Mastering effects

[Tom E. Gunn]

Just about finished with my first attempt with the MR-8. I've mixed everything together using a very old version of Acid but have been looking at other software including n-Track and Cakewalk Guitar Tracks. My Acid version has no effects that I can find so I'm wondering how much you folks do to the finished product?
Kinda curious about once I've got all my levels and pans set, what can be done to the final mix to give it that "polished" sound, ie compression, EQ, reverb, etc. I'm pretty happy with the way it is but I just have the feeling something is missing.

Thanks for any help or insight into the use of effects.

 

[bdbdbuck]

I'm with ya for the most part leaving well enough alone. I pretty much always use a little verb on the vox, rarely anything else. n-Track will give you the option to use a whole gaggle of VST plug-ins or a ton of other plug-ins...it even comes with a few of it's own. Fact is, with all the plug-ins I have the n-Track reverb plug-in is the one I use most.


bd

 

[gospel]

I use two free plugins with n-track for finishing touchs.
I use anwida reverb light. The best reverb I've heard free or not. www.anwida.com . It is free.
I use a compresser plug called endorphin. It is easy to use and is also free. www.digitalfishphones.com

Both of these were used on this song:
www.nowhereradio.com/artists/?aid=2892/singles

 

[Enrique]

What I usually do is record just about everything flat and dry, no effects whatsoever. EQ and everything else gets polished after the rough product. I've heard great things about all these different softwares, but I personally would recommend Cool Edit Pro. It's got great effects, reverbs, etc. I've worked with a lot of Cakewalk products and to me, some of them can be downright confusing. Again, it's all about personal preference. If you want something simple to work with, try checking out Cool Edit Pro.