

And now back to Goldwave howdy

I have been using WaveLab since version 1.6. It works well and with version 7.0 you can now do DDP. A lot more affordable than Sequoia. I also use Samplitude for multi-track mixing and it is also a GREAT program.

It all depends on the interface you are most comfortable with.

By the way Ozone and Waves are not a DAW. They are plug ins used in a DAW. T-RAcks is a joke IMHO and you would be better off with Ozone if you want a one stop plugin for mastering.

Software is GREAT but the first things you will need, if you want to master properly, is a good speaker system and good acoustics. You can't begin to master something if you cannot hear what you are doing.

Best of luck and let us know how things are coming...

I'm not aware of any bona fide M.E.'s that use PT - or any other digital recording platform for actual mastering.

The craft itself not included, your biggest issues will be accuracy in monitoring - not only in your monitors, but in the room itself.

You can have the best monitors that money can buy - but if your room is inaccurate, if it has acoustic issues and is lying to you, it won't matter what monitors you use.

Mastering is a craft and art that is separate of that from recording and mixing. Most real mastering engineers use a combination of ITB and OTB audio processing gear. They are also very good at what they do - taking an already good or great mix and adding that final sparkle and warmth, and determining various EQ curves and Gain Reduction principles based upon the final output - and in how and what terms the final delivery will be used.

Now, if you simply want to change EQ and level the audio on a 2 mix, then you can pretty much do that with any DAW... or any two track editing program, for that matter.

Just know that there's a whole lot more to actual mastering than just that.

fwiw
-d.