Thoughts on best general-purpose mastering box?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LarryF
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LarryF

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Currently using Waves for finalizing project studio work - primarily C4, Ren Compressor and Ren EQ. C4 is solid but I'm thinking about taking it to the next level beyond software plug-ins. I evaluated the TC Finalizer in an audio store but wasn't thrilled. Wondering if anyone has suggestions. Optimal would be a compressor, limiter, EQ and other relevant tools all together in one unit, but the minimum functionlity is compressor and EQ - and I would rather have a great mastering compressor and EQ alone than a bunch of mediocre gadgets stuffed together into a rack unit.

Thanks - Larry F
 
I'm in the process of putting together a "mini-mastering" rack of my own. I just picked up a DBX Quantum mastering processor and so far I like it. You can find them pretty cheap on eBay, between $500-600.

However, I like analog processing too, and my mini-mastering rack currently consists of: DBX Quantum, Aphex Compellor 320A, Urei 546 Parametric EQ, and Waves L2 hardware limiter. I use a Benchmark DAC-1 for DA conversion into the analog portion of the signal chain, and the converters in the L2 for AD back into the DAW. The Compellor has been upgraded by Jim Williams at Audio Upgrades, and the Urei 546 will be getting an upgrade shortly.

This is definitely a low budget mastering rig, and it's not even quite complete, as I haven't heard the 546 with the upgrade yet. If it's clean enough then I'll keep it. Otherwise, I'll start saving for something more expensive!

I realize this doesn't entirely answer your question, but just thought I'd share with you what I'm doing regarding "home mastering".
 
If he wasn't thrilled with a Finalizer I doubt Behringer is going to do it for him!

I should add that I have used the Waves Ren Compressor, eq, and C4 in critical listening/mastering situations and wasn't crazy about them. I could always hear them doing things to the audio that I didn't like. Also, in a blind test run by my engineer, I was able to correctly pick out the plugin mastered tracks versus the analog mastered tracks 100% of the time. The analog processed tracks being the ones that sounded better to me.
 
My home recording mastering set up is the Dbx Quantum.

I have not used the TC Finalizer, though I've heard a few complaints that the EQ isn't great on it. I wouldn't know.

I've got no complaints about the Quantum - I use it for a whole bunch of things from tracking right through to A/D conversion & dithering. I think the EQ is particularly good on this thing. It gets a lot of use.
 
SonicAlbert, I should clarify what I said about not being thrilled with the Finalizer. I thought it was quite good in concept and execution, just not 'thrilling" - which wouldn't have mattered if it was $500 or $1,000 but for its price it should be the end-all of home studio mastering tools. I thought the compression sounded great, the EQ mediocre maybe. My opinion may have been colored by the sales rep, who actually recommended not buying one, pointing out that so many semi-pro and indi recordings are mastered just with the presets on the Finalizer that they tend to have a common "heard that before" yawn quality. That's just his opinon; I am not informed enough about the Finalizer to assess whether that's true.

Wondering if anyone has played wiht the Focusrite Mixmaster, which looks like a less expensive Finalizer type of box.
 
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