pentimentosound
I am eager to see what's next with Sonar.

 
And you get to say that every month 
 

Why do people use other products like Studio One for mastering?  I am new to mastering so I am trying to learn.  Why do people export their songs into another app? 

So, currently, one would create a second/third "master" bus to add the 2nd EQ and other bits. Yes?
 
I am most in favor of collaboration with other companies to build alliances rather than always creating similar products. Such collaboration increases the cross-customer-base.
 
Encouraging other companies, such as Waves and Izotope,... to create PC plugins is preferred to CW trying to gain customers by spending time and money creating what is already available from other supportive vendors.
 
Yet, expanding an already available product for the PC, and then making a VST that can be used in other audio programs is reasonable.
 
I think the proprietary nature of the PC is a drawback.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I mastered my entire 180 track soundtrack library in various versions of SONAR...works for me! -S
 
 

alewgro
Why do people use other products like Studio One for mastering?  I am new to mastering so I am trying to learn.  Why do people export their songs into another app? 

For me it's partly a psychological issue. If I've recorded, mixed and then intending to master the project as well then I will definitely export a mixed stereo file and import into Sound Forge. It provides a completely different environment in which to work and allows me to be completely free of any distractions that Sonars different focus might create.

I also leave a significant period of time between mixing and mastering , say at least a week or more, so that I get more of the feel of not knowing this piece of music from before, thus not creating a kind of bias that can effect my audio perception.
Having developed this work process I then tend to use SoundForge for all my mastering. It has some very powerful editing tools and DX plugins and of course I can use any of my mastering VSTs as well.
If the final medium is CD then all the tools are all there for Redbook CD creation as for any other final medium.

Some people use Studio One for Mastering because of its Final project managing tools like for multiple songs and uploading to the net, that mean you don't have to leave the program. Download their demo and have a look if you're interested to understand it in more detail.

I hope that's given you an insight into why some use other programs for mastering - at least why I do. It's not necessarily better it's just what I do and it is a process that's grown over time, from when the tools weren't available in Sonar.

mudgel

alewgro
Why do people use other products like Studio One for mastering?  I am new to mastering so I am trying to learn.  Why do people export their songs into another app? 

For me it's partly a psychological issue. If I've recorded, mixed and then intending to master the project as well then I will definitely export a mixed stereo file and import into Sound Forge. It provides a completely different environment in which to work and allows me to be completely free of any distractions that Sonars different focus might create.

I also leave a significant period of time between mixing and mastering , say at least a week or more, so that I get more of the feel of not knowing this piece of music from before, thus not creating a kind of bias that can effect my audio perception.
Having developed this work process I then tend to use SoundForge for all my mastering. It has some very powerful editing tools and DX plugins and of course I can use any of my mastering VSTs as well.
If the final medium is CD then all the tools are all there for Redbook CD creation as for any other final medium.

Some people use Studio One for Mastering because of its Final project managing tools like for multiple songs and uploading to the net, that mean you don't have to leave the program. Download their demo and have a look if you're interested to understand it in more detail.

I hope that's given you an insight into why some use other programs for mastering - at least why I do. It's not necessarily better it's just what I do and it is a process that's grown over time, from when the tools weren't available in Sonar.

I agree totally with the "different environment" aspect.
It's sometimes for the same reason it's handed off to someone else to master, a new perspective if not new ears.
 
When I paint or airbrush, or use photoshop it helps to step away for a spell and come back and eyeball it again for the same reason.
And I too never mix and master the same day if I can help it, especially if I can't rely on an honest opinion from other musical ears.
 
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pwalpwal
boost 11 is not the greatest limiter around, if you're looking for one try https://vladgsound.wordpress.com/plugins/limiter6/
i also use an external audio editor for mastering, i would rather sonar focused on sequencing

Yep . . . I agree fully with this point . . . Cakewalk should just excel at sequencing, since most of us by now seem to have purchased external mastering solutions.

I would vote for a special mastering section, for example like the project page in Studio One, for one important reason.
 
Mastering and maintain a complete set of projects in one view with global tools and fx. "One ring to rule them all"
 
Good effects for mastering, like limiter or eq, are only one side of the complete mastering process. There are many really good and professional sounding 3rd party vst's an the market.
 
A good workflow is the key to success, not only the quality of fx plugins.
 
Again the example of the mastering project page in Studio One. In this page you can arrange and sort your sequencer project files, set meta tags (ID3) and have access to it. A simple click on a song-project and it opens in sequencer view for further work on it. Very nice and fast for adjust some final things in the song and mix.
The mastering view automatically detects when a song-project has changed and gives the ability to render it without any manual bouncing steps.
So you always have a complete view over a set of projects. And such a view is more than a mastering tool, it also helps to organize songs.
And with one click you can export all the tracks to an cd album (DDP image), to mp3, upload it to a soundcloud set or an online music distribution system.
 
I don't see Cakewalk in the role of a developer for high quality mastering plugins. More as a bakery that gives me a program with a good workflow to use good plugins.
 
_Markus
 
 

I totally support this.  I do most of my mastering in Sonar already with the help of some 3rd-party plugins, but having this functionality built in would add even more value to the program for new users.
 
 If Cakewalk is smart, they will put Craig in charge of project development for Mastering Enhancements. (You're welcome Craig!) 
 
In addition to what has already been suggested, I would LOVE to see K-System Metering as an option for the built-in Sonar meters.
 
Kenn

The only "matstering" I have done was when I needed to match things for a personal cd project.
 
I exported a mix from each of the songs and imported each into a mastering project.
 
This was before Prochannel but I did eq, leveling and level matching using the tools in Sonar and analyzed using a free plugin.
 
This allowed me to solo a track and compare it to the next and so forth. Plus I was able to see which tracks needed eq and make them sound more unified with a little smiley eq at the end of the chain.
 
I'm sure I could do a better job of it now both because my ear has improved but also the tools in Sonar are really up to the task from my point of view.
 
But if Cake bakes it I will probably bite. LOL