Nice, another mastering thread. I'll make the first post then.
What compressor do most of you use when mastering? Do you use a transparent compressor or an analog simulated one that adds some color?
I tend to use the Waves SSL and then if I need to compress more I use a transparent compressor.
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I am a big fan of all the URS plugs I use it at a 1:51 or so ra
I am a big fan of all the URS plugs
I use it at a 1:51 or so ratio. Very light for mastering. Normally won't go higher than 2.0 on my master channel.
It tends to be the first plug in my chain( URS 1970 Compressor) followed by eq's
(nuendo 10 band native and URS N Mix EQ Native for its nice lo and high pass filters.
Then a Waves limiter/ditherer.
This is a very broad area as there is so much out there. I found
This is a very broad area as there is so much out there. I found T-rax to be a bit "coloring", the Ozone was simple to use and had nice dithering abilities, the Waves C1 compressor is useful per channel but I'm not 100% on it's mastering performance, the native compressors in FL and Live are pretty decent now.
UAD-1 Fairchild 670 Software Compressor is impressive if you can afford it. I liked liquid mixes 60 compressors but found the lag added by the hardware a PITA during mastering. I now favour the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://antress.blog…"]Welcome to Antress Modern Plugins[/]="http://antress.blog…"]Welcome to Antress Modern Plugins[/] modern range of compressors for free projects.
interesting, since I upgraded my audio chain, and did some other
interesting, since I upgraded my audio chain, and did some other 'homework' with my setup,
I manage to use minimal to no compression during mastering,
a touch of corrective eq - if needed
a hair of saturation - culture vulture LE - with pentode
limiting and dithering
job done,
it really depends on the mix,
recently I master EP for a fantastic female singer, from London,
her material was top recording, top performance, top mix;
jazzy stuff with elements of hiphop, drum'n'bass, bossa nova, etc
the material I got (except 1 issue) was a first league,
I did almost nothing, very little - everything sounded right and great!
but I must say, I used to abuse processing before:)), so
as they say - wisdom comes with the age:wink:
I have recently been using T-SLEDGE, a free 4 band compressor th
I have recently been using T-SLEDGE, a free 4 band compressor that I am impressed with so far. I add a little gain for the higher frequencies. I also use x cita, an analog simulated coloring tool, in line before T SLEDGE to raise the high mids just a bit. Then again I am using a cheap CAD mic set for the drums. I don't think they pick up as much high end as a good set would in a good room. If the mics being used were high end in a good room, I would probably end up coloring the sound quite a bit less.
Making good sound in less than ideal situations is an art in itself. :)