mastering software

[sunnydaycrash]

hi everyone
some advice needed....I`m looking for a mastering program to use....prefer it were free though I know that will limit my options
I`m using cool edit pro 2 and windows

any suggestions

much appreciated

paul

 

[manning1]

why not just use cool edit pro that you have ?
from what i understand it has plenty of features for filtering, eqing,
comp/lim etc. many audio engineers would just bring the mix back into pro and find ways to improve it useing the built in features of pro.
i guess you could try the free audacity. has some interesting
preset eq curves and other features. you might find something usefull.

 

[kylen]

I'll 2nd Cool Edit Pro as long as you have it anyway...but get the Cakewalk VST adapter and get some better EQ and Dynamics plugs. I use Voxengo and Sonitus (from Cakewalk) mostly but sometimes use Ozone3, T-Racks (plug & standalone), Har-Bal standalone parametric EQ.

Or go the Magix 'Audio Cleaning Lab 2005' route and for $40 get a bunch of effects and CD authoring layout similiar to what I have in CD Architect...except for the redbook PQ manipulations.

Either way you can make some very good home demos - assuming the tracking and mixing is good quality too ! If you want this for heavy distribution, production run, or glass master kind of thing then maybe one of the mastering guys will have some pro recommendations.

 

[sunnydaycrash]

I have used it....the problem is there isn`t really a compressor to be used and I also wanted to tweak the over all sound once it was mixed
I tried downloading a compressor directx proggy but it just won`t install into cool edit for some bloody reason

 

[notbradsohner]

you need to locate the dll file for it, and move it to the folder with all of cool edit pros stuff

 

[lpdeluxe]

Cool Edit Pro is very versatile once you learn to get around in it. In the Effects/Amplitude/Dynamics menu (where the compressors reside) it isn't immediately obvious that all the parameters are tweakable. Click on the "Traditional" tab and you'll see what I mean.I have T-Racks mastering software but I only use it for temporary mixes so people can get an idea of where we're going. T-Racks is OK, but everything useful is pre-set and that's a difficult way to learn the ropes. For the final mix I use Adobe Audition 1.5 (but it's still Cool Edit Pro in my heart =sniff=). There are a lot of compression/limiting/EQ tutorials around. You might also look into Recording Magazine which frequently has walk-throughs on such things.

 

[kylen]

Go to KVR and lurk about in the Effects forum...
http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/index.php

It'll take you about 30 seconds to get your wallet out and get a VST adapter...(demo it first to make sure it works in CEP 2.0) then the world of free VST effects opens up for you.

 

[AdrianFly]

T-racks is the secret weapon. Those who dislike this program are those who do not know how to use it. It literally breaks all the rules of the "traditional" mastering technician.

 

[kylen]

It literally breaks all the rules of the "traditional" mastering technician.

Would you elaborate please

 

[Massive Master]

He means that it does a fairly poor job of "pleasantly" distorting music and making it louder.

Secret weapon...? I hope they call in the weapons inspectors.

I know how to use it just fine. It's a toy, plain and simple.

No doubt that it can do a decent job on stuff that otherwise wouldn't benefit from a "pro" job, but...

Oh, it's not worth the argument...

[EDIT] Granted, T-Racks 24 was WORLDS better than the original, but really... [/EDIT]

 

[warble]

T-racks is the secret weapon. Those who dislike this program are those who do not know how to use it. It literally breaks all the rules of the "traditional" mastering technician.

Good Lord.

 

[AdrianFly]

Gotcha! Hook, line and sinker!

 

[Massive Master]

April Fools Day is APRIL first, dude!

 

[NLAlston]

He means that it does a fairly poor job of "pleasantly" distorting music and making it louder.

Secret weapon...? I hope they call in the weapons inspectors.

I know how to use it just fine. It's a toy, plain and simple.

No doubt that it can do a decent job on stuff that otherwise wouldn't benefit from a "pro" job, but...

Oh, it's not worth the argument...

[EDIT] Granted, T-Racks 24 was WORLDS better than the original, but really... [/EDIT]

So, between T-Racks24 (stand alone) and the Waves Gold Bundle - would there be that much more improvement to warrant the heftier price tag of the latter?

 

[mixandmaster]

Waves mastering bundle would be what you're looking for, not Waves Gold.