What's the best method of mastering tracks made in Garageband?

March 19, 2015 8:48 AM

What's the best, easiest method of mastering tracks that were mixed in Garageband?

I have started to release some of my own songs, but I'm at a novice level enough that I don't want to pay someone to master them. I realize I mixed them a little low and they could use a bit of overall compression and mastering before exporting and sharing them on the web.

For a novice Garageband user who doesn't want anything overly complex and technical, what is the best method of mastering a few tracks? Are there mastering modules that work with GB? Or separate free (or low-paid) apps that would help me make the final export louder and more dynamic?

posted by deern the headlice to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

You could check out this website: https://www.wavemod.com/
posted by Clustercuss at 9:21 AM on March 19, 2015

If you want free + quick + dirty = Landr
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:37 AM on March 19, 2015

(which I found out about courtesy of someone on MeFi Music)
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:38 AM on March 19, 2015

Garageband supports AU plugins. You can find various lists of free AU plugins to download, like this one.

I'd recommend checking out LoudMax for a brickwall limiter, and the Kotelnikov Compressor and SlickEQ from Tokyo Dawn Labs.
posted by ludwig_van at 1:14 PM on March 19, 2015

Would it be possible to remix them before you hit them with a mastering stage? Just that it's easier to fix mix issues while mixing if you have the option.
posted by tremspeed at 9:01 AM on March 21, 2015