Best Audio Mastering Software

By Dan Ring, Software & Internet Maven
Posted September 21, 2010
Revision History
To simplify what can often be a mysterious part of music production, the process of mastering audio involves taking previously recorded and mixed audio, and processing it in a way so that the final single track sounds as good as it possibly can be. What audio mastering software can do is to provide tools to mastering engineers that allow them to trust their ears first and foremost. All competing audio mastering software packages offer similar features, such as the ability to edit audio and process it using tools such as compression, EQ, limiting, as well as a bevy of other filters and modulators. There are those that swear by their favorite mastering... Read More programs and/or plugins, but to be clear, these are all simply tools of the trade. Having the tools is not nearly enough, as they must be used judiciously to create the best final audio master for the source material, and for the client. Additionally, mastering engineers often say that a a great mastering job can make a good mix sound absolutely perfect, but it can only make a mediocre mix sound passable. The lesson here is that starting points matter, and there's only so much that an audio mastering engineer (and the software he/she employs) can do if, say, the tambourine is so loud it dominates the entire percussion section of a mix. Trusting your ears is paramount, and rest assured that you can trust any of the options below to help make your finalized audio tracks sparkle! Minimize

Steinberg Wavelab 7 Audio Editing and Processing Software

German software manufacturer Steinberg, well-known for their popular DAWs Cubase and Nuendo, has for some years now provided the main competition for Peak in the audio editing world with their own Wavelab software, now in version 7. Remarkably, Wavelab stands out from its competitors in its sheer versatility, compatible with both Mac and PC. This is a big deal, as most other audio editing programs are either one or the other. Stepping up their game when it comes to processing, they've partnered with vaunted EQ and processing developer Sonnox to offer a VST3 audio restoration toolkit in this latest version, as well as their Red Book CD-mastering tool set. Although not as impressive as Peak when it comes to value, if you're a PC-user, Wavelab still contains a solid interface, quality effects, and the multi-channel surround capability that you expect to find in a top editor software. Therefore, it's worthy of not only top consideration by anyone on a Mac or PC seeking to do audio mastering, but considering its versatility across platforms, our top spot here as well. Read Full Review

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Steinberg Wavelab 7 Audio Editing and Processing Software View Details

Bias Peak Pro 6 Mastering Software

Since its first release, Peak has been the goto audio editing software for those seeking professional audio tools, including audio mastering engineers. With its latest incarnation, Peak Pro 6, BIAS has once again delivered a top-notch product that goes above and beyond the basic and advanced features of most audio editors, and provided so much value as to be the unequivocal king of audio editing software. Unfortunately, Peak is Mac-only, and consequently cannot occupy the top spot here. Still, Peak's features are impressive, and include Reveal LE, a collection of seven tools for audio analysis, as well as Soundsoap LE, an audio cleaning and restoration plugin. 32 total VST plugins are included, as well as Peak's proprietary Sqweez-1 compressor/limiter/expander processor. As icing on the cake, Peak also includes SFX Machine LT, a real-time sound effects plugin, as well as over 100 royalty-free sound effects and hundreds of free audio loops. Read Full Review

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Bias Peak Pro 6 Mastering Software View Details

Sony Sound Forge Pro 10

Sound Forge has for many years languished behind Peak as a cheap and limited PC-alternative to audio editing, and least of all audio mastering. This comparison has been getting more and more unfair as Sound Forge has evolved, and now in its 10th version, has been seriously challenging Wavelab in the pro audio editor market for PCs. The biggest coup scored by Sound Forge is in its association with plugin developer iZotope, makers of the wildly popular Ozone mastering plugin bundle. iZotope has contributed here their Mastering Effects Bundle 2 to Sound Forge, welcome addition to the software's limited processing offering. Sony has also added in a new proprietary time stretching feature, as well as event-based editing, making it an attractive option for those who might be in a position to rediscover Sound Forge as a real option in audio mastering. Read Full Review

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Sony Sound Forge Pro 10 View Details

Steinberg WaveLab Studio Mastering Software

WaveLab Studio 6 is a stripped-down version of Steinberg's popular Wavelab 7 audio editing software for Mac and PC. While no Sonnox plugins can be found as in WaveLab 7, WaveLab Studio 6 still offers audio restoration tools, as well as sample-accurate effects across a multi-track audio environment. New features include scripting capabilities and batch processing, useful in broadcast production. More important than the bells and whistles of some other competitors, WaveLab Studio offers a solid platform for audio mastering engineers who need to feel confident in their audio editors. Read Full Review

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Steinberg WaveLab Studio Mastering Software View Details

Adobe Audition 3 Mastering Software

Another PC-only option, Audition is graphic design-oriented Adobe's entrance into the audio editing market. The result is a fairly-stable platform with fair effects and plugin delay compensation built-in. When you have to list parameter automation (like volume changes) as a key feature in your software, you know you've got a fairly basic package on your hands. There are fun extras, however, like the twenty royalty-free music beds that ship with Audition, as well as 5,000 32-bit royalty-free audio loops. Also included is radius time stretching from iZotope, as well as spectral-frequency display tools, which are big selling points and make Audition still worthy of consideration to the consumer. Read Full Review

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Adobe Audition 3 Mastering Software View Details
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Leave a Question or Comment

2 comments

  • mwp

Definitely not a well written description of a mastering engineers job. I have also never heard the terms of using a modulator or a bevy of filters. Don't forget waveburner it is also an industry staple.

Posted on 11/10/2010 10:08 pm | Reply
  • Anonymous

I personally prefer the Bias Peak Pro 6 XT Mastering Software. It has worked wonders for me on all of my recordings. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who wants to use this!

Posted on 12/26/2009 2:06 pm | Reply

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