[ubuntu-studio-devel] Audio Handbook

[Ralf Mardorf]

Hi,

I found something that I don't want to edit without your agreement.

"Having tried out a few of these tools, my favorites list ended up with
mostly standard Calf plugins. They come with an intuitive GUI and get
the job done." -
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuStudio/AudioHandbook/MixingMastering

It doesn't make sense, if each editor would start to edit this to
something different. There were a lot of discussions related to Calf
plugins, perhaps the AudioHandbook should take them into account, for
example
http://lists.ardour.org/pipermail/ardour-users-ardour.org/2018-November/date.html.

At the moment I can't say anything about multiband compressor
replacements, however, much important for mastering is an equalizer,
while for mastering a graphical equalizer could be wanted for the
stereo sum, I unfortunately can't say much about Linux graphical
equalizers. Fortunately I'm comfortable with a parametric equalizer for
the stereo sum, too. Per track British EQing, IOW a parametric EQ
anyway is the way to go.

My recommendation is to remove

"Having tried out a few of these tools, my favorites list ended up with
mostly standard Calf plugins. They come with an intuitive GUI and get
the job done."

completely and to replace it with a hint to Fons' parametric EQ
https://packages.ubuntu.com/cosmic/fil-plugins, since this is the only
Linux FLOSS EQ I ever used, that is usable. A lot of other EQ plugins
do not really do, what they should do and I'm without doubts a lot of
other users confirm this experience.

For those who prefer a fancy GUI, there is Robin's EQ based upon
Fons' EQ.

https://packages.ubuntu.com/cosmic/x42-plugins

https://x42-plugins.com/x42/x42-eq

Perhaps the Handbook could mention:

"Some plugins are known to cause issues with some hosts or they are
known for fishy accuracy. A much used parametric EQ known to do what it
should do, is provided by the package "fil-plugins" or with a GUI, by
the package "x42-plugins".

This is what I would write, it's missing a hint to a recommended
compressor, graphic EQ and limiter, but at least it's IMO a good
recommendation for a parametric EQ.

Regards,
Ralf