MasterMind

Name: MasterMind
Price: 110.07 USD
Author: United Plugins

by United Plugins · Multi-FX · Assisted mastering suite

Not rated yet

MasterMind from Soundevice Digital (sold by United Plugins) is a mastering plugin that automates much of the tone shaping to make a mix louder and fuller.

It combines an optimizer, EQ matching, parametric EQ with tube saturation, stereo width and a saturating limiter, for $145.

Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: mastering, match EQ, wide, simple, tube, full mix, glue, built-in analyzer, beginner-friendly, bus processing, classic, hardware emulation, minimal controls, mix bus, oversampling, reference & monitoring, single knob.

What it does

MasterMind is a Soundevice Digital mastering plugin, sold by United Plugins, that puts the usual mastering chain into one window. The developer says it "can do most of the tasks for you automatically."

Optimizer: an automatic algorithm the developer says makes the signal "richer, bigger and psychoacoustically better" in tone and loudness.
EQ matching: matches the tonal balance of a reference track, with an intensity control; the developer suggests around 20–30% matching to avoid overdoing it.
Shelving EQ: high and low shelves based on a classic American analogue equaliser, with tube saturation.
Stereo width: a single knob for widening or narrowing the stereo image.
Limiter: raises loudness with automatic make-up gain and a saturation stage meant to glue the master together, with up to 16x oversampling.
Analysis: visual displays of the signal at three stages: input, after the EQ and at the output.

It runs with 64-bit internal processing at any sample rate up to 192 kHz and beyond, with smart bypass, latency compensation and a sleep mode on silence. Updates are free for life, and a free 15-day trial has no saving limits or noise.

Source: United Plugins product page

When to use it

MasterMind is the pick when you want a quick, assisted master from one simple window, without building a chain. Compared with iZotope Ozone, whose Maximizer is rated here, it follows the same assistive idea with automatic optimising and EQ matching, but has far fewer modules and only a two-band shelving EQ, at a lower price. Its limiter is simpler than Pro-L 2, with no choice of limiting styles and no loudness metering mentioned by the developer. That makes it better suited to demos, beat tapes and fast releases than to detailed mastering work.

Best for: fast, one-plugin masters with reference matching, width and loudness.
Genres: any, especially electronic, hip-hop and pop demos and releases.
Look elsewhere if: you want detailed, separate mastering modules or loudness metering; Ozone, or a dedicated EQ plus Pro-L 2, gives more control.
Tip: keep EQ matching low, around 20–30% as the developer suggests, so the reference shapes the tone without overpowering your mix.

What producers say

The one full review found it a practical, inexpensive all-in-one for engineers who want speed over options.

Production Expert praised the "unique" Match EQ, the two harmonic stages and its "one-box simplicity for very little money", which avoids decision paralysis from long plugin chains.
Usage tip (Production Expert): the reviewer raised the level with the limiter and added shelving moves for weight and sparkle, then checked the result with separate loudness and spectrum analysers.
Criticisms: the review lists none.

Production Expert review

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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