Mastering Chain For Self-Produced Hip-Hop Tracks

[blindishuman]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FVxFiX ... sp=sharing

Alright, so this is a PDF listing my entire plugin database.

This is my current mastering chain:
Pro-Q 3
Weiss EQ1
Aquamarine 5
UADx Ampex ATR-102 Master Tape
Ozone 11 Imager
Black Box Analog Design HG-2
SPL Vitalizer MK2-T
Weiss DS1-MK3
smart:limit

What do y'all think? Feel free to Ctrl+F through my list and give some suggestions.
Does the order make sense?
Any plugins on the list do the same thing but better than a plugin in the chain?
Needs another limiter? Sky's the limit

[Matt Houghton]

It's more about what you do and why than which particular plug'ins you're using.

What are you using each stage here to achieve — and why at mastering rather than while you mix, where you have more control?

[Zukan]

Is that the chain you use, in its entirety? Because that is more destructive than constructive.

[tea for two]

This is my current mastering chain:
Pro-Q 3
Weiss EQ1
Aquamarine 5
UADx Ampex ATR-102 Master Tape
Ozone 11 Imager
Black Box Analog Design HG-2
SPL Vitalizer MK2-T
Weiss DS1-MK3

Could we hear one of your self produced Hip-Hop tracks with this chain.

[Wonks]

Ideally before and after mastering, to hear what the chain is doing.

[RichardT]

I’m not sure a fixed chain is the right way to go.

I’ve worked a lot with Eric James, a professional mastering engineer, and he only adds processing when he needs to, and it’s usually limited to one or two compressors and one or two EQs. Which EQs and compressors Eric adds he decides by listening to the track and deciding what needs to be done.

I think most of those plugins don’t belong in the mastering phase.

[The Elf]

The 'best' mastering chain is the one you chose with your ears, because the source material and target audience required it.

[MarkOne]

Im always a little smug when, after level matching my pre-mastered track to the mastered version, there is not a huge amount of real difference. It means (to me at least) the mix decisions were right

[Drew Stephenson]

I have a standard mastering plug-in chain and template, but not everything gets used for everything and where it is used it's all song dependent.
Having things ready in advance does speed up the the set-up process but that's about it.

[James Perrett]

I have a standard mastering plug-in chain and template, but not everything gets used for everything and where it is used it's all song dependent.
Having things ready in advance does speed up the the set-up process but that's about it.

Hopefully you've set everything to be in bypass by default when you first open the template.

[Drew Stephenson]

I have a standard mastering plug-in chain and template, but not everything gets used for everything and where it is used it's all song dependent.
Having things ready in advance does speed up the the set-up process but that's about it.

Hopefully you've set everything to be in bypass by default when you first open the template.

Yep, the default is 'nothing happens'.

[keco9323]

The ds1 is amazing. Get rid of everything else and you’ll be in a better spot. It’s a weird compressor and it takes a minute to understand all the parameters but be patient with that one. It’s the best digital compressor I’ve ever used. If its too hard just use the mastering maximizer. Most of your plugins are buzz plugins. If your music isn’t sounding right its likely a production thing over a mastering thing.

[SafeandSound Mastering]

I see you have almost every plug in ever created in your .pdf list which must have cost a fortune. We assume you have spent a very large sum of money on software and seem not to know what to do with it all.

I am going to read between the lines a little.

Do yourself a huge favour, get a professional mastering engineer with plenty of experience, exceptional monitoring and years and years of listening experience who is willing to provide a mix appraisal/feedback before mastering your track.

Many people do not need or wish for that but for those who do, it is invaluable assuming it is not a total mess and beyond the scope of feedback.

It will be the best money you have ever spent in terms of what you will learn and the end result.

Individual tool choice can really add a special edge to an engineer's work as their choice relates to being able to discern the cream of the crop. Often the tools used are chosen for a secondary, complementary/euphonic character beyond the primary remedial use, which might be EQ, compression etc.

The lion's share of mastering work is in response to detailed (and also broad) listening on a superb full range playback system. This informs as to what is done and what is not done, which are both as important as each other.

Seasons greetings to all !

[tea for two]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FVxFiX ... sp=sharing

Alright, so this is a PDF listing my entire plugin database.

Just now took a brief look see at this list. Apologies I chortled. Could easily take years to properly audition compare each plugin changing parameters in plugins to hear what they are doing : I'm not even sure this could be done before our ears brain gives out.

As suggested above in the various posts : would be the way to go.

As you have invested £$Tousands upon hardware software gear, see hear how you get on with just a couple Passive EQ, a single Compressor, a single Vitalizer as it were in your mastering chain. Goes without saying getting the mix as best as you can before adding any of these to the completed mix.