Pro Tools for mastering

[mightyduck]

Hi,

Hope this is the right forum for this.

Are any of you folks using Pro Tools for mastering? I was doing a bunch of it for a while, the programs I used are pretty much defunct these days, but WaveLab looks very nice for Mac. But it seems to me that for a lot of what I what need to do at this time, it could be accomplished in Pro Tools, especially with the way music is distributed now.

Anyone?


Best,

mightyduck

[Sardi]

Yes. I do and I assume others too.

You can’t create a DDP, but I use a secondary app for that if need be.


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[musicman691]

I know that some people use a separate application for mastering so they're not tempted to muck with the mix. Or they want to do cd's. Right now I'm using Wavelab Elements which will do most of what one needs to do by way of mastering and it's a great cd assembly/burning program. The workflow takes a bit of getting used to and in Elements you're limited to two plugins per cd track. Regular Wavelab has more and also has a ton of plugins with it that ain't too bad.

Stay away from DSP Quattro as there are issues with it the developer seems unable to fix. I know because I used it for a while and version 5 drove me nuts and got my money back on that. It's a shame because version 4 was really decent.

For me any hardcore 'mastering' I do in PT and match levels & possibly eq in Wavelab Elements when putting together a cd.

[albee1952]

I used Wavelab for years, but when PT got off-line bounce and track commit, I usually do it in PT. As for CD burning, Wavelab or CD Architect are still my tools, but honestly, I haven't burned a CD(other than tests to play in the car) for a client in years

[EGS]

Originally Posted by mightyduck

... WaveLab looks very nice ...

I always master in Pro Tools.

For (the rarely requested) CD burn or DDP, I recently got HOFA CD Burn. The user interface is quick & easy, and pro-mastering features are all there if needed. Check out HOFA.

I also demo-ed Wavelab, and found it a little cumbersome - at least for me - at first. Wavelab did not recognize one of my 2 optical burners, while Windows and every other app sees the drive just fine.

[albee1952]

I just watched a demo video on HOFA. Definitely worth a demo

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I used Wavelab for years, but when PT got off-line bounce and track commit, I usually do it in PT. As for CD burning, Wavelab or CD Architect are still my tools, but honestly, I haven't burned a CD(other than tests to play in the car) for a client in years

CD Architect - said it before and I'll say it again - that's one great program. Just a shame that Sony never updated it or the company that purchased Sony's assets never updated it. It was my go-to when I ran a Windows system.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I just watched a demo video on HOFA. Definitely worth a demo

And if you get the Pro version it can host third party (non-AAX) plugins. HOFA stuff is good - pricey but good.

[mightyduck]

Originally Posted by musicman691

I know that some people use a separate application for mastering so they're not tempted to muck with the mix. Or they want to do cd's. Right now I'm using Wavelab Elements which will do most of what one needs to do by way of mastering and it's a great cd assembly/burning program. The workflow takes a bit of getting used to and in Elements you're limited to two plugins per cd track. Regular Wavelab has more and also has a ton of plugins with it that ain't too bad.

Stay away from DSP Quattro as there are issues with it the developer seems unable to fix. I know because I used it for a while and version 5 drove me nuts and got my money back on that. It's a shame because version 4 was really decent.

For me any hardcore 'mastering' I do in PT and match levels & possibly eq in Wavelab Elements when putting together a cd.

I've used DSP Quattro a long time ago, just for a few things, trying it out. I though it was pretty good then, but I think there have been some changes that people aren't too happy with.

But in Wavelab Elements, if I understand you correctly, you would not be able to use, say, an E.Q., a compressor, and a limiter, together on the same track? That would be a bit rough, I think. But the assembly features are good? Does it create DDP?

Best,

mightyduck

[mightyduck]

Oh, and what about Ozone 9, or even 8?