Just wondering, now that the PA 2022 All Bundle is freely available to all to try out, has anyone got any suggested master channel chain and/or mastering chain that has only PA plugins?

What plugins would you suggest? And in what order?

I am asking generically, but I am also curious as I am looking for ideas for my techno/tech house mastering chain as well as DJ set master channel chain.

 

I only use the Black Box on stereo bus sometimes but theoretically I'd say :

1. Kirchhoff EQ or Bx Digital for correction or De-essing
2. SPL PQ or Knif Audio Soma for some broad strokes Tube EQ tonal shaping or the AMEK 2098, 200, 250 if solid state style is more your style or Bettermaker, Dangerous Baxandall if you want something super clean.
3. Black Box HG2 or The Oven or Sa2rate2 or Vertigo VSM3 - all 4 of them good IMO
4. Kirchhoff EQ or Bx Digital for correction or further De-essing if needed, or maybe Bx_refinement. Or just use Soothe like a normal people.
5. Shadow Hills Class A or elysia Alpha for final compression and overall dynamic or the new shiny AMEK Mastering Compressor if you want to look complex on the outside. I honestly only like the Vertigo VSC3 for stereo bus.
6. Fabfilter Pro-L because let's not be an idiot.
7. ADPRT Metric AB - i suggest everyone use this if you haven't already
8. SPL Hawkeye or ADPTR Streamliner (this one kinda suck) for metering, might as well use others or the simple bx_meter

hmm I don't like the chain, I think I'll just stick with the The God Particle for now

 

Last edited: Feb 1, 2023

Shadow Hills and Kirchhoff for sure. (Haven't tried the AMEK yet.)

 

It's not like PA are the Best at everything so it's a bit silly,
but I'd go..

bx_cleansweep - Filter
Elysia, Amek or Shadow Hills - Master Compressor
Kirchoff or bx_digital v3 - EQ (unless you want "analog" then Museq/Amek 250/bx_2098)
DSM V3 - Multiband Comp (or Lindell MBC for "analog")
Vertigo VSM-3 - Harmonics Exciter of sorts.. in fact I've just found out about this one, it's Nuts!
bx_XL V2 - As a Master Limiter or Maximizer of sorts, also as an Imager of sorts.. (if not > bx_control > bx_limiter TP)

And then ofc,
Maor Appelbaum Mastering & Hendyamps.. THE OVEN - for the Lols

Not really my cup as it's probably too analog/coloured,
but it's a pretty interesting rig I'd say..

 

I don't think there's a lot of PA that i would trust for mastering purposes, But let's see:

-Kirchhoff EQ
-ADAPTR sculpt
-Bx_Digital
-Black Box HG2/Elysia Phill's Cascade
-Bx_Refinement
-Bx_DynEQ
-Elysia Alpha
-Bx_Limiter TP
-SPL Hawkeye

Not necessarily all at once, or one of each, or in that order. A lot of that would depend on the source, but for me at least that looks good enough for just opening a session and having that pre loaded.

 

bx_focusrite. Boom

 

SPL IRON and bx_masterdesk are two of the regulars in mastering. Use with Metaplgin oversampling. These two are great because they offer a lot of ways to tweak the sound, in tone and space.

 

I don't generally start with a fixed chain but if I had to within the constraints provided and with the given genera in mind.

Kirchhoff-EQ (correction)
DSM (correction and dynamics)
Soma (character, bass correction and emphasis)
SPL Iron (character, harmonics, bass extension and slight dynamics)
902 De-Esser (hf correction and suppression)
Kirchhoff-EQ (rebalance and de-emphasis)
Alpha Compressor (dynamics, correction and clipping)
BAX EQ (rebalance and emphasis)
Bx-XL (limiting)

That would really be a worst case scenario though or when trying to push dynamic content into turds. If you start out with loud and balanced content could bypass at least half of those.

 

If i try to replicate my actual signal flow with PA only would be:
Vertigo VSM (Subtle, to act like a summing amp and glue with harmonics)
Townhouse compressor
Kirchhoff (pultec low boost with maag top end) or Bettermaker
Bx_Limiter TP

(No corrective EQ or heavy processing on my 2buss; my individual channels, auxes and submixes are there for a reason)