I use the iZotope Ozone standalone app, so I have the Ozone EQ, Dynamics, Imager and Maximizer on the output. I use Voxengo Span after dynamics to balance the bands to form a flatter EQ line or to check if something doesn’t jump too much out of balance.

Generally I'll use cytomic the glue, logic's linear phase eq or ozone's eq to cut out uneeded frequencies, ozone maximizer, and sometimes oxford limiter. Mastering's probably my weakest skill though so I'm really interested to learn about other's chains.

ily sir

My mastering chain... Stereo imager > (Sausage fattener) > Limiter. thats all haha.

• Ozone 5 Dynamics - multi-band gating
• Ozone 7 Dynamic EQ - typically boosting highs in the sides and lows in the mids about 1dB each along with an optional muddy-frequency cut a few dB (2-3 around 200-300).
• Ozone 7 Dynamics - multi-band compression
• Ozone 5 EQ - I use the matching function AFTER LIMITING to get a better representation of the necessary boosts and cuts, then move this EQ back before the limiter so it doesn't interfere with the limiting process
• Ozone 7 Maximizer - The new IRC IV is a very strong limiter in my opinion. The transparency is almost unmatched and the maximizer allows for stereo unlinking (which I'll turn up a bit) and transient focus (which I also turn up a bit). I've preferred the "Transient" setting under the IRC IV drop-down menu but I try them all to see if another one is worth using for the track.
• K-Clip (Optional) - If I feel just a bit more volume would help push my track to its fullest, I'd probably go with KClip. I bought it after hearing about it for the first time on the r/edmproduction subreddit and I must say I'm certainly impressed. Definitely worth the $10.

I hope that helps some of you out! I know it sounds like a lot of stuff but they are all minimal changes that help group my track together. No master-channel processing happens before I bounce my track so I feel all of these little things really pull my tracks together

Quote from: psychictype on January 06, 2016, 07:55:01 am

Pro-Q 2 to cut below 30hz, OTT on 5-10%, Ableton Utility automating the gain here and there to make hype sections hype, and AOM Invisible Limiter.

AOM Invisible Limiter is a godsend. Any particular reason you cut below 30hz though?

most systems can't produce anything 30hz, and most people can't really hear below 30hz either. usually i have my kick and sub tuned higher than that anyway, so the only information i have under 30 is dist artefacting that eats my headroom or gives me DC offset or whatever lol

I leave my Master channel blank until the mastering process begins.  On my chain I have:

Sonnox Oxford Inflator - Sometimes I use this but not always.
Ozone 6 - I use the Dynamic EQ, Dynamics, Stereo Imager Modules (and Exciter sometimes).
Pro Q2 - For extreme subtle EQ'ing as a final touch
A.O.M. Limiter - Pushing the input knob to however much I need. Output stays at digital 0 and the usage of oversampling rate varies.  Sometimes either 2x, 4x, or the full 16x.

1. EQ - Usually Fabfilter Pro-Q in M/S mode

2. Multiband compressor - Usually Waves LinMB

3. "Gel/Glue" compressor - Usually FabFilter Pro-C in M/S mode with a very  low ratio

4. Saturator - I usually browse a few different ones to see which fits best

5. Final EQ - To remove the very highest and lowest freqs and any potential harshness.
Also to subtly automate the high and low freqs and width to add contrast between calm parts and INTENSE parts.

6. Limiter - Usually Fabfilter Pro-L, sometimes Limiter6