T-RackS 3 Standard for mastering... opinions?

IK Multimedia is having a special on their T-RackS Standard mastering suite, and I was wondering if anyone here uses it and can give some opinions? Do you like it? How does it compare to some of the other mastering suites out there?

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/shop/index.php?REQ=SHOWPROD&PRID=T-RackS_3_Standard

In a mastering suite, I am particularly concerned about the mastering limiter, as I have been searching for a good and affordable one for quite a while now. How is the Classic Multi-band Limiter that is included in the T-RackS Standard? Is it a good, transparent limiter to use at the final stage of the Mastering chain? Does multi-band have advantages over traditional, single band brickwall limiters?

Thanks in advance.

CJaysMusic


T-racks is more geared for rock and metal genre. There not transparent at all. 

I couldn't disagree more.  They are great for any style music.  I use them on rock, acoustic and orchestral music regularly and they are superb.  I do agree that they are not transparent.  The are modeled on vintage gear and are not supposed to be transparent but in no way does that mean they are geared for rock and metal.  They are designed for and work great in all genres. 

What they're showing in the link, when you hit "More Info", is TrackS3 Deluxe, and that ain't $29.

You want TrackS Deluxe.

Just sayin'...

T

I know many people in the electronica/hip hop scene using T-Racks. 

If you're after "warmth", aka distortion, they may be just what you need. As dynamic processors, I do find them pretty average however. I'll sound like an heretic, but I think the old golden compressor is still the best compressor IK has to offer. Yes, better than the Black and White ones. But that's just me.

So it's not so much a matter of genre - anything that you think could benefit from a bit of warmth if it's something you find desirable, T-Racks will cover.

As for the limiters, I've heard good things about them - one of my pal doing techno swears by the Limiter, even if he owns all the Waves and UAD stuff - but I haven't really put them to the test, and I don't do mastering.

If I had less than $75 to spend on a good compressor and EQ, I'd grab Waves Musician Bundle 2 while it's on sale - which includes Renaissance Comp and EQ - or Focusrite's Midnight Bundle. 

As for Linear EQs, I have one that's even more flexible bundled w/ my DAW software, so I have no use for T-Racks EQs (though the Pultec is nice.)

Not that T-Racks is bad, and at this price it's quite a bargain. But to me, it's more geared toward giving people looking for that elusive "glue" what they want. If you really want to shape your mix - not just glue it - I think there are better tools - including some that come bundled w/ Sonar.


EDIT - Again, I'm talking about mixing, not mastering. 

I use the T-Racks Brickwall Limiter on all of my projects, and it works perfectly i.e. totally transparent until you drive it really hard - and I mean REALLY hard

i do hiphop, dancee, electeonica and more. ozone has come through bigtime more than once. easy to use as well.  

highly disagree with this. I use them all the time and I make mostly R&b, Electro Pop, Soul, and hip hop. I play with Dubstep and Trance. I use the T Racks stuff all the time.

You can use it with anything. I'm just saying there are better ones in that price range that you can use in my opinion for certain genres. I never said you cant use them. This is getting out of hand! LOL

I absolutely LOVE the Classic Compressor on guitar. I use it on every track that is a clean tone or with minimal gain.