[LAU] Top DSP plugins?

[Ricardus Vincente]

On Wed, 2011-10-19 at 21:02 -0400, Al Thompson wrote:

> This whole "mastering plugin" thing is something I really fail to grasp
> from a logical, technical, and artistic viewpoint.  In years past, the
> recording engineer, under direction of a producer (who may or may not
> have been the artist), mixed the track to sound how they wanted it.  The
> record company then sent the half-track master to a "mastering engineer"
> who made sure it was technically acceptable to be cut on a lacquer and
> would play on a typical turntable.  He also made SLIGHT EQ adjustments,
> based on his trained ears, highly-specialized equipment, and experience.

 And it still is. Nothing has changed just because the industry is more
digital now.

> Alas, along came computers. Along came someone with the bright idea of
> totally automating what it was that the mastering engineer did. 

 When I master I use a variety of tools, including jamin, but i don't
use one setting, and I don't know any credible mastering engineer who
does use some automated setting. That's just crazy.

 Jamin has a multi-band compressor, and a high resolution EQ in it (as
well as a limiter and the ability to add harmonics) which can be found
as separate tools in an analog mastering rack.

 No difference.

 Rich...