Hello RuzzyRuz.
What software you use depends on your needs of the mastering process.
For example:
If you master a lot of music for clients you probably want to use Wavelab or Protools.
But you can do nearly everything what Wavelab and Protools does with other DAW’s as well.
if you do your own mastering, for streaming or CD’s, it really doesn’t matter what program you use.
I would recommend you to stay with your favorite DAW because Its vital to have a fast workflow and full concentration on the sound quality.
I produce everything with Ableton (Arrangement, Mixing, Mastering) and i wasn’t satisfied with the sound for a long time until i realized how important a linear sweet-spot is.
Mastering in untreated environment is like learning to play an untuned guitar.
You will never get the sound right.
If you want to get the most out of your track you need to focus on your speaker system.
It’s not a bad idea to use room correction software like Sonarworks if you can’t effort physical acoustic treatment. Or just measure your room to know how it influences the spectral behavior of your speakers.
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To layer duplicated tracks can be effective if you use parallel compression or saturation but the duplicate should be different than the original. Otherwise you just get constructive interference and you gain +6 db amplitude but it won’t distort your track unless there is clipping on masterbus.
If you want to go for loudness try parallel compression:
Heavy compression on the duplicated signal 1:10 ratio, if you want punch and more transients than go for 30-50 ms Attack (otherwise less) and maybe 150-200 ms release (depends on your Bpm)
Then slowly mix the compressed duplicated into the original track.
There is also a variation of this technique called NY-parallel compression.
Just add an EQ with +3db lowshelf at 100Hz and +3db highshelf at 10kHz after the compressor.
Hope i could help!
All the best!!
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