I'm hoping this is the right place to get a recommendation for audio restoration and mastering software. These are all mono recordings so don't need any mixing. I'm more concerned with the mastering than I am about the restoration. I'm working on some 1930's to 1940's recordings from open reel, mainly from radio broadcasts. Most are in pretty good shape with light tape hiss and light surface noise. These are all mono recordings that have been run through CEDAR Duo Declickle and Auto Dehiss. There is usually some leftover hiss and surface noise that has to be overcome but I dislike using the continuous noise filters on some restoration software programs due to the strange sound & artifacts. For mastering I'm currently using Izotope Ozone 4 and have had pretty good luck with mastering and removing some of the noise during the process. When using many of the mastering presets however, some the results ending up sounding pretty "middy" (too much midrange and sounding a little harsh) even when not boosting the mids. Most of these recordings don't have much relevant signal above 6khz, just because of how they were originally recorded. Amplifying or expanding the upper range usually just adds noise as there is very little signal.

I've heard some remasters of similar material with similar range (nothing above 6khz) that sound more "clear" and not quite as "middy". The masters I've heard were done a few years back so I suspect I don't need the latest software.

I'm wondering if anyone here has any recommendations of which mastering software to try. I'd be willing to spend somewhere in the $500 to $1000 range. Also, if anyone knows of any helpful tutorials I would appreciate it.