User profile for user: GlynC
GlynC Author
User level: Level 1
7 points

Garageband Plugins - Lessons on Mastering

Hi,

Is there anywhere I can get a good run-down of all the AU plugins available in GB '09 and how they work/what they do? Especially when it comes to mastering the final mix.

Some kind of on-line tutorial/cheat sheet?

I want to get my recordings to sound like the commercial songs in my iTunes library.

Thanks,

Glyn

MacBook Pro 2.4GHz C2D, 2GB DDR3, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 8, 2009 3:04 AM

Reply
21 replies
User profile for user: poflynn
poflynn
User level: Level 4
1,303 points

Jun 8, 2009 6:11 AM in response to GlynC

Oh, is that all?

There's a lotta, lotta plug-ins out there. Here's at least an easy start:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/PluginsAUEffects.html

There are written tutorials on that site, but for mastering and stuff... well, start researching and reading and studying now and maybe in several years you'll be able to master like the pros. (I consider myself a rank amateur at best, and I'm really not bad).

Here's a GB AU primer: http://www.macjams.com/article.php?story=20040329063101758&query=aumultibandcomp ressor

Here's something on mixing (non-GB specific): http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/OzoneMasteringGuide.PDF

I like this short piece: http://www.oreillynet.com/xml/blog/2005/11/abeginners_guide_to_mixingin.html

This is not even the tip of a very large iceberg. There are books and web pages galore, both on GB and recording/mixing/mastering in general. Some of the info is even conflicting, as it's really more art than science. (A scientific art). Maybe someone else will post some of their favorite links, etc.

Have fun.
Reply
User profile for user: WarriorAnt
WarriorAnt
User level: Level 4
2,752 points

Jun 8, 2009 4:32 PM in response to GlynC

Ozone 4 has many features and one of them is a compressor found in the Multiband Dynamics section of the plugin.

Ozone 4 Multiband Dynamics
One of most powerful tools in Ozone is the Multiband Dynamics module, which incorporates compression, limiting, expansion and gating. Finely tune the dynamics of your mixes with independent control over up to four frequency bands. And now, with multiband mid/side processing, you have unprecedented control over dynamics in the center and edges of your stereo mix.



Ozone 4 has a nice mastering tutorial. I'm not sure if its for the budding amatuer but it certainly couldn't hurt. Once you have it you won't need anything else.
Reply
User profile for user: GlynC
GlynC Author
User level: Level 1
7 points

Jun 9, 2009 3:03 AM in response to WarriorAnt

Hi,

Thanks for the info. I'm holding off buying the Ozone 4 package until I've done some recordings with my band.

I need to decide whether I'm happy with GB '09 or whether I'll want to 'upgrade' to LE8. At the moment, the only reason I would upgrade is for LE8's support for 96kHz sampling to suit my Firebox (GB '09 does not support 96kHz). But at the moment the £130 or so is not worth it for this feature alone. When I'm regularly recording with my band I'll know if GB '09 is stable and flexible enough for what we need. Then when it comes to mastering our work, I'll look at the Ozone 4 Plug in.

I also like the way you can use a reference track to EQ against. Not sure how well this works in real-life but it's an interesting feature that will probably make up for my lack of 'golden ears'.

It certainly seems to be ideal for GB '09 because GB only lets you insert one plug-in on the master track. Most other mastering 'suites' are a collection of plug-ins.

Thanks,

Glyn
Reply
User profile for user: poflynn
poflynn
User level: Level 4
1,303 points

Jun 9, 2009 10:46 AM in response to GlynC

GlynC wrote:
It certainly seems to be ideal for GB '09 because GB only lets you insert one plug-in on the master track. Most other mastering 'suites' are a collection of plug-ins.

I think some people get around this by exporting the nearly finished project to disk, then reimport into a GB track where more plug-ins are available.
Reply
User profile for user: gjmnz
gjmnz
User level: Level 3
858 points

Jun 9, 2009 12:03 PM in response to GlynC

GlynC wrote:
Hi,

Is there anywhere I can get a good run-down of all the AU plugins available in GB '09 and how they work/what they do? Especially when it comes to mastering the final mix.

Some kind of on-line tutorial/cheat sheet?


I have been looking for a GB specific document as well. What seems to be missing is an overview of somebodies workflow in GB beyond the basics.

Cheers. G.
Reply
User profile for user: HangTime
HangTime
User level: Level 9
53,853 points

Jun 9, 2009 12:14 PM in response to gjmnz

What seems to be missing is an overview of somebodies workflow


i think the problem here is that there really isn't "a" workflow. just like there is no "a good setting", every song requires it's own touch... its own gain settings, EQ (or not), compression (or not), etc

that's where the artform comes in .. listening to each song and realizing what it needs. that's something that's not easy to do via text (and as i've posted many times, it can take years of experience to be good, that's why a good mastering engineer can command hundreds of dollars _per hour_ for their work)

my suggestion: read up on compression, eq, even search for "mixing and mastering". if you can learn the tools, GB itself doesn't really come into the equation, it's just a workbench upon which you can use the tools it provides. learn the tools, don't worry about GB.
Reply
User profile for user: s e e d
s e e d
User level: Level 1
19 points

Jun 12, 2009 10:47 AM in response to HangTime

Yeah, I know that but having used soundforge sonicedit and mostly the waves bundles before I was looking for something a bit more geared toward it. A little more in detail and specialized if you will. Maybe it will take a few more experiments with GB to get used to it. It's really a step down from what I was using but that is what I like about it. Simplified.

With all that said, I assume you create a new project and import the mixed out copy of your song into GB and then master it that way? Is that what you are suggesting? I can't seem to get a nice volume level and it's missing that extra "sparkle" I'm used to.
Reply
User profile for user: HangTime
HangTime
User level: Level 9
53,853 points

Jun 12, 2009 10:59 AM in response to s e e d

With all that said, I assume you create a new project and import the mixed out copy of your song into GB and then master it that way?


that would indeed be the free way to do it. you end up with more than enough effect slots to do pretty much anything (just a limiter and a compressor can add all the sparkle you want {or over-used, of course, 5uck all the life out of a song})
Reply
User profile for user: gjmnz
gjmnz
User level: Level 3
858 points

Jun 12, 2009 2:54 PM in response to HangTime

HangTime wrote:
With all that said, I assume you create a new project and import the mixed out copy of your song into GB and then master it that way?


that would indeed be the free way to do it. you end up with more than enough effect slots to do pretty much anything (just a limiter and a compressor can add all the sparkle you want {or over-used, of course, 5uck all the life out of a song})

This is exactly the point I was trying to make earlier about missing tutorials or documents. Even though there would be many workflows for many users, I have no idea what you just talked about. I would pay money to have a tutorial on how a person approached this part of the recording process. I don't care that it is simply their way of doing it. I just know that if I can see what other do and have it explained, I can take from many sources and create my own system, deciding what is enough or not.
I am not sure what the character of this forum is yet,being quite new, but it would be awesome if there was a place on this board where the die hard GB heads posted there tut's or whatever.

Cheers. G.
Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Garageband Plugins - Lessons on Mastering

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up