Mastering with T-Racks

tvaillan · #1 01-14-2002

Being a clueless amateur in terms of mastering .. heck i don't even know what a multi band limiter really does yet ..

I beleive that quite a few people in these posts really know what there doing and this is why I ask the question:

Would a self respecting audio engineer ever consider using T-Racks 24 mastering software? Why or why not?

Track Rat · #2 01-14-2002

Just my opinion, but I've used it enough to form an opinion. I think it's a toy. I've seen a lot of posts here with folks that have it and use it and love it. I've played with it and I can always hear it pumping. For my money, I like Waves C-4 or Timeworks Mastering compressor and Mastering EQ plug ins, if I'm going to use anything at all. Again just my opinion. Let the flames begin.

tvaillan · #3 01-14-2002

you say you hear it 'pumping' .. are you talking about the compression ratio? for my budget, it's probably the only thing i can use. if you can give me some details, it would be much apreciated. Waves C-4 and Timeworks ey? I'll look around. I hope they're in the same price range.

gregkat · #4 01-14-2002

I own T-racks24 and have Waves plug-ins that I use with Sound Forge 5.0. If you are new to "home " mastering T-racks is by far the easiest to use. You also might want to check out Izotope Ozone. It's about 2 bills and sounds good but slightly more complicated. If you want great sound but with software that has a slower learning curve you might try Samplitude Master. http://magixus.magix.net/magixII/e/h...PEN&country=US It has a fully functioning 90 day demo. It can be had for about 2 bills also. I have Samplitude 2496 Producer, It's the Multitrack version of "Master" which is the 2-track version. I'll be damned but everything sounds better through it. Sound Forge sounds brittle in comparison. I know people say its all in the converters but a/b something with it and you will see. It also is a kick ass cd burning program with the ability to crossfade and edit TOC.
Greg

gregkat · #5 01-14-2002

My bad, Samplitude 2496 Producer is the only product with the 90 day demo.

Greg

tvaillan · #6 01-14-2002

my CPU doesn't cut it.

I find that for the of tracks i use (usually around 5) and the very few plugins i use totally max out my CPU.

.. granted, upgrading is something that we must live with and acknowledge, but it's good to be able to use what you got to it's fullest.

The bottom line is if I use more plugins, I'm gonna get droupouts.

Strictly talking about standalone mastering apps, what would you suggest?

Scriabin · #7 01-14-2002

never cared much for t-racks when ive fooled around with it in the past. its nothing like a set of waves gold native plugins for a little "polishing" yet, waves are alot more expensive than t-racks.....so it all depends on your budget

atomictoyz · #8 01-14-2002

Ive used TR for a few months, mostly experimenting with it and doing a A/B comparisons to the different settings..i.e. presets. One thing I like is it simpler to click and drag until sounds like what Im looking for. It dithers quite nicely even 16 to 16 transfer. Its obvious that the presets are modern day over kill, trying to make everything too loud. I started making my own presets named to match whatever song Ive played with... Its a toy...It can improve your sound if you know what your doing. Ive never heard it pump, but then again Im a minimalist with compression. It shouldn't be compared with Mastering software though...no PQ editors, all the work for proper start/stop editing had to be done some where else....I usually have to do manual fade to zero in SF, then after that import to TR...Spend the money on something better if your going outside the local family and friend network...Nuendo is only 1200 bucks and will do everything if you just learn how to use it. If your budget limited, for 300 bucks and some sweat..and some tears, TR is good enough. If your planning on getting dupes made..get your tones and PQ info ready...You get for what you pay for...Just as opinionated...

Peace,
Dennis

zip · #9 01-14-2002

"For my money, I like Waves C-4 or Timeworks Mastering compressor and Mastering EQ plug ins, if I'm going to use anything at all. Again just my opinion. "

Wooo Hoooo!! Another Timeworks fan! I really like the Mastering Compressor as well. It was my first "real" plugin and I've loved it ever since. Really adds nice punch without the pump.

Hey trackrat...have you tried their new EQ plugin?? It's killer!

zip >>

Track Rat · #10 01-15-2002

Yea, the Timeworks stuff rocks. Haven't used the new EQ yet.

zip · #11 01-15-2002

It has both standard and graphical views / vintage and clean settings and a before / after spectrum analyzer....

The designer at STW also told me the algorhythms are much more accurate. They tested it against some expensive outboard units with flying colors...although I can't remember which ones.

atomictoyz · #12 01-15-2002

Ok...buy it for me...then Ill have it too!

I hate it when you blow your budget on something you can't return and you want something else.

Doh....what a Homerec!

Peace,
Dennis

zip · #13 01-15-2002

It's like $240 or so - you are on your own! I will say you will not be displeased. Try it FREE 14 days...

www.sonictimeworks.com

zip · #14 01-15-2002

It's now $199...

atomictoyz · #15 01-15-2002

Thanks Zip...

Peace,
Dennis

zip · #16 01-15-2002

No prob man...

Even if you don't buy it you can use all their stuff for 14 days...

Process quickly!

Chris Shaeffer · #17 01-15-2002

I have T-RackS and I enjoy it, but I wouldn't call it a magic bullet. Its fun, and it works for what it does.

What I found was that I loved what T-RackS did to my mixs when I used it lightly. It made the mixs sound muych better.

Then I learned how to do the same thing in the mix. Since I knew what to shoot for I began shooting for it in the mix and...

I hardly tweak with T-racks anymore.

I still like it and use it for what needs it, but I outgrew my initial understanding of it pretty quick. Of course, there's probably alot more that I can do with it that I don't know about.

Take care,
Chris

Vago · #18 08-01-2002

I agree with most,
T-racks is good for what it is, however I doubt that many backyard PC Internet Producers would have the ears or the experience to hear the difference between the presets and mastering plugins,
I think if you can do it it's better to use plugins because they do sound better, but I know many talented engineers who can do a brilliant job with T-racks..
if you can learn how to reproduce the sounds that t-racks gives a mix with the presets using plugins then do that..

zip · #19 08-01-2002

"if you can learn how to reproduce the sounds that t-racks gives a mix with the presets using plugins then do that.."

...not only can they be reproduced but they can be improved and made DIFFERENT...which is my whole beef with T-racks...

tvaillan · #20 08-01-2002

gosh this thread's old.

i've long since trashed t-racks and bought the Steinberg Mastering Edition Plugins and have dabled with the Waves stuff and Ozone.

.. not to mention a new computer or two and completely different setup.

lol.

heinz · #21 08-01-2002

Like any software tool, spend enough time with t-racks 24 and you will learn to get the sounds you want. I think the algorithms they use are pretty good for the price range, and I've had very good results with it.

Of course, I think the interface is gak. I sent those guys a 2-page list of things that they should look at, did not receive a reply though. Maybe I pissed them off.

doulos · #22 08-02-2002

you guys are going to hate me but hey tvaillan i have the answer. its awsome far better then any above plug in in which i own them all including the c4 get a behringer thats right behringer 9024 multibanp compresser limiter exciter its 179. hardwear unit that has a ton of presets to learn from and best of all you can solo the bands like the c4 but be able to pass it through commerical cds uneffective to learn band levels and shere volume for mastering by far the best investment i made for mastering and i bought it back in the day when it was 500 and id gladly do it again! just goto muscians friend and type 9024 and have a look

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/.../base_id/43290

chessrock · #23 08-02-2002

Hmmm. Let me see . . . Mastering . . . with . . . T-Racks.

Didn't we already cover this one?

littledog · #24 08-02-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by doulos
you guys are going to hate me but hey tvaillan i have the answer. its awsome far better then any above plug in in which i own them all including the c4 get a behringer thats right behringer 9024 multibanp compresser limiter exciter its 179. hardwear unit that has a ton of presets to learn from and best of all you can solo the bands like the c4 but be able to pass it through commerical cds uneffective to learn band levels and shere volume for mastering by far the best investment i made for mastering and i bought it back in the day when it was 500 and id gladly do it again! just goto muscians friend and type 9024 and have a look http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/.../base_id/43290

Anyone know if Waves makes a Punctuation Plug-in?

zip · #25 08-03-2002

Punctuation Plugin...LOL

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