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RealBand
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I have a bunch of songs that I want to put on a CD and was looking for some tips on making it a cohesive package using RealBand i.e. Limiting,EQ and Compression as a whole.
I realize the best move would be to have it professionally mastered but I cant afford it. I figure I can at least get close
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RealBand
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I've used Sonic Foundry, now Sony, EFX 2 for mastering. Has all the tools and is still considered top tool. Not expensive. I paid $100.00 think it's cheaper now.
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RealBand
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Another option is to purchase Tracktion 2 or Tracktion 3. Tracktion 2 can be found at various places for $29 and includes Acuma Final Mix plugin which is a mastering suite comprised of the following signal chain: 6 band parametric EQ--> 3 band dynamics processor-->6 band parametric EQ-->Limiter/soft limiter Now, you could probably construct a signal chain like that on your own. What makes the package shine is the plethora of presets for this chain for various music styles that can be auditioned with the click of a mouse. Oh - you'll get a top notch sequencing/recording/editing package (Tracktion) as a bonus! If you buy FinalMix for Mackie's digital mixers, the plugin alone costs $399. Details about the plugin are included here: http://my.mackie.com/store2/p.asp?p=fm-Scott
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Download the classics plugins here and it should give you along with what comes in RB to do a decent job. http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.phpJust remember that mastering is about getting a plished product and has to do with even levels. A lot of hard work and you can get it done. Also i suggest getting Goldwave a freebie wave editor and maybe use it as a final overall mastering suite.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
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You may also want to check out our very own "Rharv's" website: http://www.masteringmatters.com/ Mastering Matters Rharv posts here daily. --Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
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Thanks for the plug, Mac
We really are not expensive for the time and care we put in. Our referrals page attests to that.
I wish I was farther along with the musicmasering.org project, as it would likely be a help for people in this situation. Glad to say that it is back underway, and a few mastering engineers have volunteered to contribute. (Hopefully they follow through)
For doing it on your own, there are many tools out there.
It's not about which brand of tools to use, it's about using your ears and trying a variety of different approaches.
The Classic plugin line is, for free, a very capable set. The master limiter adds a little more body than wanted sometimes, other times it works a treat.
PG Realtime FX are very capable too. There is the PGPeakLimit (brick wall limiter) and the PGDynamcs (compressor/expander combo) and the ten band EQ.
The A0 parametric EQ is a very servicable multiband parametric EQ for free also.
Try them out, and have fun with it.
As for buying something to use... I'm really starting to like the way the new Izotope Ozone works; lots of control once you start deciphering the inner workings. But of course it costs a little more than the others.
To this day I resist buying anything Sony, probably to my detriment, but I just won't send my money their way after the rootkit fiasco.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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RealBand
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Joined: Apr 2008
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OP
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Thanks y'all, I have the WAVES Plug ins which are sweet and I've been mixing in Reaper too, I was looking for something to do the final mastering with cross fades,dithering and the ability to save to Red Book format
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
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Redbook is a CD spec and not a format.
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Newbie
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A mastering studio called The Cutting Suite is based in the UK. They master tracks for 10 pounds each, which is about $20. All you have to do is send your track to them via the internet, their engineer will master the track, and then send it back to you the same way; as this is all done online, they can master tracks for anyone in the world! Even though their cost is cheap, they offer the exact same services as mastering studios who charge over $160 per track; they just believe in not ripping off their customers and merely providing them with an excellent service and amazing results. The Cutting Suite has mastered tracks for artists like Jamiroquai, Justin Timberlake, Black Eyed Peas, Destiny's Child, etc, therefore they must offer a pretty good service! Check out their website for more info: www.thecuttingsuite.com
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They? Don't you mean WE!
Hey it's okay to promote just be up front about it.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Would I be correct in understanding that RTs are already mastered? My opinion is that the only thing that can be done with them is balance (L-R) and volume. So, if a finished track is an instrumental and all RTs, then once they have been positioned on the sound stage, that's it.
Of course, MIDI tracks and other audio tracks recorded dry still need to be mastered at the end of the day
PS @ 'The Cutting Suite' - I agree with Robh. In any case, welcome to the forum
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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RealBand
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Quote:
Would I be correct in understanding that RTs are already mastered?
They are not Mastered in the common definition of the word at all. They can't be.
Mastering would involve the massaging of *combined* and *mixed down* tracks. Mastering is therefore done to the almost-finished stereo soundfile.
RealTracks are lightly "massaged" in many cases though, that addition of a small amount of reverb, for example.
They are not "dry" tracks.
--Mac
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Sorry, Mac. I am not quite sure I understand what you have written. I know RTs are not 'dry' and already have reverb but they are pre-mastered are they not? Or am I really getting confused now? 
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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RealBand
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Sam,
As I understand and what I think Mac is saying that Mastering is done to the finished mixed downed tracks as a whole (effects added or taken away from your finished mixdowned song) and not to individual tracks, what you are suggesting.
Paddy
Paddy McGurk,
Liverpool,
Don't mention the Beatles!!
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Quote:
Sam,
As I understand and what I think Mac is saying that Mastering is done to the finished mixed downed tracks as a whole (effects added or taken away from your finished mixdowned song) and not to individual tracks, what you are suggesting.
Paddy
Effects should never be part of the Mastering process.
The whole point of Mastering is to take what the mixdown engineer or artist did and simply make it compliant with various engineering and "musical" aspects, hopefully changing nothing about the various effects that the artist may or may not have used in the mixdown process.
Tools typically used in Mastering consist of EQ and Compression techniques, often using the MultiBand Compressor, which in effect is a combination of the two. There are various differing ways and methods of accomplishing this.
--Mac
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RealBand
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So, a song comprised purely of RTs still needs Mastering?
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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RealBand
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Expert
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Expert
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Gotta agree with Rob, it's sorta odd to see a first post from someone promoting a company's services.
Hmmmmm.
BTW, welcome to the forum, if you are actually here to participate.
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RealBand
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Thanks for clearing that up for me as well Mac.
So what you're saying is in Mastering an engineer would never add a little reverb (if he felt it was needed) to the mixdowned track?
Paddy
Last edited by pwhack; 08/28/09 07:00 AM.
Paddy McGurk,
Liverpool,
Don't mention the Beatles!!
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Quote:
So what you're saying is in Mastering an engineer would never add a little reverb (if he felt it was needed) to the mixdowned track?
Paddy
Well, in the best-case scenario, yes.
However, if the tracks are dry or otherwise exhibit a "wrong" sounding ambience, perhaps that would be an exception to a general rule.
Here's the thing about Mastering that many don't really want to get: Each new song is a new Mastering project that must be taken on its own merit or lack thereof, problems identified, problems solved. There isn't a pat formula for this one, no matter what somebody tells or sells. Not if it is done right, anyway.
--Mac
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RealBand
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Thanks Mac 
Paddy McGurk,
Liverpool,
Don't mention the Beatles!!
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
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Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
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Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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