I am finding it difficult to understand the mastering process in 8.5 and tend to get impatient and use Sound Forge instead. Can someone tell me if it would be better to learn the process and what are the advantages.  I need mastering guidance badly to get that professional polish. Any tips, links would be greatly appreciated.
 
While I´m here can you tell me if there is a parallel compressor in 8.5 as someone told me that it would be good for double tracked vocals.  Many compressors but not one of these or maybe listed under a different name.
 
Thanks
 
 

Actually using Sound Forge to Master is a much better choice. Sonar lacks a wave editor and measuring tools needed to zero in on your peaks and overs. Although it contains most of the tools, their implementation is clunky compared to Sound Forge or Wave Lab. With wave lab I can "See" where peaks are and quickly reduce the gain. This can be on a microscopic level. You can also analyze for RMS average output which is essential if you want all your songs playing at the same volume on an album.
The peak level meter alone is worth the price of the software. I'm sure Sound Forge works the same.  
 The CD burning and MP3 conversion is also well designed in a wave editing program. 
 
Sonar is my Multi track tape deck, MIDI sequencer.
Wave Lab is my 2 track tape deck, CD/ MP3  burner. 

You might look at the VC-64 included with 8.5 Producer for parallel compression.

Many thanks Cactus music and Scook for taking the time and trouble to reply. I will check out the parallel compression and it´s great to know that Sound Forge is easier to use, as I had found out for myself.  Just needed another opinion to make sure I wasn´t missing out.
 
Cheers guys 

I'm not up on Sound Forge so not sure which tools it includes for mastering, I guess there will be different levels of the program. With Wave lab I bought Elements which is only $100. The full version is almost $500. It obviously comes with better plug ins. But Elements not only has everything I need, it shares my 64 bit vst Sonar Plug ins. So there's not much I could do in Sonar I can't do in Wave Lab. 
 

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Being that Sound Forge ( I think it's 9 and up) have Ozone suite mastering plugins, it is probably a better choice for Mastering over 8.5.  With that said, 8.5 does have some good plugins for mastering if you wanted to go that route. We have so many plugins we get spoiled.  Too many great choices.  The Lp-64 EQ and Multiband compressor are very transparent .  The one thing I think 8.5 falls short on for mastering tools is solid brickwall limiter and even that is nitpicking.  If you are not creating music wit hthe annoying trend of sucking all the dynamics out of a song for the sake of being louder than everyone else, setting the compressors in 8.5 to a 10:1 ratio will give you a decent limit  if you have a good mix to begin with.