What does your 2022 Mastering Chain look like?

Discussion in 'Mixing and Mastering' started by Zenarcist, Aug 16, 2022.

  1. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3,915
    Likes Received:
    2,500
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Have you been moving with the times, or are you still using the golden oldies? I have a feeling to shake things up a little, so what's hot these days? :)

    [​IMG]
    *Random photo of a nice mastering studio ;)
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2022
    • Like Like x 3
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Love it! Love it! x 1
    • List
  2.  
  3. daddytang

    daddytang Producer

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2013
    Messages:
    200
    Likes Received:
    131
    Location:
    Birmingham Alabamastan
    Sonible limiter is a great place to start.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Dislike Dislike x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  4. rudolph

    rudolph Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Messages:
    920
    Likes Received:
    561
    Maserati.jpg Ozone 5.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2022
  5. artwerkski

    artwerkski Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2016
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    544
    Location:
    Neptune
    Most of the time for the past couple of projects.
    Use the Focusrite fast limiter too in the chain. Very clean & precise.
    God particle at about 40 to 60%. And I mix straight into this from the start (most of the time).
    (( itb. ))
    [​IMG]

    : ) :rofl::rofl::rofl:
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2022

    Attached Files:

  6. Xupito

    Xupito Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2012
    Messages:
    6,956
    Likes Received:
    3,830
    Location:
    Europe
    I haven't used them properly yet, but I love the balance between sound/GUI/resource usage in PSP plugins
     
  7. Stevie Dude

    Stevie Dude Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2020
    Messages:
    2,178
    Likes Received:
    1,906
    Location:
    Near Nyquist
    gp.jpg
     
    • Funny x 17
    • Like x 3
    • Dislike x 1
    • Winner x 1
    • Love it! x 1
    • List
  8. Backtired

    Backtired Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Messages:
    958
    Likes Received:
    644
    i try to do as much as possible during the mixing stage.
    on the mastering i just add: sdrr/rc-20/tal-dac/etc., izotope imager, an eq if needed, limiter.
    there's no point in trying to use detailed compressors and chains and fooling myself into thinking i'm changing something when i don't know what the hell i'm doing and i don't have the ability or the ears to do it. so, since i might ruin what i've already done, i prefer to touch as little as possible.
    i wish i knew more about it though, since you can clearly see the difference between a polished track and a normal one.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Interesting Interesting x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  9. Djord Emer

    Djord Emer Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2021
    Messages:
    742
    Likes Received:
    579
    depends on the song, really, but the usuals are: compressor / eq / limiter and/or clipper
     
  10. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3,915
    Likes Received:
    2,500
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Care to name names? :)
     
  11. vuldegger

    vuldegger Producer

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2021
    Messages:
    228
    Likes Received:
    103
    ddmf magic death eye, stock limiter. songs never get released or played, so nothing special here.
     
  12. demberto

    demberto Rock Star

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2018
    Messages:
    931
    Likes Received:
    325
    3x sosig
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
    • List
  13. MINIGUNPUNK

    MINIGUNPUNK Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2021
    Messages:
    178
    Likes Received:
    72
    upload_2022-8-16_19-38-59.png
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Dislike Dislike x 1
    • List
  14. Snare Gel

    Snare Gel Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2022
    Messages:
    115
    Likes Received:
    68
    @Zenarcist

    Those Diffusers are crazy. Did you make them?

    As for my mastering chain - for software - DMG Audio all mother fucking day! for hardware - Obsidian comp
     
  15. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3,828
    Likes Received:
    2,657
    Location:
    Sweden
    Clipper/limiter
    color/saturation/transformer
    Stereo and M/S EQ (corrective)
    Parallel multiband saturation
    compressor/glue (hardware)
    Massive Passive (hardware)
    limiter

    Starting template. Sometimes I use much less. Sometimes I add stuff where needed. All depends on the track(s).
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2022
  16. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3,915
    Likes Received:
    2,500
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    So I'm working through all of these suggestions and I just want to say thanks for the new ideas. I actually broke my own rule and bought another PA plugin! .. Black Box HG-2MS which seems useful so far. I've ordered some new headphones and I hope to rearrange my workflow before they arrive. I'm currently using my HD600 which I know pretty well.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2022
  17. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3,915
    Likes Received:
    2,500
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    I wish :)
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
    • List
  18. Snare Gel

    Snare Gel Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2022
    Messages:
    115
    Likes Received:
    68
    Lol! I just realized that's a random studio picture.

    Reason I ask is because I have a friend that builds diffusors. I've just been ghetto and used bookshelves.
     
  19. Mud Jones

    Mud Jones Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2018
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    207
    Location:
    N.Y. USA
    Waves L2>GullfossMaster>Sonible Smart Limit

    if anything else needed its done at the mixing stage.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  20. tamere

    tamere Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    164
    hahha nice one. are you a leftoid woketard orange man bad or just joking?

    love you bro
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Disagree Disagree x 1
    • List
  21. lxfsn

    lxfsn Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2021
    Messages:
    336
    Likes Received:
    246
    I use the same chain (set and forget): saturation, imager, side upward compression, multiband, transparent bus comp (1-1.5 dB gr max), limiter (no significant activity).

    I mix straight into this chain from the first beat of the song. I aim for -9 loudness with no activity on the limiter. If a band in the multiband comp works too much in the chorus, I address the conflicts. At the very end, I may adjust the eq a tiny bit and push the limiter to shave 1-1.5 dB, to hit -7/6 LU in the choruses.

    working with the chain from the beginning allows me to hear exactly how my mixing moves affect the master and I do everything I can to reduce the peaks at the track level so I can achieve a healthy loudness without relying on the limiter. With a mix nicely sitting at -9, I can achieve whatever loudness I want, if really needed to go loud

    the mastering receives the unlimited version, so something peaking a bit under 0 FS :))
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
Loading...
Similar Threads - does 2022 Mastering Forum Date
Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 USB does it worth in 2022? Computer Hardware Aug 1, 2022
Does Sonarworks SoundID work with the calibration mic? Software Saturday at 7:42 PM
How does one open the piano roll in Ableton Live? [solved] Live Mar 17, 2024
The Recent R2R Softube Model 80,82,84,72 does not work. Software Mar 13, 2024
Codesigning doesn't work anymore Mac / Hackintosh Feb 14, 2024
Loading...