So even though these two tracks are peaking at the same level, the 2nd sounds louder. The distortion on the higher harmonics can make your song feel bigger.Īside from adding some pleasant harmonic distortion, it’s also brought the RMS level up. It adds some distortion to higher frequencies that sounds pleasant to our ears.ĭialing in some subtle saturation can help maximize the perceived loudness of a song without wrecking the tone. The Oxford Inflator is a saturation plugin. If a song is overcompressed or sounds a bit too harsh, you probably won’t want it. You won’t always want to use the Oxford Inflator. I’m pretty sure this is the train of thought that led to the Oxford Inflator. Mastering Suite EQ Compressor Limiter Meters and Troubleshooters Other ToolsĮver listened to a song and thought, “Wow, this sounds good.

Mastering for others or creating rough masters? These plugins will be incredibly helpful. That’s why you should get your own music mastered by someone else. Your ears are so used to the song, you may not notice problems. If you’ve written, recorded, and/or mixed a song, it’s hard to be objective. Or you just want to create rough masters for your tracks.īut when it comes to making final masters for your own music, it’s worth hiring a professional mastering engineer. Maybe you want to become a mastering engineer. Learning how to master is a huge step for any musician! There’s a list of plugins that are cheaper but still sound terrific. If these are out of your price range, check the honorable mentions. If you’re looking for the perfect limiter, hit “limiter.” So if you need an EQ, just click on the “EQ” button. To help you find the right mastering plugins quickly, we’ve provided some buttons you can use to zero in on the right match. So take a look around at what each plugin has to offer. After trying out tons of different options, these are the ones we felt were the cream of the crop.Īnd they all have unique strengths. It’s worth mentioning that none of the companies who create these mastering plugins are paying us to do so.

If you want to create jaw-dropping masters for yourself or paying clients, here’s the link to watch:īut if you just want to learn about mastering plugins specifically, keep reading. In particular, I want to share this video with you, where Blake La Grange (P.O.D., Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails) breaks down the skills you need to become a mastering engineer and finally make industry-quality music. has some incredible resources for learning mastering. Want to Become a Professionally Trained Mastering Engineer?

Want to Become a Professionally Trained Mastering Engineer?.

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