Yeah, I think this is the next thing in long line of pro-sumer decisions that have been made in the last decade of updates of Logic and frankly, it is a disservice to the unsuspecting users who just want to sound professional. I appreciate your comment on this - thank you!!
@@GGabrielMusic for sure man. this started way back when apple was pushing garage band for iPhone so hard and you probably remember how our pro community suffered through all that right? i remember then thinking to myself "wow, the only respected guys who will still work are the mastering engineers". I purposefully didn't update to Logic 10.8 because I didn't want more apple "help." it does take years of experience working in radio tv and film to get "the sound" that works in those fields and you've obviously mastered that. I'm happy they didn't name the mastering assistant Kyle, Kayliegh, or Connor like they did with the logic drummers lol.
LOL - you have me cracking up here. So funny, ...'Do you want your track mastered by Dez or Nikki...' too funny man. Thanks for making me laugh out loud and smile for 2 minutes straight....
@@GGabrielMusic yeah man, i remember commenting about "bias" when you were talking about tape machines in another video....always good seeing your content man.
Thanks George. That makes a lot of sense to me. I tried the quick and easy Mastering Assistant on a couple of tracks, but quick and easy very rarely makes it better. I'll stick with your way. Cheers.
This was a great video! I was so excited when Mastering Assistant came out, but I’ve struggled to make it sound good as well. Liked/sub’d/looking forward to diving into your past vids. Keep up the great work!
I've been pleasantly surprised by how well it works. I mix in subgroups as much as possible like you described in your TABS method stuff.Then bounce to 24 88.2 and import that into my mastering template. I have a mastering chain I really love (very similar to yours) that I can also tweak quickly and the mastering assistant isn't as good as that but it's solid IMO.
Thanks! Yeah - I feel it is much better to have control over it all instead of rely on some nebulous plugin that I can only minimally tweak... Thanks for commenting!
Great point! It really is just a reference - but why bother to use a reference when you can do it yourself and hand craft the mastering to the details of your track. Thanks for commenting!
@@GGabrielMusic That’s actually why I’m watching your content. I’d like to know exactly what I’m doing, but I still have things I need to learn and understand
Very helpful. Thanks! Question… what would happen if you didn’t follow your prescribed plug-in chain sequence (multipress, EQ, adaptive limiter). Also I saw someone use the linear phase EQ instead of the channel EQ. What’s the difference when mastering?
Good question - The linear phase EQ is helpful when you are EQ'ing with bigger extremes to preserve phase, in this case the channel EQ is just lightly kissing the track with some pump and air. You could use either but the channel EQ is a little more apparent in what it does. As far as the order of the plugs, that is personal preference. I like to compress first the overall track, then adjust the EQ, then limit because limiting is a top down compressor (it just compresses the peaks) so with that, I don't like to have the compressor and limiter next line to each other. Thanks for your question!!
I agree that you shouldn’t settle for mastering assistant although I gather you don’t have a silicon chip and so miss out on the other MA options. Also I thought the main difference between the 2 outcomes was the brutal high cut on the MA EQ. You could have adjusted that part of the Eq. I would like a better understanding of correct use of multipressors if you can help with that. The other question I have is about mastering in the project vs exporting and mastering the wave file??
I am on a iMac Pro, so you are correct about my chip. But, I have a sneaking suspicion that the two other options would provide more of the same. I know you can adjust with the 3 band EQ, but it would be much better if they put edit points on their EQ curve and you could manually adjust the whole thing. Just adding a high or low shelf really doesn't do the trick. I always master directly in the project - Reason is, once I put the mastering chain in, if I need to adjust the compression or EQ on the bus or even track tweaks can be done to overall improve the final output. You don't have that luxury if you are just masting a single stereo file. As far as the multi-pressor - perhaps I should just do a video on that?? Anyway - thanks so much for commenting!!
This is great if you know what you're doing, but for most of us mere mortals who are not sure what is going to make something sound better, whether it's a compressor or an EQ, it's just watching someone messing around with a track!
Yeah - such is the composer / engineering life. Mess with stuff until it sounds good, learn by your mistakes, try again, fail again, learn by your mistakes, repeat... There is a time however when everything just clicks and you level up. But it is like those annoying apps when you keep leveling up, but there is no end to the levels...😂
@GGabrielMusic I was trying to figure out how to get "wider" and some "vocal doubler" but I ended up figuring it out just had to re start my computer and check the plug in manager 👍 thanks for the response though ! Can't wait 4 your next video 💯
@@loonymatikk Check out Logic's sample delay plug in. Just delay one side by a couple of hundred samples and you'll get a widening effect. Let me know what you think after trying it.
Honestly, they both sound good. but, it helps the 1k drop which sounds over saturated in the vocals. you could also change the clean to punch and other settings. plus it sounds better with it on compaired to the pre master at least on my DSP here in my studio when listening to your video. Nice video explaining how to master in other ways too. which takes a good ear.
Thanks for commenting! Yeah - it definitely takes a good ear which takes time to develop. I think part of the problem is, people first need to be trained in what sonic excellence is in recordings. The newer generation has been spoon-fed over-modulated and loudness-saturated music, and that has become their norm. Listen to an Earth Wind and Fire song like 'September' and then you get to hear how amazing those engineers were back in the day to get a sonic clarity you can touch. Anyway, thanks for weighing in!
Wanna go quick and easy? MA - why not? Pretty good results most of the time. Nice for demos and quick takes. Wanna sound better and make a release? Use multipressor, EQ, limiter, stereo spread, exciter, matching EQ, etc...
I just end up saving a channel strip setting on my stereo out that has my generic mastering chain that can work for quick mixes and demos. In the end, I think that is still faster and yields better results than MA. Maybe I'm old school, but I just want to be able to make the small adjustments on the individual aspects of the chain. I've never been a huge fan of the one-knob plugs that will 'make your mix sound better' LOL.... Thanks for commenting!!
Hmm, gonna try out the strip settings way. Most of the time all I need from quick mastering is multipressor with "smile" settings, simple or matching EQ and a limiter. But I also use spread feature of MA sometimes. Not sure if it is similar to Stereo Spread plugin.
Channel strip setting is the way to go for quick multi-plug chains - I have about a half dozen or so mastering chains for different situations. Also, be careful of using any kind of ‘spread’ plugin - it can increase the chance of phasing and mix imbalance.
Thanks! I know about the song...lol... But no, I do not have an M1 processor but I suspect more of the same. The bottom line is, mastering is not meant to be dealt with via an algorithm or a one-click solution but rather done the tried and true way: carefully discerning each mastering element's effect on enhancing, balancing and maximizing the loudness of the track - that, in a sense, was my greater point of the video. I'll be doing a lot more mixing and mastering videos with other genres in the near future, plus I will be offering to mix and master some subscriber tracks too soon. Stay tuned! Also, thanks for commenting!! :)
The problem I have with all of you guys get on here and try to explain mixing and mastering you doing it with rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal. I need to see how you do it with R&B and soul music when somebody come out would have to mix and master R&B and soul musicgrab them to me then I will subscribe but until then I’m not feeling then y’all guys are saying
I hear you - it just so happens that in the next week I will be mixing and mastering a song in the R&B genre from a former student of mine and releasing it as a video. Also, in the near future I will also be offing to mix and master one of my subscribers tracks too - maybe yours??
i would not recommend using logic in the first place. Reaper is a far more versatile Tool with capabilities that logic isnt even dreaming of.. the workflow is impressive! i would say by a high factor more stable and fluid.. further it handles big projects in a much much better ways. It has customizable actions (literally 1000s of useful things. The ideal tool for creativity and great to show projects to clients. The downside: you have to learn and customize it. Reaper also beats Cubase in nearly any aspect! if you own already good 3rd party plugs you could just moove over.. i found so many missfunctions and stupudly aarranged workflows in logic so i looked for a solution. All my projects now are flowing in a much better, faster and creative way. Logic as for now is pretty outdated. Hey.. dont get ne wrong here. its the man behind the daw what matters... but if you are spending hours and hours on Sessions.. why not have a really good tool?😊
Agreed!! Sometimes the 'new thing' is just another fad - I am always skeptical of the idea of 'this one thing will fix all of your problems' - At the end of the day, we go back to the tried and true methods that have always worked.
Yes - it is not very likable! Wise choice to master using plugs you know best. I use UAD plugs for my mastering (Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor, Brainworx Mix EQ, and Precision Maximizer as my limiter.) In this video I wanted to showcase that stock Logic plugs are a far better path to mastering than the new Mastering Assistant. Thanks for sharing!!
Very helpful. Sometimes I think assistant does a decent job but I prefer your method. Ozone also does a good job in my opinion. I suppose it varies from song to song. Dang, now your song is stuck in my head!
Logic's assistant has a long way to go before it could come close to matching your ears man. Cool video.
Yeah, I think this is the next thing in long line of pro-sumer decisions that have been made in the last decade of updates of Logic and frankly, it is a disservice to the unsuspecting users who just want to sound professional. I appreciate your comment on this - thank you!!
@@GGabrielMusic for sure man. this started way back when apple was pushing garage band for iPhone so hard and you probably remember how our pro community suffered through all that right? i remember then thinking to myself "wow, the only respected guys who will still work are the mastering engineers". I purposefully didn't update to Logic 10.8 because I didn't want more apple "help." it does take years of experience working in radio tv and film to get "the sound" that works in those fields and you've obviously mastered that. I'm happy they didn't name the mastering assistant Kyle, Kayliegh, or Connor like they did with the logic drummers lol.
LOL - you have me cracking up here. So funny, ...'Do you want your track mastered by Dez or Nikki...' too funny man. Thanks for making me laugh out loud and smile for 2 minutes straight....
@@GGabrielMusic yeah man, i remember commenting about "bias" when you were talking about tape machines in another video....always good seeing your content man.
Thanks George. That makes a lot of sense to me. I tried the quick and easy Mastering Assistant on a couple of tracks, but quick and easy very rarely makes it better. I'll stick with your way. Cheers.
I use it (assistant) all the time now. You can also adjust the mastering assistants eq very handy, great tune, great playing on those tracks :)
Thanks!!
Great guidance.Thank you !
You're most welcome!
Great advice dude! Love this.
Thanks man!
This was a great video! I was so excited when Mastering Assistant came out, but I’ve struggled to make it sound good as well. Liked/sub’d/looking forward to diving into your past vids. Keep up the great work!
Thanks!! Glad you are liked the video (and understand your sentiments about the MA not being all that great!) Lots more to come!
More great tips, again. Thanks, I'll give it a go!
Do it! I think you'll be happier in the end!
Great Video Cheers
Thanks 👍
I think you are right. Thanks for the awesomely amazing breakdown. 💯%.
Thank you!! Appreciate you weighing in!
Agree Absolutely...... AI simply not a pair of ears.... We simply can`t replace them... Great video !!!
Exactly! AI - shmay-I... Thank you for commenting!
I've been pleasantly surprised by how well it works. I mix in subgroups as much as possible like you described in your TABS method stuff.Then bounce to 24 88.2 and import that into my mastering template. I have a mastering chain I really love (very similar to yours) that I can also tweak quickly and the mastering assistant isn't as good as that but it's solid IMO.
Sounds like you have a good method! Thanks for weighing in!
You're mastering sounded much clearer. Liked!
Thanks! Yeah - I feel it is much better to have control over it all instead of rely on some nebulous plugin that I can only minimally tweak... Thanks for commenting!
I think Mastering Assistant is helpful as a reference, but your mastering is clearly better.
Great point! It really is just a reference - but why bother to use a reference when you can do it yourself and hand craft the mastering to the details of your track. Thanks for commenting!
@@GGabrielMusic That’s actually why I’m watching your content. I’d like to know exactly what I’m doing, but I still have things I need to learn and understand
Thank you for sharing. You do a great job!
The mastering plugin also sounds a bit dull in the end.
Thanks!! Yeah - dull is a good description. I agree! Thanks for commenting!
Good video, but the "Custom EQ" button enables you to make changes to the suggested EQ - not a bypass.
Yes, thank you for clarifying - I misspoke. Appreciate the clarification!
Very helpful. Thanks! Question… what would happen if you didn’t follow your prescribed plug-in chain sequence (multipress, EQ, adaptive limiter). Also I saw someone use the linear phase EQ instead of the channel EQ. What’s the difference when mastering?
Good question - The linear phase EQ is helpful when you are EQ'ing with bigger extremes to preserve phase, in this case the channel EQ is just lightly kissing the track with some pump and air. You could use either but the channel EQ is a little more apparent in what it does.
As far as the order of the plugs, that is personal preference. I like to compress first the overall track, then adjust the EQ, then limit because limiting is a top down compressor (it just compresses the peaks) so with that, I don't like to have the compressor and limiter next line to each other.
Thanks for your question!!
I agree that you shouldn’t settle for mastering assistant although I gather you don’t have a silicon chip and so miss out on the other MA options. Also I thought the main difference between the 2 outcomes was the brutal high cut on the MA EQ. You could have adjusted that part of the Eq. I would like a better understanding of correct use of multipressors if you can help with that. The other question I have is about mastering in the project vs exporting and mastering the wave file??
I am on a iMac Pro, so you are correct about my chip. But, I have a sneaking suspicion that the two other options would provide more of the same. I know you can adjust with the 3 band EQ, but it would be much better if they put edit points on their EQ curve and you could manually adjust the whole thing. Just adding a high or low shelf really doesn't do the trick.
I always master directly in the project - Reason is, once I put the mastering chain in, if I need to adjust the compression or EQ on the bus or even track tweaks can be done to overall improve the final output. You don't have that luxury if you are just masting a single stereo file.
As far as the multi-pressor - perhaps I should just do a video on that??
Anyway - thanks so much for commenting!!
This is great if you know what you're doing, but for most of us mere mortals who are not sure what is going to make something sound better, whether it's a compressor or an EQ, it's just watching someone messing around with a track!
Yeah - such is the composer / engineering life. Mess with stuff until it sounds good, learn by your mistakes, try again, fail again, learn by your mistakes, repeat... There is a time however when everything just clicks and you level up. But it is like those annoying apps when you keep leveling up, but there is no end to the levels...😂
Can you make one on how to download and install plug ins on logic , I can't find any videos on it
I sure can - what are you trying to install? Give me some more info....
@GGabrielMusic I was trying to figure out how to get "wider" and some "vocal doubler" but I ended up figuring it out just had to re start my computer and check the plug in manager 👍 thanks for the response though ! Can't wait 4 your next video 💯
@@loonymatikk Check out Logic's sample delay plug in. Just delay one side by a couple of hundred samples and you'll get a widening effect. Let me know what you think after trying it.
@@GGabrielMusic I will try that out tonight! Appreciate the response 💪
Honestly, they both sound good. but, it helps the 1k drop which sounds over saturated in the vocals. you could also change the clean to punch and other settings. plus it sounds better with it on compaired to the pre master at least on my DSP here in my studio when listening to your video. Nice video explaining how to master in other ways too. which takes a good ear.
Thanks for commenting! Yeah - it definitely takes a good ear which takes time to develop. I think part of the problem is, people first need to be trained in what sonic excellence is in recordings. The newer generation has been spoon-fed over-modulated and loudness-saturated music, and that has become their norm. Listen to an Earth Wind and Fire song like 'September' and then you get to hear how amazing those engineers were back in the day to get a sonic clarity you can touch. Anyway, thanks for weighing in!
@@GGabrielMusic that's an amazing song for sure vocals on that are crystal clean drums sound crisp as well as the shaker. very rich song indeed.
My new mastering technique 🔥🔥
Excellent! You'll be doing yourself a far better service with all the controls in YOUR hands! Thanks for commenting!
Wanna go quick and easy? MA - why not? Pretty good results most of the time. Nice for demos and quick takes.
Wanna sound better and make a release? Use multipressor, EQ, limiter, stereo spread, exciter, matching EQ, etc...
I just end up saving a channel strip setting on my stereo out that has my generic mastering chain that can work for quick mixes and demos. In the end, I think that is still faster and yields better results than MA. Maybe I'm old school, but I just want to be able to make the small adjustments on the individual aspects of the chain. I've never been a huge fan of the one-knob plugs that will 'make your mix sound better' LOL.... Thanks for commenting!!
Hmm, gonna try out the strip settings way. Most of the time all I need from quick mastering is multipressor with "smile" settings, simple or matching EQ and a limiter. But I also use spread feature of MA sometimes. Not sure if it is similar to Stereo Spread plugin.
Channel strip setting is the way to go for quick multi-plug chains - I have about a half dozen or so mastering chains for different situations.
Also, be careful of using any kind of ‘spread’ plugin - it can increase the chance of phasing and mix imbalance.
did I notice you going through the general punch, transparent, etc settings?
This was a thoughtful video. But the song was a bit hard to stay with.
Thanks! I know about the song...lol... But no, I do not have an M1 processor but I suspect more of the same. The bottom line is, mastering is not meant to be dealt with via an algorithm or a one-click solution but rather done the tried and true way: carefully discerning each mastering element's effect on enhancing, balancing and maximizing the loudness of the track - that, in a sense, was my greater point of the video.
I'll be doing a lot more mixing and mastering videos with other genres in the near future, plus I will be offering to mix and master some subscriber tracks too soon. Stay tuned! Also, thanks for commenting!! :)
The problem I have with all of you guys get on here and try to explain mixing and mastering you doing it with rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal. I need to see how you do it with R&B and soul music when somebody come out would have to mix and master R&B and soul musicgrab them to me then I will subscribe but until then I’m not feeling then y’all guys are saying
I hear you - it just so happens that in the next week I will be mixing and mastering a song in the R&B genre from a former student of mine and releasing it as a video. Also, in the near future I will also be offing to mix and master one of my subscribers tracks too - maybe yours??
It reminds me of sitcom theme songs❤
Yeah - it does have that kinda vibe huh? I think that was the idea when were wrote the track. Thanks for commenting!
With MA sound better ;)
Ha! I guess is depends on what you're looking for.... Thanks for commenting!
i would not recommend using logic in the first place. Reaper is a far more versatile Tool with capabilities that logic isnt even dreaming of.. the workflow is impressive! i would say by a high factor more stable and fluid.. further it handles big projects in a much much better ways. It has customizable actions (literally 1000s of useful things. The ideal tool for creativity and great to show projects to clients. The downside: you have to learn and customize it. Reaper also beats Cubase in nearly any aspect! if you own already good 3rd party plugs you could just moove over.. i found so many missfunctions and stupudly aarranged workflows in logic so i looked for a solution. All my projects now are flowing in a much better, faster and creative way. Logic as for now is pretty outdated. Hey.. dont get ne wrong here. its the man behind the daw what matters... but if you are spending hours and hours on Sessions.. why not have a really good tool?😊
I hear you. Reaper is like the best open source DAW - but you kinda need to have a programmers mind for that - it’s not for the masses
To be honest I think it's the kings new clothes. year ago hardly anything like this existed and it sounded better without fuss
Agreed!! Sometimes the 'new thing' is just another fad - I am always skeptical of the idea of 'this one thing will fix all of your problems' - At the end of the day, we go back to the tried and true methods that have always worked.
I don't use Mastering assistant ...I don't like it !I make my own master with ADAPTR Metric A/B ...& the plugins !
Yes - it is not very likable! Wise choice to master using plugs you know best. I use UAD plugs for my mastering (Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor, Brainworx Mix EQ, and Precision Maximizer as my limiter.) In this video I wanted to showcase that stock Logic plugs are a far better path to mastering than the new Mastering Assistant. Thanks for sharing!!
Very helpful. Sometimes I think assistant does a decent job but I prefer your method. Ozone also does a good job in my opinion. I suppose it varies from song to song. Dang, now your song is stuck in my head!
Anyone decent at making music is not going to use any of the Logic assistants or AI BS
Amen, amen! AI is all over Logic Pro 11 - it's now turned into GarageBand Ultra....Oy!!