Sonible SMART:LIMIT | Another NAIL In The Mastering Engineer's COFFIN??!

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[tomsidback]

I welcome AI software. I rather spend my time writing songs than worrying about mixing and mastering but I still want a decent result. It's not always about 'trust your ears.' You need at least a starting point. Thanks Sonible and thanks for the video.

[error]

Wow, 3 videos in 2 days that's impressive! 👏

[Ryahan]

REALLY appreciate this and your channel

[kadiummusic]

I use Tokyo Dawn's superb TDR LImiter 6 GE followed by the equally excellent Meterplugs Loudness Penalty plugin. These basically combined do a similar thing to the SMART:LIMIT but I have to admit it looks and sounds very good and had lot's of extra information that would be really useful.

[secretelitemusic]

Had a play with it on a funk track I let loose at the weekend, and it's pretty impressive.
Unfortunately for Sonible, I use a TC Brickwall HD for the exact same purpose, and the Smart:Limit only confirmed that I'm doing it right with the TC. Fine, fine, and fine at AES settings will do me.
It's definitely worth the outlay for their sensible approach to taming resonant peaks. Colour me well impressed, Professor Murkiarty.
I'll give it a twirl at the weekend with a drum n bass track that's nearing completion, and see how it compares to the TC gizmo in the wubstep bass domain. It could get messy.

[mrfixit]

I always appreciate the great production and great information. I don't think you can be replaced yet though!

[CharlesTsaiE]

What target loudness for the competition？I just found i love the clipper on the drum bus recently ^_^

[Simeon_Harris]

i'd love to hear your opinion on the Lurssen Mastering Console. i've used it a couple of times and for a quick and dirty master, it seems to do a great job. i find i need to use it in conjunction with a loudness meter, because it doesn't have one built in, which i think is a bit of an oversight, but i have to say it sounds pretty great.

[umanoid]

Ive been spending the past five years trying to learn how to mix and master my own tracks. Ive learned a lot and improved BUT id rather be making music. Anytime theres a new AI plugin that gives me a good starting point I’m all for. I have all of sonnible other plugins. I dont always use them. I have Izotope and Plugin alliance plugins. It depends on the track and what I’m trying to do. Having this on the end of my chain might be just the tool that i need. I downloaded the demo and threw it on a track im working in. Early stage of the track but so far so good. Does the job with less muss and fuss. I can turn off my other meter plugins i use to check loudness etc now.

[peterbrandt]

You know what? I'd really dig a comparison to the Ozone mastering assistant. I'm a "happy" owner of Ozone advanced, but never use it. Well, not to finish something. I use it for fun and some single modules on tracks or buses. I'll prefer going for that second pair of ears, unless there's a plugin that tells me "You suck mate, you can't release that crap" and I'll need to trust that thing.
Thanks for showing, even if I'm not the biggest fan of AI in music.

[squoblat]

This looks like a very suave way of cocking up all my half decent mixing

[KozmykJ]

Fair dos Mark.
As open minded as one can be.
Pro Mastering Engineers shouldn't be too worried by this kind of device.
The opportunities for 'getting it wrong' are as numerous in this one as in all the other toys.
Perhaps not to such a disastrous extent though. 🙄
The ability to discern, feel and identify 'Just Right' is still the domain of the human ... so far.
You and Fluffy should be able to afford your Catnip a while longer methinks ...

Oh! btw
I snapped up the Smart:limit intro offer despite being boracic after the BF Sales ... 💰💸
Too good to miss. 👍

[Broken-Silencer]

I don't know much about this, so it's probably a stupid question. What would happen, if you recorded the Delta audio onto one track, and the original mix onto another track (in Cakewalk, I'd do this with Aux sends, No idea about other DAW's), then in a separate mix (without the limiter in other words) played the two tracks together with the phase flipped? Would it have the same effect as the limiter?

[theswedishmusicstudio]

Wot?! This is the first time i have ever seen a composer named when the tracks come from Epidemic! 👏👏👏👏

[MajorOSC]

My question is, if you don't have any synthesizers or keyboards in your setup, but you have a mixing console and other mastering equipment, does your Cat then become a "console cat" rather than a keyboard cat? How is your cat coping with this situation ⸮

[axilleas]

For the average home-studio-Joe, electronic stuff, midi instruments plus auto tuned vocal etc the mastering engineer has been obsolete for at least 10 years. For someone who wants the absolute best in quality and fidelity the mastering engineer will never go away.
That said I still enjoy hearing about this sort of tech, it is fascinating to me what we’ve managed with AI. And not just in music, phones today can take stunning shots, complete with post processing transparently from the end user’s perspective!

[unclemick-synths]

I've never seen these things as a threat - the people who buy products so they can master their own recordings wouldn't be using a mastering engineer anyway. Regardless, any product that makes the mastering engineer's job easier is a good thing!

[error]

Regarding "a second set of ears": It almost seems like mastering is slowly evolving into what can basically be described as "quality control".
There's not much vinyl to worry about and cut, and many people mix at output levels that don't really require much, if any additional loudness. So, isn't mastering already mostly about consulting, quality control and some precise finishing touches?

[TonyJBrennan]

Great review - if you could do a shootout with Izotope it would be lovely , Id love to dump Izotope from my system .

[sword-and-shield]

That title is funny, but it ain't no joke.