What does your 2022 Mastering Chain look like?

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

  1. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

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    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
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  3. daddytang

    daddytang Producer

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    Sonible limiter is a great place to start.
     
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  4. rudolph

    rudolph Audiosexual

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    Maserati.jpg Ozone 5.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2022
  5. artwerkski

    artwerkski Audiosexual

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    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

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  6. Xupito

    Xupito Audiosexual

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    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

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    gp.jpg
     
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  8. Backtired

    Backtired Audiosexual

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    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.
     
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  9. Djord Emer

    Djord Emer Audiosexual

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    depends on the song, really, but the usuals are: compressor / eq / limiter and/or clipper
     
  10. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

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    Care to name names? :)
     
  11. vuldegger

    vuldegger Producer

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    ddmf magic death eye, stock limiter. songs never get released or played, so nothing special here.
     
  12. demberto

    demberto Rock Star

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    3x sosig
     
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  13. MINIGUNPUNK

    MINIGUNPUNK Kapellmeister

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    upload_2022-8-16_19-38-59.png
     
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  14. Snare Gel

    Snare Gel Kapellmeister

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    @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

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    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

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    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

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    I wish :)
     
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  18. Snare Gel

    Snare Gel Kapellmeister

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    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

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    Waves L2>GullfossMaster>Sonible Smart Limit

    if anything else needed its done at the mixing stage.
     
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  20. tamere

    tamere Platinum Record

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    hahha nice one. are you a leftoid woketard orange man bad or just joking?

    love you bro
     
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  21. lxfsn

    lxfsn Platinum Record

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    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 :))
     
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