I use Soundforge and Cd Architect. Both are easy to use but pretty deep on function. Graphically they are easy to decipher.

With CDA, placing the track indexes and cross-fading is intuitive and the volume graphing is a no-brainer.

I would down-load a demo and give a test drive.

Chris

HI strat581
What music do you do?
If I like it I master a song for you for reference
and if I really like it I master the all CD
Later dude
Chris
AudiopleXus Mastering
The art and the science
London UK
+44(0)2089808947

audioplexus wrote: HI strat581
What music do you do?
If I like it I master a song for you for reference
and if I really like it I master the all CD
Later dude
Chris
AudiopleXus Mastering
The art and the science
London UK
+44(0)2089808947

You're making me puke. either contribute something and stop pimping yourself or i'll be forced to edit your posts.

@ MF - 8-)

@ Strat - CD Architect is pretty cool, and they just had a price DROP.

As far as plugs, if you're working with the UAD collection, I'd skip the Ozone / T-Racks stuff. You'd be better off (IMHO) investing in additional plugs for the UAD. The Pultec, the new Precision EQ, etc.

Michael Fossenkemper wrote: [quote=audioplexus]HI strat581
What music do you do?
If I like it I master a song for you for reference
and if I really like it I master the all CD
Later dude
Chris
AudiopleXus Mastering
The art and the science
London UK
+44(0)2089808947

You're making me puke. either contribute something and stop pimping yourself or i'll be forced to edit your posts.

Sorry to make you puke Michael
It’s my mistake I forgot kindness and generosity it’s a bad thing on this planet I don't do it for money we way over booked by our regular clients ,EMI Chrysalis Poligram Sony......

Strat581 If you can try to get TC powercore and the Sony Oxford EQ
great for mastering If you live in the San Francisco area try Haight ashbury music center they great (ask for Massound the owner and tell him Chris from London send you he'll take care of you)
Also try to get a Behringer tube comp/limit if you do call me I tell you how to change the tube and make it sound great (need to replace power suply too)
They very cheap ($120-$150) and you can change the tube for $40

There, that's better. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now.

Thanks for the replies
Last night I was reading through Izotopes PDF's on Mastering.
I have a lot to learn. The more I read the more I realize I will probably have to buy out the Mastering.
P.S. We are a pop punk band like Weazer/Simple Plan.

Maybe snag Bob Katz's "Mastering Audio" book -

It's not a "mastering handbook" by any means (as the title would imply) but it will likley make you a better engineer just by reading it.

I've said this a hundred times but any money you spend for mastering gear would be much better spent if you put it towards a pro mastering engineer.
You are going to record it yourself. You have stated that you are doing this for the first time. No matter how talented you are there will challenges when mastering this project.
Your final CD will sound much better and isn't that the goal? Do it yourself is highly overated. I think the audio magazines put it in peoples heads that it's easy to "do it yourself" if you just get the right gear. Gear is the least important element in a great record.
I make a living mastering records. I also make music for myself and my band. I always use other engineers for the recording and I have been doing it for a while. But they make it better than I can. This allows me just to play and concentrate on the art.

I'm winded.

audioplexus wrote:
Strat581 If you can try to get TC powercore and the Sony Oxford EQ
great for mastering If you live in the San Francisco area try Haight ashbury music center they great (ask for Massound the owner and tell him Chris from London send you he'll take care of you)
Also try to get a Behringer tube comp/limit if you do call me I tell you how to change the tube and make it sound great (need to replace power suply too)
They very cheap ($120-$150) and you can change the tube for $40

OK, guy; you've peaked my interest. That Behri comp. What uses do you find for it? And if you don't mind expounding, could you explain how to modify it (PS especially?) a little further. At $130, it couldn't hurt for me to try it, if for nothing else than a Funk-Logic kind of rack filler. :D