AAMS Auto Audio Mastering System for Windows

User Reviews

• Best Audio Mastering Software

  dvdvelde2/10/2016

  Pros

  Audio Mastering in just a few Button Clicks

  Cons

  None, its way cool

  Summary

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• Useful within its bugs and limitations

  Audio Developer1/23/2016

  Pros

  Does a decent job at fixing up basic audio files

  Cons

  Buggy and a security risk. This is a Delphi program written for Win XP. Version 3 requires you allow it to run as admin; the author actually advocates disabling Windows UAC just to avoid security prompts. Ver. 2.5 was better in this way (you could get around running as admin) but would fail in any advanced task.

  Summary

  Grab the free version 2.5 and stick to the auto-mastering feature to get decent audio cleanup. DO NOT ALLOW IT TO RUN AS ADMIN. Buggy tools running with elevated permission is a bad idea.

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• Great for the price

  6/4/2015

  Pros

  Free, does its job very well, easy to learn.

  Cons

  Somewhat limited in its abilities.

  Summary

  Overall, it's a great little mastering tool. To avoid adware, download it directly from their site. It's a bit tricky learning how to operate it correctly, but once you get the hang of it, it's a great tool to use and the price is absolutely right. It's okay "out of the box" but once I spent several hours with it, massaging the controls and learning the ins and outs, I'm very happy with the results. Between Audacity and AAMS, I have better than good quality demos, bordering on downright professional sounding recordings, all for a price anyone can afford.

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• No Adware here. Much Better than expected!

  lovecolour2/4/2014

  Pros

  Foremost being ABLE to auto master is a plus. Being ABLE to tweak auto master is a plus. Being ABLE to manually master and correct is a plus. Ability to add "references" of any type to copy their mastering specs is a bonus. I am sure I will find more ..

  Cons

  It won't compose the songs for me! Minor con is author native language isn't English so some translations are a bit irregular.

  Summary

  I gave it a 4 since I didn't see a 4.46898764 rating. (smile) Perhaps like most, I was too eager to try this in auto mode - and figured I could successfully do so with little reading. NO GO! The files to be mastered must be in a certain format - he provides the tools to convert! Each "error" I have encountered was due to file format. It will mix according to "references" - and he provides dozens to start with. I have already used a commercial recording to manufacture additional reference. It made a particular original composition sound even sweeter. This doesn't replace that a decent mix needs to be input first - ie enter one with too loud of a bass drum then it may still come out as such. You can, however, listen to one of the tracks written in stages and edit them. I must admit, I can hardly wait to make my first of what I hope will be many donations - I plan to use it on others' projects when I become more proficient!<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Feb 5, 2014<p/>I did get another type of error - out of memory - I have a work around. Since the program labels every phase of mastering on a separate file, simply use the last "good" file and continue the processing on the next step. If you have found one reference that you like for a number of files, they can be processed in batch mode.

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• Installs Adware

  tylerc51512/19/2013

  Pros

  I don't believe that there are any pros.

  Cons

  When I installed this program, despite the fact that I chose custom installation, unchecked the options to install additional software, AND opted out of all the offers, the installer still installed annoying Adware on my computer.

  Summary

  I would not use this download for sure, unless you want Adware installed on your computer and the settings on your internet browsers changed.

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• Not Perfect, But Not Bad AT ALL!!!

  deucedot7/8/2011

  Pros

  Easy to use (just read the Help)... Does exactly what it's supposed to do - analyze a given track for it's audio levels, EQ frequencies, etc., then make a reference file or "template" of it for later use.

  Cons

  It's not perfect. But if you have an ear for music and a little patience to understand what's happening, it all works out.

  Summary

  At first listen, I couldn't tell the difference between my original files and the "mastered" ones. The keys to getting a good output is... 1. A Good Mix. Grandpappy always said "You can't polish a turd." This is also true for mixing and mastering. Garbage in, garbage out. Try to get all of the levels to be as even as possible without any clipping/peaking too much at all. AAMS will typically boost volume just a little bit too (varies on what reference file you feed it), but without distortion. It's actually really good at this... 2. Try to master your WAV files using similar sounding audio. Case and point - Don't try to feed AAMS a song by Metallica as a reference and then try to master a song that sounds like Musiq Soulchild. Most likely, it will not come out like you want it to.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Jul 8, 2011<p/>At first listen, I couldn't tell the difference between my original files and the "mastered" ones. The keys to getting a good output is... 1. A Good Mix. Grandpappy always said "You can't polish a turd." This is also true for mixing and mastering. Garbage in, garbage out. Try to get all of the levels to be as even as possible without any clipping/peaking too much at all. AAMS will typically boost volume just a little bit too (varies on what reference file you feed it), but without distortion. It's actually really good at this... 2. Try to master your WAV files using similar sounding audio. Case and point - Don't try to feed AAMS a song by Metallica as a reference and then try to master a song that sounds like Musiq Soulchild. Most likely, it will not come out like you want it to. PLEASE NOTE: I've used this software on numerous projects, personal and not, for 2 or 3 years now...

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• Would not extract

  maestrom456/3/2011

  Pros

  hard to have pros when you can't get it to open

  Cons

  Would not extract, no luck evaluating...I hope you don't expect me to buy this thing after the demo doesn't work

  Summary

  sounds good...look elsewhere

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• Best $112 I ever spent

  jabuser6/1/2011

  Pros

  Give it some time to analyze a CD that has dynamics, stereo field &#38; other sonic characteristics you want, then use that reference on your own songs, the results are stunning. If you understand mastering enough to tweak the settings it's even better.

  Cons

  The default reference files aren't perfect so if you don't want to participate in the mastering process, or you only have 1 or 2 songs to master, then you are probably better off with the "I'll master any song for $10" services.

  Summary

  I bought this before the price was reduced to $65, and I still don't regret it. No problems installing it or running it. The UI is a bit weird so getting a good reference master set up takes some time, but once that's done it's pretty much 3 mouse clicks. The presets aren't that great (at least they weren't in the version I bought in 2008, they might be better now), but anyway, I definitely recommend creating your own reference master by letting it analyze some songs that have sonic characteristics (dynamics, stereo field, tone, etc.) similar to what you want your songs to sound like. I've tried a few cheap mastering services, and I can get better results myself with a multiband compressor and parametric EQ. If you only have a song or two to be mastered and you don't quite get what mastering is or what it's for, one of those services might still be your best bet. But if you do understand mastering (even if, like me, you're not particularly good at it), and you're going to be mastering more than a few songs, then AAMS can be an indispensable part of the toolkit. It takes 100% of the tedium out of the process (if you've ever used a multiband compressor but you aren't a professional mastering engineer, you probably know what I mean). First time I used it I was mixing a cheap demo for a band, asked 'em what bands they thought had killer production, they gave me a CD with the desired amount of thump and presence, I let AAMS analyze it, used that as the reference master, played them the result and they were like "demo my a**, that's a finished product". Obviously, if you're starting with a crappy mix there's only so much it can do (you can't polish a turd), but AAMS can make a good mix sound phenomenal.

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• trojan in aams.exe

  edgarorellana2/18/2011

  Pros

  Is a trojan beware

  Cons

  check with antivirus and spyware is a trojan beware

  Summary

  Please check with spyware database

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• Crap - never worked from day one

  Sharpola9/22/2010

  Pros

  I like that I didn't buy it before I tryed it

  Cons

  The author turned off messaging on his site = trying to soak up as much money from unsuspecting buyers before they realize it don't work and there 0 support

  Summary

  someone call the cops on this one

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