Softube 'Weiss DS1-MK3' "The gold-standard in mastering dynamics"

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Pralijah
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Joined: 17 Feb 2017

07 Mar 2018

Softube just released two new (old) emulations for Mastering. One more advanced for €499 and then one maximizer for €179.

How much hype is this about mastering units? How far better is this compared to what we already have?
Will download a demo some days ahead but have anyone tried the original unit or have more insight into the mastering units and art?



Weiss DS1-MK3
https://www.softube.com/index.php?id=weissds1

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"And with the plug-in, you don’t need the wealth of a small nation to run multiple instances of this highly-prized box. De-ess your vocals while gently compressing your guitars and limiting your master bus at the same time, all with the same top-of-the-line tool.

Purchase of the DS1-MK3 also includes the new Weiss MM-1 intelligent Mastering Maximizer plug-in.

Now you too can master like the masters, with all the loudness, clarity, and precision, and none of the drawbacks."




Weiss MM-1 Maximizer for €179
https://www.softube.com/index.php?id=weissmm1

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"It’s impossible to make it sound bad - the intelligent processes happening under the hood of this plug-in as you turn the amount knob; the filtering, compression, de-essing, and so on; have been carefully designed by highly experienced mastering engineers using the industry standard DS1-MK3 as a foundation."

"And there’s no better mastering limiter out there. This product will allow you to get your mix exactly as loud as you want, with exactly the sound you want, without sacrificing dynamics and musicality."
Make music shake again!

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EnochLight
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07 Mar 2018

You know, I love Softube's stuff, and I feel their modelling is top notch... but this is ridiculously overpriced, IMHO. Taking into consideration one can buy Ozone 8 Advanced for less, and let's face it - Ozone is the gold standard for mastering - I just can't even consider looking at this thing.
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

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selig
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07 Mar 2018

EnochLight wrote:
07 Mar 2018
You know, I love Softube's stuff, and I feel their modelling is top notch... but this is ridiculously overpriced, IMHO. Taking into consideration one can buy Ozone 8 Advanced for less, and let's face it - Ozone is the gold standard for mastering - I just can't even consider looking at this thing.
I would look at the MM1 before the DS1-MK3 since I'm not a professionally trained mastering engineer. The DS1-MK3 is what many of the top mastering engineers use, but for me to use that tool it would be like trying to drive a professional race car!

I would agree that Ozone8 is probably the better choice for the non-professional mastering engineer, and the "standard" edition is on sale for the same price as the MM1. If not on sale I'd definitely check out the MM1 thought, as it's got an amazing pedigree and has a much simpler interface for us "common folks".
Selig Audio, LLC

Pralijah
Posts: 105
Joined: 17 Feb 2017

07 Mar 2018

selig wrote:
07 Mar 2018
The DS1-MK3 is what many of the top mastering engineers use, but for me to use that tool it would be like trying to drive a professional race car!
Good comparison! Merly by looking at the DS1-MK3, I can really imagine myself dialing the mix or master right down the ditch at those late hours! Waking up the next morning wondering what drug must have been in the tap water.

The maximizer look a lot more usable, on a sale some day ahead with half or more off the ordinary price. But the 20 days trial will be interesting.
Make music shake again!

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EnochLight
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07 Mar 2018

selig wrote:
07 Mar 2018
EnochLight wrote:
07 Mar 2018
You know, I love Softube's stuff, and I feel their modelling is top notch... but this is ridiculously overpriced, IMHO. Taking into consideration one can buy Ozone 8 Advanced for less, and let's face it - Ozone is the gold standard for mastering - I just can't even consider looking at this thing.
I would look at the MM1 before the DS1-MK3 since I'm not a professionally trained mastering engineer. The DS1-MK3 is what many of the top mastering engineers use, but for me to use that tool it would be like trying to drive a professional race car!

I would agree that Ozone8 is probably the better choice for the non-professional mastering engineer, and the "standard" edition is on sale for the same price as the MM1. If not on sale I'd definitely check out the MM1 thought, as it's got an amazing pedigree and has a much simpler interface for us "common folks".
The DS1-MK3 is on sale for an intro price of $499 USD; right now the entire Ozone 8 Advanced suite is on sale for $349 USD. Admittedly, I'm not a professionally trained mastering engineer, but it appears that Ozone 8 Advanced is far more powerful to use than the DS1-MK3, IMHO - at least from a layman's POV.

The MM1 looks pretty nice, though (assuming it sounds as nice as they say)!
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

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full-of-life
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Joined: 13 Oct 2017

07 Mar 2018

There have been many positive forces at work in recent years. I remember, being able to use these things in the rented radio and studio environments, everything was fine.

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miscend
Posts: 1955
Joined: 09 Feb 2015

08 Mar 2018

No one has tried tried this yet. This could have a better limiter than Ozone. Limiters are not all the same, some can go perceivably louder than others whilst still sounding musical, Waves L2 won’t cut it anymore the loudness war has turned it into an arms race. Ozone is not the best in class in everything. There are much better tools out there like Limiter 6 and Pro-Eq. No mastering guy I know uses Ozone as a one stop shop, some of them don’t even like it. It’s always nice to have varied set of tools for the job as well.

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EnochLight
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08 Mar 2018

miscend wrote:
08 Mar 2018
No one has tried tried this yet. This could have a better limiter than Ozone. Limiters are not all the same, some can go perceivably louder than others whilst still sounding musical, Waves L2 won’t cut it anymore the loudness war has turned it into an arms race. Ozone is not the best in class in everything. There are much better tools out there like Limiter 6 and Pro-Eq. No mastering guy I know uses Ozone as a one stop shop, some of them don’t even like it. It’s always nice to have varied set of tools for the job as well.
The sound engineer that just did the Olympics in South Korea claims a $12,000 USD TC Electronic 6000 MD4 couldn’t handle the transients of rifle fire (or hitting their targets). Ozone 8 did just fine.

Have no idea if the Weiss stuff would fair any better, though.
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

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Theo.M
Posts: 1035
Joined: 16 Jan 2015

13 Mar 2018

this is not expensive for what you get, IF you happen to love the weiss sound and know the hardware.

What some people fail to realise is that the hardware box that is like 8 grand is digital, and the code has been ported line for line for the plugin. It's no an emulation, it IS the weiss DS1 MK3 in every way, except way less than 1/10th the cost and you can use multiple instances.

I think it sounds absolutely outstanding from my demo time thus far. Outstanding.

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Marco Raaphorst
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14 Mar 2018

Check this superb mastering tool, very cheap:
https://klevgrand.se/products/grandfinale/

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bxbrkrz
Posts: 3812
Joined: 17 Jan 2015

14 Mar 2018

Marco Raaphorst wrote:
14 Mar 2018
Check this superb mastering tool, very cheap:
https://klevgrand.se/products/grandfinale/
Thanks.
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Theo.M
Posts: 1035
Joined: 16 Jan 2015

16 Mar 2018

no thanks..

the demo video just mushes everything and makes it louder..

and it's once again a one size fits all plugin, with "amount" knobs.. :roll:

Those things just do not work for all genres of music. Save your money and get a real tool like ozone 8 or even wavelab elements with the light version of masterrig and a great two track editor on top.

I can guarantee you i can do a better job with the light version of master rig that is missing tons of features from the full but still very worthwhile.

even the ik thing sound better than the klevgrand (imo of course).

Don't get me wrong he makes some killer plugins, useful plugins.. i love kuvert for example, so simple and to the point but useful on every song.. but these preset mastering things really irk me.

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