Modern Digital Mastering Style
Complete Processing Chain Analysis
The Modern Digital mastering style focuses on surgical precision and transparency while maintaining musicality. This preset combines clean digital processing with advanced harmonic analysis and intelligent EQ correction to deliver crystal-clear masters that reveal every detail while maintaining professional polish and competitive loudness.
Processing Chain Breakdown
The chain begins with normalization to 0 VU (-18 dBFS), maintaining optimal digital headroom while providing clean signal levels for subsequent processing stages. This conservative approach ensures maximum precision and minimum noise floor throughout the processing chain. The 0 VU target keeps the audio in the optimal range for digital processing algorithms, maintaining bit depth resolution while preventing any unwanted distortion or saturation that could compromise the clean digital aesthetic.
HoRNet TheNormalizer
Automatic gain staging and volume levelling
The HarmonicFinder algorithm performs sophisticated spectral analysis to identify and enhance the natural harmonic content of the audio. Unlike analog saturation that adds harmonics, this digital approach intelligently analyzes the existing harmonic structure and selectively enhances components that contribute to musical clarity and definition. The algorithm identifies fundamental frequencies and their related harmonics, applying subtle enhancement that brings out natural detail without adding artificial coloration or distortion.
HoRNet AnalogStage MK2
Analog console vibe for your digital mixes
A surgical bell filter applies precise -3 dB reduction at 700Hz with moderate Q factor, addressing midrange congestion common in complex digital productions. This frequency range often accumulates energy in dense electronic arrangements, and the precise cut creates clarity and separation without affecting the fundamental character of the mix. The surgical approach maintains the natural timbre while removing masking frequencies that can obscure detail and definition in the critical vocal and lead instrument range.
HoRNet TotalEQ MK2
A visual equalizer plugin with up to 36 bands, real-time spectrum, and per-band analog saturation.
The Auto EQ 31-band system performs comprehensive spectral analysis across 31 frequency bands, applying intelligent corrections with 50% strength. This moderate correction amount provides significant spectral balancing while maintaining the natural character of the source material. The algorithm analyzes frequency content over time, identifying resonances, nulls, and imbalances that occur in digital productions. The 31-band resolution allows precise correction without the phase issues associated with graphic EQ, maintaining phase coherency while achieving optimal frequency balance.
HoRNet ThirtyOne MK2
Spectrum analyzer and graphic EQ with auto tuning for a perfect sounding mix
The BalanceEQ stage operates with ±6 dB maximum range, providing comprehensive corrective processing that works in conjunction with the Auto EQ system. This dual EQ approach ensures both broad spectral balance and detailed frequency correction, addressing issues that single-stage EQ systems cannot resolve effectively. The Balance EQ focuses on larger frequency regions while the Auto EQ handles specific band corrections, creating a synergistic effect that maintains natural sound while achieving technical excellence.
HoRNet BalancEQ
The Ultimate Automatic Equalizer for Effortless Balance
The dynamics processing targets a tighter 6 dB dynamic range, providing more controlled and consistent levels suitable for digital distribution and electronic music genres. The reduced target range compared to analog presets reflects the precision requirements of digital mastering and the characteristics of electronic and programmed music that benefits from more consistent dynamics. The AutoTimeConstant, DynamicsAnalyzer, and H4KBC combination adapts to the clean signal path, providing transparent compression that maintains transient detail while achieving the desired dynamic control.
HoRNet H4K Bus Compressor
The classic compression for your stereo bus
The stereo widening stage applies careful stereo enhancement that maintains mono compatibility and phase coherency crucial for digital distribution. The processing includes complementary 2kHz EQ that ensures the stereo enhancement doesn’t compromise the precision achieved in previous stages. This approach creates spatial width while maintaining the clean, defined character expected from digital mastering, ensuring compatibility across all playback systems including mobile devices and streaming platforms.
HoRNet TotalEQ MK2
A visual equalizer plugin with up to 36 bands, real-time spectrum, and per-band analog saturation.
The final stage combines ThrustProcessor technology with precision limiting to achieve -9 LUFS target loudness. The ThrustProcessor analyzes the audio content and applies intelligent gain staging that optimizes the signal for the final limiter, ensuring maximum loudness while maintaining dynamic integrity and spectral balance. This two-stage approach achieves competitive loudness levels while preserving the precision and clarity developed through the entire processing chain.
HoRNet Thrust
Boost your mix with clarity and impact
The Modern Digital preset delivers crystal-clear definition with surgical precision EQ correction, maintaining transparency while achieving professional polish. The sound combines intelligent harmonic enhancement that reveals natural detail without artificial coloration, comprehensive spectral correction that addresses digital production challenges, controlled dynamics suitable for electronic and programmed music, and competitive loudness with maintained precision and clarity.
This preset excels with electronic music genres, hip-hop and rap productions, precision pop and R&B, and any genre requiring maximum clarity and definition. The processing chain maintains the integrity of digital productions while addressing common issues like frequency masking, phase problems, and dynamic inconsistencies. The result is masters that translate perfectly across digital platforms while maintaining the technical precision and clarity that define professional digital mastering standards.
The Modern Digital approach prioritizes accuracy and transparency, making it ideal for genres where every element needs to be clearly defined and where the natural character of digital instruments and processing should be preserved and enhanced rather than colored or modified by analog-style processing.