Logic Studio mastering plugins vs Ozone

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Level 1

19 points

Logic Studio mastering plugins vs Ozone

What has been everyone's experience with Logic Studio's built-in mastering plugins? Are they good quality or do I still need to buy better plugins such as Ozone?

I have Logic Express currently, and I did an A/B test with its chain of plugins (EQ -> Preset Multipressor -> Exciter -> Stereo Spread -> Limiter) with an older file of mine that was mastered with Ozone, and dialed in a sound that came pretty darn close to the Ozone.

As I understand the full Logic Studio comes with a better Multipressor and Adaptive Limiter which may get me all the way. It will be $300 to upgrade from Express to Studio, and I want to avoid putting another $200 on top of that for Ozone.

Message was edited by: nigelkay

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Dec 1, 2008 5:16 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 1, 2008 6:06 AM in response to nigelkay

I went for Ozone a while ago and it definitely beats some of Logic's plugs. Especially the Limiter /Maximizer in Ozone 3 has much faster/more precise attack times and keeps the transients beautifully alive. The Multipressor is also great and the Exciter sounds darn good with three different modes: tape/retro and tube. The stereo widener really spreads out the sound yielding very nice and transparent results.
The only problem is the non functional Plug In delay compensation with Logic and Ozone 3, check the thread I started a while ago, where I made some tests concerning the PDC issue.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1730837&tstart=0

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Answer 2

nigelkay Author

Level 1

19 points

Dec 1, 2008 7:39 AM in response to Sampleconstruct

Thanks for the reply, I am well aware of how great Ozone is, I used it on a project a few years using a friend's Windows-based ProTools system.

I'm just less-familiar with the plug-ins that come with Logic Studio. I've heard a lot of great reviews with people saying you don't need to spend a lot of extra $$$ on more 3rd party plug-ins, since the ones that come with Logic are really good. (Maybe not Waves or Ozone quality, but good none the less).

So if I can get good quality sound from Logic alone, it would justify the $300 upgrade (not to mention all the sound libraries and extras beyond what I got in Logic Express). But if I still have to spend another $200 on Ozone, I might as well stick with Express and get Ozone instead.

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Answer 3

Dec 1, 2008 8:37 AM in response to nigelkay

Well, I think Express doesn't have Space Designer nor Sculpture (both are exceptional Plugs) - correct me if I'm wrong. Everything else is the same isn't it? Do you need those Plugs? If yes go for Logic Pro and buy Ozone 3 later. You can get good results with Logic's mastering plugs but as I said, Ozone 3 is hard to beat.
It's really a question of what you really need for your music and not if you actually posess all great 3rd party Plug-Ins...

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Answer 4

Dec 1, 2008 10:45 AM in response to Sampleconstruct

Aside from the extra plug-ins, +Logic Studio+ comes with complementary apps such as WaveBurner, Soundtrack Pro, and Compressor, which by themselves, in my opinion, justify the upgrade cost.

-droo

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Answer 5

Dec 1, 2008 10:56 AM in response to Andrew Tokuda

Absolutely, how could I forget to mention those!

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