Mastering software tidies the loudness, tonal balance and width of a finished mix so that it is easy to listen to on streaming and in video. iZotope Ozone is known for its Master Assistant, in which AI analyzes the song and makes the settings. Here we compare the three editions of Ozone 12 on the functions listed in the official comparison table.
This list compares 8 mastering products on 3 criteria: ai finishing, fine adjustment, pre-release checks. Scores are decided by how well each product serves its purpose, using the conditions for each criterion, and the basis is official manufacturer information. Price is not part of the score.
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Picks by purpose
- If you have no mastering knowledge: Ozone 12 Elements (rank C). Centered on the AI assistant, you can finish with few knobs.
- If you want to adjust the AI’s result yourself too: Ozone 12 Standard (rank S). You can operate 14 modules directly and compare with a reference song.
Picks by budget
The highest-scoring product in each price range. Prices are the regular prices in US dollars shown on Plugin Boutique on October 10, 2026; sale prices change often, so check the store page. Price is not part of the score.
- $50 to $149: Ozone 12 Elements (rank C, $55). The highest-scoring product in this price range.
- $150 and over: Ozone 12 Advanced (rank S, $499). The highest-scoring product in this price range.
Tier list by rank
Ranks are based on the manufacturer's official features and specifications, not on sound quality. Within a row, products are ordered by score. The basis is explained in How we rate specifications.
Tier table by criterion
Products with the same overall rank can have different strengths. Click a column heading to sort by the rank on that criterion, and use it when you choose by the feature you want.
| Product | Overall | AI finishingWhether it can make a well-balanced sound without expert knowledge | Fine adjustmentWhether you can work on the AI's result yourself | Pre-release checksChecking features before streaming or exporting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 iZotopeOzone 12 Advanced | S5.0 | SAlso compares references | S20 modules + separate plug-ins | SUp to codec preview |
 iZotopeOzone 12 Standard | S4.3 | SAlso compares references | A14 modules | ADither + before/after |
 IK MultimediaT-RackS 6 MAX | A3.8 | AAutomatic, matched to a reference | S63 modules, separate plug-ins | CFew check features |
 LANDRLANDR Mastering Plugin | C2.5 | BAutomatic AI analysis | BEQ, dynamics and more | CMeters only |
 iZotopeOzone 12 Elements | C2.3 | AAssistant | CKnobs only | CFew check features |
 SteinbergWaveLab Pro 13 | C2.0 | CNo AI stated | BPlug-ins + offline processing | CMainly loudness measurement |
 SteinbergWaveLab Elements 13 | C2.0 | CNo AI stated | BPlug-ins + MasterRig 2 | CMainly loudness measurement |
 Brainworx（Plugin Alliance）bx_masterdesk | C1.5 | CNo AI | CFew knobs + presets | CFew check features |
Click a column heading to sort by that criterion (click again to reverse). Each cell shows the score (1 to 5) on that criterion as 5 = S, 4 = A, 3 = B, 2 or lower = C. A dash means the criterion is not scored. This is a rating of the manufacturer's official features and specifications, not of sound quality. See How we rate specifications.
Top-scoring products
Up to 9 products in order of score. Images are the manufacturers’ official press images or Plugin Boutique images. The overall order and the basis for each rank are in the tier tables above and on each product’s page.
How to choose mastering software
Figure: SoundBounty
Leave it to AI, or build it yourself?
Some mastering software has a function where AI listens to the song and suggests settings. Using the suggestion as a starting point and then adjusting the volume and balance to your taste lets you finish quickly.
Does it have the tools you need for finishing?
If the tools for finishing, such as EQ, compressor, limiter and width adjustment, are in one product, you save the effort of combining plug-ins.
The tools differ by edition
Even for the same product, the number of tools you can use differs by edition. For finishing a cover song or your own track, an edition with the tools you use often can be enough.
A word on each product
Prices in the headings are regular prices in US dollars shown on Plugin Boutique on October 10, 2026. They are not part of the score.
T-RackS 6 MAX (rank A, $299.99)
IK Multimedia’s T-RackS 6 MAX is mastering software that lets you combine 63 mixing and mastering modules (individual processors you combine as you like). “Master Match X” finishes automatically to sound close to a song you like, and it works as a plug-in in your DAW (the software you make music in) and as standalone mastering software. Each module can also be used as a separate plug-in.
LANDR Mastering Plugin (rank C)
LANDR’s mastering software LANDR Mastering Plugin is a plug-in for your DAW (the software you make music in) in which AI analyzes a song and builds the mastering settings. You can choose a finishing style, and it has controls such as EQ, de-esser, stereo width and dynamics, and a loudness meter.
WaveLab Pro 13 (rank C)
Steinberg’s mastering software WaveLab Pro 13 is a full-scale program for mastering and editing. It runs as a standalone program, not as a plug-in for a DAW (the software you make music in), and supports Audio Montage for finishing several songs side by side, spectral editing, batch processing and Dolby Atmos mastering.
WaveLab Elements 13 (rank C)
Steinberg’s mastering software WaveLab Elements 13 is the entry version of WaveLab. With the Audio Editor and Audio Montage work screens you can edit and master songs. Version 13 added MasterRig 2 for the first time.
bx_masterdesk (rank C)
The mastering software bx_masterdesk from Brainworx (Plugin Alliance) puts processing modeled on high-end analog mastering gear into a single plug-in. It is designed to make a master in a short time with a few knobs and presets (settings prepared in advance).
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do I need mastering for a cover song?
It is not strictly necessary, but if you tidy the volume and balance as a final touch, the song is less likely to sound weak when placed next to other songs.
Q. What is the difference between mastering and mixing?
Mixing is the work of balancing each track, such as the voice and the backing. Mastering is the final touch that tidies the volume and sound quality of the finished song as a whole.
Q. Can I finish with just a limiter?
A limiter alone can raise the volume. If you want to tidy the balance and width too, mastering software is handy.
How we score
How we score (Mastering software)
| Criterion | Basis | 5 pt | 4 pt | 3 pt | 2 pt | 1 pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI finishing | Whether it can make a well-balanced sound without expert knowledge | Automatic finishing, plus comparison with a reference song and vocal-balance adjustment | Automatic finishing, plus either comparison with a reference song or vocal-balance adjustment | Automatic finishing only | — | — |
| Fine adjustment | Whether you can work on the AI's result yourself | 15 or more processing modules can all be operated directly, and can also be used as separate plug-ins | 10 or more processing modules can be operated directly | Some processing can be operated directly | You can only adjust the assistant's result with a few knobs | — |
| Pre-release checks | Checking features before streaming or exporting | Listening to the sound compressed for streaming, dither and before/after comparison of the processing are all included | Dither and before/after comparison | Either one | — | Not mentioned on the official page |
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: finishing cover songs and your own songs for streaming. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Fine adjustment" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. At the moment we compare only the three editions of iZotope Ozone 12 and one product from IK Multimedia. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.
The thinking behind scores and ranks is summarized in How we rate specifications. We add products in order.
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