"For mastering, which plugin should I actually buy?"
When I started home recording, I stalled there too.
What I use now is T-RackS 5.
It came in the same bundle as TONEX and AmpliTube 5 MAX.
This one plugin completes my mastering.
What Is T-RackS 5? The Mastering Tool in Total Studio 4 MAX
T-RackS 5 is IK Multimedia's plugin for mixing and mastering.
You line up processors such as EQ, compressor, reverb and saturator, like in a rack.
You can buy it on its own.
But what I own is one piece inside a bundle called Total Studio 4 MAX.
It is in the same package as TONEX, AmpliTube 5 MAX and MODO DRUM.
| Editions | Standard (9 processors) / Deluxe (22 processors) / MAX (38 processors) |
| Chain layout | Up to 16 processors per chain. Supports series and parallel. Master Match is always placed at the end |
| Formats | VST2 / VST3 / AU / AAX / standalone |
| Export formats | WAV / AIFF / FLAC / DDP image |
I have the MAX edition, so all 38 processors are available from the start.
The point is that you don't need to gather EQ, compressor and reverb as separate plugins. You can build the whole mastering chain inside one.
Incidentally, AmpliTube 5 MAX's internal effects have the same origin.
It contains 23 processors derived from T-RackS 5.
It is quietly handy that you can use the same texture of processing on the guitar side and the mastering side.
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Total Studio 5 MAX V2 Explained: What Changed from 4 MAX, MAXgrade and Prices
"What actually changed in Total Studio 5 MAX V2? If I already own 4 MAX, should I upgrade?" If you use IK's bundles, you've probably wondered about this at least once. What you'll learn in this article What's in Total Studio 5 MAX V2 (the headliners: TONEX, AmpliTube, MODO DRUM) What changed from 4 MAX Standard vs. upgrade vs. MAXgrade, and prices Whether 4 MAX owners should upgrade The Short Answer: 4 MAX Owners Don't Need to Rush TONEX, AmpliTube and MODO DRUM, the core of a home-recording guitarist's setup, are already in 4 MAX. So if you own 4 ...
What's Included | EQ, Compressors and Reverbs All Ready from the Start
The 38 processors in the MAX edition fall roughly into EQ, dynamics, time-based and other.
| EQ | 12 types (EQual, Linear Phase EQ, British Channel, White Channel, EQ-73, EQ-81 and more) |
| Dynamics | 14 types (Dyna-Mu, VC-670, White 2A, Multiband Limiter and more) |
| Reverb | 4 types (Hall, Plate, Room, Inverse) |
| Other | ONE (all-in-one), Saturator X, Master Match and more |
The one I use most is Dyna-Mu, the tube-style compressor.
The other is Master Match, the limiter.
Master Match is a dedicated processor for bringing the tone and level closer to a reference song.
It is always placed at the very end of the chain as a fixed slot.
For reverb, there is also a module called "The Farm Stone Room."
It is a reverb that recreates the room sound of Genesis's studio, strong for drum recording.
I put it on a bass track and use it with Mono Crush to add a slightly crushed texture.
In addition to the 4 basic types, distinctive reverbs like this are provided too.
The Steps I Actually Use for Mastering
What I do in T-RackS 5 isn't a very elaborate procedure.
First, I balance the low and high ends with EQ.
Next, I pull the grain of the whole song together with a compressor.
Finally, I bring the level and tone closer to a reference song with Master Match.
T-RackS 5's greatest strength is that it completes the mastering process in one plugin. You don't have to launch EQ, compressor and limiter separately, and CPU load stays low.
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How to Master Your Songs at Home (Beginner's Guide) | Steps, Cautions and Recommended Tools
What Is Mastering? The Final Finishing Step of Home RecordingMastering is the work of finishing a song after the mix is done into a "finished product." You even out the volume. You also even out the tonal balance. You get it to a state where it doesn't feel off when heard on streaming or CD. In home recording, many people run out of energy at the mix. But if you skip mastering, the sound seems small. When you upload to a streaming service, it has less punch than other songs. What to Do Before MasteringBefore mastering, review your mix. If ...
You Can Also Use It as a Bus Processor in Mixing
T-RackS 5 isn't only for mastering.
You can also insert it on the drum bus or guitar bus and use it as a gluing EQ and compressor.
I often put EQual and a light compressor on the drum bus.
You get a sense of cohesion that individual tracks can't fully give.
I sometimes insert EQual on a single guitar track too.
It is a way of using it after a sound made in AmpliTube, to fine-tune the bands I'm after.
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Best Plugins for Mixing Drums | A Complete 3-Layer Guide for Home-Recording Band Players
Drum mixes just aren't working. I'm sure many home-recording band players feel that way. The cause is often not thinking of plugin roles separately. This article explains drum mixing in 3 layers. I'm ryo, 13 years of guitar and 8 years of DTM, and I put this together based on the plugins I actually use. Think of Drum Mixing in 3 Layers: "Source, Processing, Character" First, the big picture. Drum plugins split into three by role. LayerRoleExamples 1. SourcePlays the drum sound itselfMODO DRUM / BFD3 2. ProcessingShapes it with EQ and compressionT-RackS 5 / DAW stock 3. CharacterAdds air ...
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Complete Guide to Mixing Guitar | The Order of EQ, Compression and Time-Based Effects
"I recorded it, but my guitar sounds kind of scattered..." After you record guitar at home, the wall you always hit is mixing. In fact, guitar mixing comes together all at once once you know the order of processing. In this article, I'm ryo, with 13 years on guitar and 8 years of home recording. The topic is the order in which to apply EQ, compression and time-based effects, plus tips for the settings. I explain how to mix a whole band (drums and bass included) in this article. Guitar Mixing Basics | The Order of Effects First, the conclusion. ...
T-RackS 5 vs T-RackS 6 | What to Watch for When Buying
This is a part I want to be honest about.
What I use now is T-RackS 5 (MAX edition, 38 processors).
What Plugin Boutique currently sells on its own is T-RackS 6 MAX.
T-RackS keeps getting new versions within IK Multimedia: T-RackS 5, then T-RackS 5 MAX, then T-RackS 6 MAX. The current Total Studio 5 MAX has been updated to V2. It includes T-RackS 6 MAX, and the number of processors has expanded to more than 60. It's worth knowing that what's included changes depending on when you buy.
If you buy a bundle or the standalone now, it will basically be T-RackS 6 MAX.
With more processors, it can be called a superset in features.
What Bothered Me and Who It Isn't For
It isn't all good, so I'll write what bothered me too.
Not for everyone
With 38 types, it's easy to be unsure which to use at first / the UI has a retro design styled after real hardware, which may look dated to people used to flat, modern plugins / it doesn't include dedicated widening processing such as a stereo imager
At first, "just touch ONE for now" is enough, I think.
Once you're used to it, I recommend rearranging EQs and compressors individually.
Price and How to Buy
New sales of standalone T-RackS 5 have ended.
If you get it now, the target is its successor, T-RackS 6.
You either buy it on its own or get it through a bundle such as Total Studio 5 MAX.
*Prices and contents change with timing. Always check the latest information on the product page before you buy.
About Total Studio 5 MAX
"Total Studio 5 MAX" includes T-RackS for mastering. Prices and sale details change, so always check the product page before you buy.
Check out Total Studio 5 MAX now
If you only want T-RackS on its own, take a look at this too.
See T-RackS 6 MAX at Plugin Boutique
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TONEX MAX Review | An Honest Take, Plus How It Differs from SE, Standard and the Free CS
"Aren't all amp simulators basically the same?" Honestly, I used to think so too. But after I started using TONEX MAX, that idea was completely turned upside down. In this article, I'll share my honest impressions after using TONEX MAX heavily for home guitar recording over the years. The short version: it is my favorite guitar plugin right now. What you'll learn in this article Why TONEX MAX has an "air" that others don't My honest impressions from using it in home recording What kind of guitarist it suits What Is TONEX MAX? The Basics, Quickly TONEX MAX is software ...
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AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 Review | Is It Enough for Band Home Recording? Differences from Free, SE and Standard
AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 in Three Lines AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 is the top edition of the guitar/bass amp simulator. It is a plugin IK Multimedia has developed for more than 20 years. It puts 435 gear models in one plugin. It includes officially licensed Fender, Mesa/Boogie and Marshall-type models. There are two biggest additions in v2. One is integration with the company's "TONEX," which brings in sound with AI machine modeling. The other is integration of "ToneNET," the preset sharing platform. AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 vs the Free CS, SE and Standard AmpliTube 5 comes in four grades. The ...
Who I Recommend It To | Summary
Recommended for
- You're unsure which plugins to gather first for mastering
- You want to consolidate your setup with TONEX and AmpliTube 5 MAX
- You want to finish EQ, compressor and limiter in one plugin
- You want to reuse it for drum and guitar bus processing too
T-RackS 5 was a good enough "first plugin" for mastering.
It is not a tool for fussing over fine details, but a tool for finishing a track by the shortest route, I feel.
I explain the basic way of thinking about mastering here too.
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Mixing Basics | Putting Together Two Guitars, Bass, Drums and Vocals
What Is Mixing? Why Is It Needed?If you stack recorded sounds as they are, problems like these happen. The guitar is too loud and you can't hear the bass The whole thing is "muddy" and doesn't cut through Only the drums sound like they're floating You don't need to overthink it. Once you have the basics, it comes together well. The Basic Mixing Steps | Follow This Order and You Won't Get Lost The steps are simple. First, turn off EQ and compression on all tracks. Build a balance that works with raw volume alone. Spread the instruments left and ...
