So I have recently got Reason 3.0 and been working with that, and it has certainly been very satisfactory. I've been able to make a few songs and tracks, but I'd like to venture further into the audio world and master my songs so they sound better. I've read the sticky thread, and it seemed to mention only oZone and ProTools. I'd like to know which programs are the best to use for mastering, and which one I should consider. Thanks for your input.

Mastering typically comes after mixing; have you exhausted all the standard mixing options available to you, such as equalisation and compression? In my experience you don't always need dedicated mastering programs to put a decent sheen on your tracks.

Quote: Original post by Kylotan
Mastering typically comes after mixing; have you exhausted all the standard mixing options available to you, such as equalisation and compression? In my experience you don't always need dedicated mastering programs to put a decent sheen on your tracks.

Yes, I've been using all of Reason's built in tools such as reverb, compression, EQ, stereo imaging, etc. I just want to be able to add that extra "polish" on it to make it sound more professional. I think it sounds pretty good with all of Reason's utilities and things, but it's just not as powerful as other mastering programs.

I would strongly suggest sending your tracks to a mastering studio. They can have millions of dollars worth of equipment to process your audio stuff. A typical 3 min track can cost between $100-$500 depending on the studio. Keep in mind, Mastering deals with a series of equalization processing, limiting, harmonic boosting, tape foldback, etc. If your tracks are not mixed correctly forget it. Protools or Nuendo are the industry standards for mixing and then there are many plugins to help you "master" and mix. The standard plugins that come with this software are often not the "best". The novelty of them may make them sound good at first, but once you actaully hear the "real" thing you will understand.

The common problem with the home studio is that you don't have the ears of a seasoned professional (someone who has been doing it every day for the past 30 years) nor the millions of dollars of equipment.

So ultimately if you want your tracks to sound good, find the right poeple and pay for their services, or devote your life to your studio and buy the best stuff. Like some distressors, possbily a fatso or two, some nice SSL gear, a good set of compressors etc. Look at McDSP software plugins, those are pretty nice too, Sony oxford has a decent collection as well.

Cheers!

Thanks for the informative reply!