Once you have recorded and mixed your track at some point you are going to need to master it. That is make it suitable for the platform you are delivering it too. There are a growing number of ‘in-the-box’ mastering tools available and we have brought together 30 of the ones we have reviewed, some add character, whilst other designed to be neutral.
A lot of people ask us to comment or compare the sound and features of various mastering tools. With our reviews, we give you the chance to see and hear what they can do before you consider buying them.
If you are considering a new mastering tool for your studio then check out these reviews, free tips & tutorials...
Although most DAWs have their own way of bypassing chains of audio plugins for decision-making, none do what is really needed for meaningful choices: loudness and delay-compensated monitoring. We check out one tool that can do it all…
As a follow-up on Mike’s Understanding Loudness, which is now free, in this article, we are going to cover loudness for music streaming services, including loudness normalisation, album normalisation and how to prepare music tracks for music streaming services, with three free tutorials.
With two well-regarded intelligent fixers already under their belt, oeksound have now turned their attention to something different with distinctly artistic leanings. Here we put Bloom to the Experts for them to deliver their verdicts...
With corrective therapies already under their belt, oeksound have now turned their expertise towards more creative tonal shaping. So what does Bloom do and how does it sound? See and hear it for yourself as we take our first look.
Back in November we published an article How Good Is Logic Pro Mastering Assistant? Take A Listen in which we processed a track with the four alternative flavours of AI assisted mastering which had come to Logic and asked the community which they preferred? What if anything can we infer from the results?
Steinberg has recently unveiled WaveLab 12, their latest offering in the world of audio mastering and editing. This new version boasts nearly 80 new features and improvements, making it a significant update for professionals and enthusiasts in the audio industry.
The availability of amazing audio tools makes it easy for anyone to get hold of anything. With audio production bringing together a number of skill sets, we discuss why it might not be possible to excel at everything even when we think we’re fully equipped…
The introduction of Apple Logic Pro’s new Mastering Assistant is an helpful development for some music producers and audio engineers. Especially for those who don’t have the skill that a professional mastering engineer brings, or the budget to hire one. We take it for a test, we’ve included the audio so you can take the test and listen for yourself.
Successful masters come from successful mixes. Here we talk about some of the artistic considerations as well as the more practical things to have in order before that hard-won mix goes to Mastering.
Evoking a classic mastering EQ, Pulsar Audio’s W495 promises wide, musical flavours and control that goes beyond where stereo EQs usually ends. Here we explore how its vinyl roots are more than just a nod to the days of pure listening enjoyment…
In this exclusive Production Expert Video Review we take a look at Zynaptiq's new mixing and mastering processing plug-in INTENSITY and decide if it's any good.
T-Racks 5 is the latest version of IK Multimedia's popular plug-in suite. It features a wealth of great sounding EQs, dynamics and effects. The latest version of T-Racks 5 debuted a new standalone mastering application along with four new modules. We take a look at Master Match, which automatically matches the sound of the songs you are mastering with up to three source tracks used as reference tracks, it's very good.
The new Softube MM-1 plug-in is based on the Weiss DS1-MK3, a very popular digital dynamics unit that can be found in many mastering studios across the world
The MM-1 plug-in is a "slimmed down" version of the original DS1-MK3 hardware that Softube claims features exactly the same algorithms from within the original hardware.
In this review, Production Expert takes a look at some of the new features and improvements in Pro-L 2. In this video, we test some of the new limited styles, the new 1:1 output feature and more. We use Pro-L 2 to apply limiting to the master track of a song using the new LUFS loudness meters.
In this Pro Tools Expert review video, we take a look at Ozone 8 by iZotope, claimed to be the smartest version of Ozone yet. We test a handful of new features including the new Master Assitant which isn't too dissimilar to the Track Assistant we first saw in iZotope Neutron 1.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Virtual Tube Collection (VTC) by Slate Digital. Steven at the team at Slate have collected together some of the finest valve (Tube) gear and worked there magic to create 3 very subtle but very useful additions to the Slate Virtual Mix Rack (VMR) family.
Pro Tools Expert team member Peter Barter takes a look at v2 of the Oxford Limiter from Sonnox. After running through the GUI and some of its new features you can also hear some examples of how loud this updated classic and very musical sounding plug-in can take your tracks.
Focus claims to perform best in mastering applications providing users with a mastering industry psychoacoustics secrets weapon. Sadly, the marketing that surrounds Focus does not go into much detail about the secret weapon.
Russ takes a look and listen to the new Abbey Road Vinyl plugin from Waves.
Designed with Abbey Road Studios, this plugin faithfully captures every stage of the vinyl production and playback process: You can choose between the sound of a pure acetate (lacquer) cut or the print master vinyl pressing from the factory, play the records on two distinct turntable types with a choice of three classic cartridges and even add the EMI TG12410 mastering console on the path into the vinyl lathe.
In this video review Pro Tools Expert team member Dan Cooper takes a look at a very clever metering plug-in called LEVELS by Mastering The Mix.
In this video review Pro Tools Expert team member Dan Cooper takes a look at The Wall, a new brick wall limiter plug-in by Boz Digital Labs.
This brilliant FREE plugin from Nugen Audio is designed to help you compare two different plug-in or two completely different process chains.
In this video review Dan takes a look at the new Drawmer S73 Intelligent Mastering Processor plug-in by Softube.
Hear how it performs on a small selection of tracks and to find out why Dan has awarded it with a Pro Tools Expert Editors Choice Award.
In this review Dan takes a look at MIYO by H2 Design. MIYO is a portable mastering grade external USB headphone amp. Watch the video to learn what it's all about and to find out what Dan thinks.
To find out more please visit:
https://gomiyo.com/
In this video Dan reviews and tests IK Multimedia's new Stealth Limiter from their T Rack CS collection. Hear for yourself how it performs as Dan tests its abilities in increasing the level on 4 different songs.
Russ from ProTools Expert takes a look and listen to the new Eiosis AIR EQ from Fabrice Gabriel. He gives a full show and tell of the features and some of the things he likes about it. Is it just another EQ plug-in or is there something special about this EQ? Find out by watching this extended review.
Russ takes a look at the new Massenburg DesignWorks® MDWEQ5 Parametric Equalizer Plug In For The UAD Platform.
Described as "A unique, ultra-powerful EQ, the Massenburg DesignWorks MDWEQ5 plug-in for UAD-2 and Apollo interfaces provides crystal clear processing at the highest resolutions. The MDWEQ5 plug-in is accurate, precise, and ear-tuned by the man who invented the term, “parametric EQ,” George Massenburg."
See it in action and find out what Russ thinks of it.
In this show and tell video Mike takes a tour around the brand new Visualizer 2 from Nugen Audio. Watch and see what he finds and how it could help you visualize your audio.
iZotope claim "iZotope's audio mastering software, Ozone 6, makes it easier than ever to master your audio simply and efficiently in one elegant standalone application." In this video review Russ takes a look at the iZotope Ozone 6 Mastering Plug-in. He takes a look at the new features in Ozone 6 Advanced and also gives his thoughts on those features.
Russ takes a look at the latest addition in the Avid Pro Series range of plug-ins for Pro Tools. The new Avid Pro Series Multiband Dynamics. It has a couple of tricks up its sleeve, watch the video to find out what they are and see what Russ thinks.