OrynosMusicMixing & mastering guide
Which mastering model and processing mode should you choose?
Understand what changes between engines, what deeper analysis does and how to spend credits on a comparison that answers a real question.
Start with the job, not the biggest setting
For a finished stereo mix, open Master. For separate vocals, doubles and an instrumental, use Mix first so those parts can be balanced independently. No stereo mastering model can adjust a lead vocal as precisely as a mixer with access to its separate stem.
Write down the change you need: steadier bass, less brittle cymbals, a clearer vocal or preserved drum attack. Check for clipping and edit problems in the source first. A model is a processing approach, not a substitute for choosing the right recording or fixing a wrong balance.
The models use different processing paths
The engine name changes the processing architecture, not just the label or output volume. Moon's harmonic character, Sun's transient-aware multiband work and Galaxy's time-varying spectral treatment can produce different results on the same recording. Keep the destination and optional tools comparable when auditioning them.
| Model | Processing approach | What to listen for |
|---|---|---|
| V6.0 Premier | Lightweight fixed filters and linked local peak control; no adaptive spectral or reference fitting. | A restrained baseline that keeps the source stereo image, with fewer corrective tools. |
| V9.1 Classic | Established Governor analysis and configured tone, dynamics and peak modules. | A familiar modular finish; check the controls against the problem you actually hear. |
| V9.1 Moon | Linked soft-knee broadband dynamics, oversampled harmonic colour and time-domain tone trims. | Rounded body and glue; harmonic colour may be unwanted on an already dense mix. |
| V9.1 Sun | Onset-aware three-band dynamics, bounded spectral tone correction and bass stereo stabilisation. | Low-end control and attack; check that extra control preserves the groove. |
| 9.5 Galaxy Preview | Frame-varying spectral dynamics, resonance masks and frequency-selective stereo repair. | Changing spectral problems and labelled-stem interaction; check transients and tails. |
| 10.0 Aurora Flagship Preview | Auditory-band contextual processing, separate attack/sustain budgets and 15 additional optional tools. | Source-dependent fine control; enable restoration only for an audible problem. |
Power, Ultra and Max change the analysis budget
Standard starts with a 1× budget. Powermaster uses 2×, Ultra-Mastering 5× and Max-Mastering 10×. Supported models inspect the original source more densely and refine their processing decisions, then produce one final mastering chain. They do not repeatedly master an already mastered output.
Deeper modes increase source measurement points. Ultra and Max also allow larger spectral analysis windows and finer section summaries. These multipliers describe the analysis budget and credit charge, not a guaranteed multiple of sound quality or a fixed wall-clock duration. Longer tracks, sample rate, optional tools and the queue also affect waiting time.
Check the complete credit cost before rendering
The table shows credits for one track. Power costs twice the model's Standard price; Ultra costs five times and Max ten times. Premier supports Standard only. Classic and Moon support Standard and Power; Sun, Galaxy and Aurora also support Ultra and Max. Modes are alternatives and cannot be stacked.
| Model | Standard | Power | Ultra | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | 0 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Classic | 10 | 20 | Not supported | Not supported |
| Moon | 5 | 10 | Not supported | Not supported |
| Sun | 20 | 40 | 100 | 200 |
| Galaxy Preview | 12 | 24 | 60 | 120 |
| Aurora Flagship Preview | 40 | 80 | 200 | 400 |
Run a comparison with a specific question
Begin with Standard and choose a model whose approach fits the problem. Try Moon when deliberate warmth is useful, or Sun when drum and bass control is the priority. Galaxy is the recommended starting point for Mixing. Aurora offers the broadest optional toolset, but more enabled tools are not automatically better.
Listen to the busiest chorus, a quiet passage and a transition. If the first result is already right, keep it. If the tonal approach is wrong, compare another engine before increasing depth. If that approach fits but you want a closer analysis comparison, try Power while keeping the other settings fixed; reserve Ultra or Max for a deliberate further comparison.
Match listening volume and note a concrete difference: a bass note is steadier, the snare loses snap or a vocal becomes sharper. A louder output, wider image or larger crest value cannot settle the decision alone. Keep the version that supports your song on more than one playback system.
Use your current allowance and save the result
During the current temporary Free phase, ordinary verified accounts receive 5,000 weekly credits and access to eligible models and modules, including Preview engines. Normal rendering still spends credits. Account-specific limits and engine restrictions can apply; the balance and availability shown for your account are authoritative. This temporary arrangement is not a promise about future paid plans.
For scale, one Sun Standard render uses 20 credits while Sun Max uses 200. Those ten Standard comparisons may answer more musical questions than a single Max render. Choose intentionally rather than using the largest mode by default. Download your preferred result locally before its five-minute window expires; that window starts after rendering completes.