I see Mac already pointed out multi-band compression. Not having heard the files yet, but listening to your description of them, that's probably the tool I would head for first as well.

I don't do much in the way of old recording 're-mastering', but I have used a 'mastering' plugin from Mackie called Acuma Final Mix, to take rather dull and lifeless 2 track files recorded off of a live sound console, and really bring them to life coupled with tasteful amounts of reverb added to the output.

Here's what the Final Mix plugin has in it's signal chain in series:

1. 6 band parametric EQ
2. 3 band compression / dynamics section with very flexible controls and x-y readouts per band
3. 6 band parametric EQ
4. Limiter with some controls on how hard the knee is

It also has about 50 application specific presets. The presets are very interesting to study because of their specialized combinations of settings of the above signal chain specific to particular applications. It's very easy to audition them quickly and study how the controls are set and learn some of the skill that Mac has acquired over the years. When I use this plugin now, I don't audition more than a few presets because I know what I'm looking for now, and then I fine tune/tweak those presets from there.

If I can get permission from the band leader of the gig I played in last weekend, I'll post some before/after snippets of what was done to liven up the rather dead sounding off-the board 2 track recording .

The reason I mention this plugin is because it can actually be had quite cheaply complete with the Tracktion DAW software, bundled in with various Mackie small format mixers. For example the Mackie ProFX8 mixer/USB interface for $229 comes bundled with Tracktion 3, which bundles in very nice channel strip plugins as well as this particular plugin. If you may be in the market for a new interface or mixer, this is a nice little throw-in that can help you do do this on your own with very capable tools.

I do think it's wise to heed Mac's advice about knowing when to stop and being realistic about what your goals are for the final product.

I'd take a crack at one of your files if you like, just for the challenge it presents. Send me a PM with a link to one of the source files if you're interested.

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