What's The Best Mastering Program For Os X?, Mastering Original Songs - CD Production Options

[horvath]

I'm an old pro at songwriting, performing and recording (I'm presently recording with a Roland VS-1880 Digital Studio) ... but now I'm getting into mastering my own tracks on my Mac G4 - OS X and trying to educate myself on the processes.

I'm trying to decide which one of two mastering programs I want to purchase:
1 - T-RackS - my favorite so far ... tube sounds and mastering ONLY.
2 - Sound Forge 7.0

Is anyone familiar with either of these? Or do you have other suggestions? ProTools is a bit pricey ... especially considering I ONLY want a mastering suite.

Thanks.

Ce message a été modifié par horvath - jeu. 9 oct. 2003, 14:49.

[cinemafia]

I don't have any experience with T-RackS, and Soung Forge is Windows-only...

However, I can give a recommendation for Bias Deck 3.5, which is what I use for mixing/mastering. There are a few drawbacks between Deck and ProTools, such as you're limited to 16-bit audio and 24 tracks. However, it is only $320.

[horvath]

Thanks, bro' ...

16-bit ain't a problem ... after all, once it's on a CD, it's 16-bit anyway. My Roland recorder is 24-bit, but once I mix down to stereo and make a CD it's 16-bit.

I was just digging into some of the presets I have inside the Roland recorder and there are about 30 mastering presets, any one of which I can use to apply compressors, liniters, etc, etc., etc. ... so now I'm thinking maybe I just need to learn more about using the Roland and just educate myself more about mastering-techniques.

I'm experiencing sensory overload at this point! LOL!

[cinemafia]

Too true, there are so many applications available now, and yet at the same time something of a hardware renassaince, that it's hard to find one way to do something and stick with it. The more you explore new things, the more fun you have, but sometimes you never end up getting anything done!

[horvath]

Man, you said it! Learning all this stuff is a tiresome task as it is ... and with all the various solutions available to us these days, it becomes another task to learn what's needed and what's not necessary! It also makes it easy to over-do things, eh?

"Simple" still gets it every time!

[rickenbacker]

Peak 4 is out now and supports 24-bit recordings. T-Racks 24 also supports 24-bit recordings (the clue is in the name) and the company are at pains to stress that keeping files at 24-bit quality during the mastering process is infinitely preferable to 16-bit. Can't fault the logic of that.

Probably the best mastering app for Mac has been Emagic's Waveburner Pro, but that's been languishing in OS 9 hell for years. However, I did read today that once Panther is released, Apple will have corrected their omission of true Red-Book compliance that is missing in Jaguar. Emagic have had WB Pro ready to go for months, apparently, but have been waiting for this problem to be ironed out at source.

On the other hand, Roxio Toast With Jam and Peak 4 both say they can burn Red-Book compliant CDs right now in 10.2, so don't ask me who is telling the truth - I'm just repeating what I've read (like a true internet gossip).

Anyway, I sincerely hope the WB Pro story is true, because I have it, it's excellent and I'll be first in line for the OS X upgrade. I do have an earlier version of T-Racks, too, and it's OK. You can get a good sound out of it, if you know what you're doing. To that end, I recommend absolutely everyone, whatever music they're making, should buy Mastering Audio by Bob Katz - the only studio reference book you'll ever need.

[horvath]

Thanks, bro'! -- I just ordered "Mastering Audio" by Bob Katz

[genehardage]

After reading all the posts on this question I'm still not sure if Toast With Jam is able to master a CD for my newfangled firewire Lacie CD burner in OSX Jag. Has anyone ever actually seen it done? I don't mind buying stuff when it does what it's supposed to do but as we all know - things don't always work the way you think they should.
So - Has anyone seen it work??

[ramblingjoel]

I recently purchased a powerbook with presonus firepod, using cubase le. I'm also wondering about mastering software. I don't need anything fancy, I just want to brush up the final mix and burn it to a cd. Any suggestions?
Thanks...

[Jsegura]

If you had budget for Ozone 3 of iZotope, you would take an authentic beast of mastering. Also to use it in the recording and the mix.