Elliott Sebag -Studio Setup
MASTERING GEAR INSIGHTS
This is a non-exhaustive list of the tools I mainly use when mastering at this time.
As anything in life, it will evolve and I will publish major updates in the future.
The role of this blueprint is to introduce you, artists whom I may be working with,
to my mindset of audio processing when it comes to mastering and audio quality.
Each tool was carefully selected for specific reasons.
It is important to note that they won’t be all enabled, only some of them when needed.
Dangerous BAX EQ
For its smooth, accurate and musical sounding Low/High frequency cut filters as well as Infrasonic rumble reduction. Eliminating it dramatically increases low end clarity and punch while allowing higher maximum levels on any playback device.
Vertigo VSC-2
For its tightness and precision over all, it brings a really great glue feeling without destroying anything and may help to manage the low-end better following the sidechain settings.
That being said, i’m not settled with it… I will often use other alternatives when they might work better or when in need of a different/more noticeable color. Such as: Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class-A | Manley Variable MU emulation | Fabfilter Pro-C 2 | SPL Iron
Vertigo VSM-3
May be enabled for different but very specific purposes. The VSM-3 is an incredible distortion unit that have « saved » more than one project.
Master EQ 432
For its level of sonic excellence, superior transient response, almost non measurable non-linearities and extremely low distortion together with some perceivable “magic” in the circuit design.
Amek EQ200
The perfect blend between precision & musicality.
With the addition of various bells & whistles making this EQ particularly useful when it comes to subtle final shaping, especially for some « boosts ».
Sonnox Oxford Limiter
When needed for a first limiting stage with its high-end, musical and source respectful limiter. I’ll often use the « magic » enhance fader a tiny bit for a final subtle lift if needed.
Fabfilter Plugins
One of the best and most transparent stereo natural phase equalizer.
Enabled & tweaked if tonal processing is needed, eventually using dynamic EQ feature when it is ideal.
(Pro Q-3, Pro C-2, Pro-MB, Saturn 2, Pro L-2…)
Chandler Lmtd. Curve Bender
For its subtle yet so musical sounding curves. I will use this unit in M/S mode to refine some frequencies areas to sublime the track when required.
Brainworx bx_limiter True Peak
One of the newest and best true peak limiter on the market.
It is incredibly versatile and most of the time able to handle the full limiting job. Therefore bypassing the need for a first limiting stage. Of course it always depends on the source material needs.
Brainworx bx_digital V3
Iconic Brainworx product offering in-depth monitoring options allowing for more precise work while still delivering high-quality processing.
Enabled & tweaked if Mid/Sides tonal processing is needed.
BBAD HG-2 & HG-2 MS
Enabled when some tube saturation/color is needed. It allows not only to make tracks sound richer and fuller but also make them sound louder, bigger and punchier without raising the actual level. Now mostly using the new MS version that brings a few extra features for even more precise/versatile distortion.
Anything that might be needed...
It always comes down to what you are hearing & feeling and there is no perfect processing chain or magic recipe that you could apply to everything… Therefore, you just need to know your tools and when to use them or actually not to !
At least, that’s my vision.
GET YOUR TRACK MASTERED
High quality mastering for your project with fast turnaround.
Dynamics respectful master made with high-end signal processors and release format(s) optimization.
FULL STUDIO SETUP LIST
DAWs & Standalone Softwares
Plugins
ACME Audio :
Opticom XLA-3
ADA :
STD-1 Stereo Tapped Delay
Flanger
AMEK :
EQ 200
Ampeg :
B15N
V-4B
STVR3Pro
STVR
Arturia :
V Collection 7
Black Box Analog Design :
HG-2
HG-2 M/S
Brainworx :
bx_digital V3
bx_subsynth
bx_saturation V2
bx_townhouse Buss Compressor
bx_2098 EQ
bx_console E
bx_console Focusrite SC
bx_console G
bx_console SSL 4000 E
bx_console SSL 4000 G
bx_console N
bx_bassdude
bx_blackdist2
bx_bluechorus
bx_cleanweep Pro (+V2)
bx_control V2
bx_crispytuner
bx_delay 2500
bx_distorange
bx_greenscreammer
bx_limiter
bx_limiter True Peak
bx_masterdesk
bx_megadual
bx_megasingle
bx_metal2
bx_oberhausen
bx_opto
bx_opto Pedal
bx_panEQ
bx_refinement
bx_rockrack V3 (+Player)
bx_shredspread
bx_stereomaker
bx_XL V2
bx_yellowdrive
bx_meter
bx_rooMS
bx_boom
bx_tuner
bx_subfilter
bx_solo
bx_cleansweep
Celemony :
Melodyne Assistant
Chandler Limited :
Curve bender Mastering EQ (native)
GAV19T
Diezel :
VH4
DS Audio :
Thorn V1.2
Elysia :
Alpha Compressor
Karacter
Mpressor
Museq
Niveau Filter
Nvelope
Phil’s Cascade
ENGL :
E646 VS
E765 RT
Fabfilter :
Pro-Q 3
Pro-C 2
Pro-MB
Pro-L 2
Pro-R
Saturn / Saturn 2
Fiedler Audio :
Stage
Fuchs Amps :
Overdrive Supreme 50
Train II
Gig Performer :
Gig Performer 3 (PA Edition)
Lindell Audio :
80 Series
254E
354E
6X-500
7X-500
ChannelX
PEX-500
TE-100
Maag Audio :
EQ2
EQ4
Magnum-K
Millennia :
NSEQ-2
TCL-2
Oeksound :
Soothe 2
ProAudioDSP :
DSM V3
Purple Audio :
MC77
Shadow Hills :
Mastering Compressor Class-A
Mastering Compressor
SPL :
Vitalizer Mk2-T
Iron
Passeq
HawkEye
Transient Designer Plus
Attacker Plus
De-Verb Plus
Mo-Verb Plus
EQ Ranger Plus
De-Essers
DrumXchanger
TwinTube
Sonnox :
Oxford Limiter V3
Oxford Inflator V3
Vocal Doubler (Widen+Thicken)
IK Multimedia :
TR5 Stealth Limiter
TR5 Master EQ-432
TR5 White 2A
TR5 British Channel
TR5 EQ-81
TR5 Dyna-Mu
TR5 Quad Limiter
TR5 Quad Compressor
TR5 EQP-1-A
TR5 De-Esser
TR5 Mic Room
Syntronik (18 sample based classic synths emulations)
Izotope :
RX 7 standard
Ozone 8 standard
Neutron 2 elements
Nectar 2 elements
Neutrino
Vocal Doubler
Nugen Audio :
MasterCheck Pro
Sennheiser :
Ambeo Orbit
Soundtoys :
Little Plate
Little Radiator
Slate Digital :
Virtual Mix Rack
Virtual Mic System: Classic Collection (18 mics emulations)
Unfiltered Audio :
BYOME
Dent 2
Fault
G8
Indent 2
Instant Delay
Sandman Pro
Silo
SpecOps
TRIAD
Zip
LION (Synth)
Presonus :
The Tube P1B (Fat channel comp)
VT1 EQ (Fat channel)
VT1 Comp (Fat channel)
RC500 EQ (Fat channel)
RC500 Comp (Fat channel)
VU Meter
Vertigo :
VSC-2
VSM-3
Waves :
Abbey Road plate Reverb
Smack Attack
Sibilance
H-Comp
Berzerk Distortion
OneKnob Wetter
Applied Acoustics Systems :
Ultra Analog Session 2
Lounge Lizard Session 4
Strum Session 2
+ Live 10 Suite stock plugins + All Packs + Users shared M4Live patchs
+ Studio One 4 Professional stock plugins + All Packs
+ Over 50 Freewares & more… My favorites freewares are listed here
Hardware
Main Workstation (Selfbuilt & Audio Optimised):
CPU – Intel I7 8700k
RAM – 32Gb ddr4 3200mhz
GPU – MSI GTX 1060 GX 6gb
OS Drive – 500 Gb SSD
Audio Drive – 500 Gb SSD
Data Storage – 1 Tb SSHD
(+ External backups local & remote, over 8Tb)
OS – Windows 10 Pro
Cooling – Be Quiet
Power Supply – Be Quiet 750w 80PLUS Gold
Laptop – Asus ROG GL553VD
Audio Interface – MOTU M4
Monitor Controller – Drawmer CMC2
Speakers – Presonus Sceptres S8
Headphones 1 – Sennheiser HD-25
Headphones 2 – Beyerdynamics DT770 Pro
Wiring – Mogami gold plated professional balanced cables
PostProduction Controller – Presonus Faderport 8
PostProduction Controller – Kenton Killamix
Production Controller – Ableton Push
Production Controller – Arturia Keystep
Poylyphonic Analogue Synth – Korg Minilogue xd
Analogue Synth – Moog Theremin Etherwave +
Analogue Synth – TB-303 clone
Digital Synths – PO-28 & PO-14
Mic – Slate Digital ML-2
Power Supply – Furman PL-Pro C
Display 1 – Viewsonic VX3276-MHD 32 »
Display 2 – Acer T232HL (Touchscreen)
Analog Professional Mixer – Allen & Heath Xone92
Dj Controllers – NI X1 mkII x2
Dj Audio Interface – NI Traktor Audio 10
Custom Acoustic Treatment
FEEDBACK, ANSWERS, HELP WITH TROUBLESHOOTING
I am available 7/7
You want some feedback on your project, you have some audio related question or even need some help troubleshooting something?
Don’t wait any longer, hit me up!
