Which mastering program in my case.

[Orchestrator1]

What would be the best mastering program in my situation.
I use Cubase SX3 and looking at the latest version of same.
I play and record Scottish accordion, I only ever have four backing tracks of bass guiitar,accordion chords, piano and a drum track.
I understand how to ballance the different instruments, use panning, how to seperate the instruments so they have their own space and I also understand how to EQ.
I normally get it reasonably good in Cubase.
Am interested in purchasing a mastering program to try and improve the final mix.
Rex

[Massive Master]

"Mastering programs" aren't for improving the mix - They're for authoring a compliant production master (hence the "mastering" part).

Any sort of "mastering plugins" (now I'm using a little sarcasm) aren't going to give you anything that you aren't going to get out of Cubase for the most part. They don't make you hear better - They don't give you an unbiased opinion.

If you feel the need to "improve the mix" then improve the mix.

[Orchestrator1]

Hi Massive Master.
Thanks for that reply, at least your Bl-dy honest about it.
I put the question ' is mastering overstated' in the Cubase forum.
I explained my tunes are well mixed, nicely ballanced with good bass response and mixed correctly in Cubase SX3. Everyone tells me I need mastering without hearing my work. Your last statement of "If you feel the need to "improve the mix" then improve the mix" says it all.
I use a valve Compressor, a Valve Preamp, 2 valve mics, a middle of the line audio interface which is a PreSonus Firepod and near field monitors. I would like a better graphic equalizer than the one in Cubase with more presets and if you can suggest one I would appreciate it.
Rex.

[TerraMortim]

Your ears are the best mastering equipment in every case.

[Massive Master]

No room for presets (no room for graphic EQ's for that matter)...

Listen -
Analyze -
Do -

Anything else is experimentation. Experimentation is great when you're experimenting and learning tools - Not on the mixes you're working on. The brain is much to easily fooled into thinking something sounds "better" when it only sounds "different" (just ask any maul-the-band compression addict or Sonic Maximizer user).

[SonicAlbert]

I'm not a mastering engineer, but what you are probably looking for when you say "mastering" a is a bit of smoothing out and controlling of levels. If your mixes are already sounding good and are balanced out well, then that's most likely all you'll need.

So the kind of plugin I would suggest is a very high quality limiter, one that imparts as little of it's own sonic signature as possible.

You might want to take a look at limiter offerings from PSP Audioware and WaveArts, as a good place to start.

[Big Jinx]

I agree with SonicAlbert, the PSP Vintagewarmer 2.0 is one of the finest limiters on the market. Great value. Also has the ability to add that last touch of "fat"/warmth to a master channel if that's what you're looking for IMHO.

[TerraMortim]

Originally Posted by Big Jinx

I agree with SonicAlbert, the PSP Vintagewarmer 2.0 is one of the finest limiters on the market. Great value. Also has the ability to add that last touch of "fat"/warmth to a master channel if that's what you're looking for IMHO.

hell yeah. I love that plugin. If I had to choose only one plugin to keep and had to delete the rest...that would be the one.