muddy sounds

[roula]

Hi I am not sure I was clear in my previous question.

I have a problem with lots of levels shooting up to the red.

Are there some tips to get rid of them?

I am really not happy with the sound quality ,it sounds muddy and coming out of a cave...

I would appreciate any help

thanks

[ReinMan]

Hi I am not sure I was clear in my previous question.

I have a problem with lots of levels shooting up to the red.

Are there some tips to get rid of them?

I am really not happy with the sound quality ,it sounds muddy and coming out of a cave...

I would appreciate any help

thanks

 

Hello. We can't reallly help you much with the info you've given.

 

Please let us know:

 

a) the computer you are using (processor and RAM etc)

 

b) the software you are using (version number and update number etc)

 

c) the audio interface model you are using

 

d) the microphone you are using

 

e) and basically how you have the above hooked up currently.

 

Once we have that, we can start figuring out the 100+ possibilities that could be causing you trouble.

 

[roula]

Hello ReinMan and tks for your quick reply:)

 

I am using logic pro 8 with an ibook pro , nothing else

the tracks are loops and audios that I mixed and added effects to .

no external audio interface or microphone used

I hope this helps

Any idea how much it costs to have a 1 track CD mastered professionally?

regards

[Eriksimon]

Lower the levels on all tracks by at least 6 dB, maybe more even. Play the song start to end, take a look at the output 1-2 peak level. Anywhere between -0.1 and -6 is okay. Now insert an AdLimiter on the output 1-2, set the gain to 3 dB, or to the earlier noted peak level, if that is under -3dB.

This might improve things, though the numbers I gave a bit of "wet-finger-work" as we call 'a wild stab in the dark' in Holland. It really all depends on the material and the number of simultaneous tracks and their levels etc etc.

If you want to have your tracks mastered professionally, it is no use unless they are mixed decently to begin with.

However, if you are planing to do it anyway, just lower your levels until the clipping stops and forget the AdLimiter - that is the mastering engineers' domain then.

[Rev. Juda Sleaze]

Lower the levels on all tracks by at least 6 dB, maybe more even. Play the song start to end, take a look at the output 1-2 peak level. Anywhere between -0.1 and -6 is okay. Now insert an AdLimiter on the output 1-2, set the gain to 3 dB, or to the earlier noted peak level, if that is under -3dB.

 

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Do not add the AdLimiter unless you know why you are adding the AdLimiter!

 

Drop all the channel levels out of the red, then drop the output 1-2 level out of the red, *THEN MIX TO TASTE*, then simply turn up your amp/speakers till you can hear your track properly... THEN ask about sending your track off to be mastered professionally.

 

...Would be my advice...

[Kent Sandvik]

Lower the levels on all tracks by at least 6 dB, maybe more even. Play the song start to end, take a look at the output 1-2 peak level. Anywhere between -0.1 and -6 is okay. Now insert an AdLimiter on the output 1-2, set the gain to 3 dB, or to the earlier noted peak level, if that is under -3dB.

 

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Do not add the AdLimiter unless you know why you are adding the AdLimiter!

 

Drop all the channel levels out of the red, then drop the output 1-2 level out of the red, *THEN MIX TO TASTE*, then simply turn up your amp/speakers till you can hear your track properly... THEN ask about sending your track off to be mastered professionally.

 

...Would be my advice...

 

Well, there are few producers who would send their tracks to a professional mastering engineer concerning a free release via a netlabel, for example. So all this is not so black and white.

[roula]

Hi guys,tks for your replies:) I'll try that

Kent not sure what you mean by free release via a netlabel will google it

[Doye]

Don't touch the output stereo out. Leave it at it's default settings. Insert a multi level plugin on it. Take all tracks down to zero. Bring them up one at a time but don't let the overall volume cross -20 RMS on the Multi level plugin. Keep your eyes on the main output (1/2) to avoid clipping.

[Eriksimon]

 

Do not add the AdLimiter unless you know why you are adding the AdLimiter!

 

That is a nice Catch 22... I just use it because it's there, of course!

As for the OP: I think people should also discover things for themselves, not just blindly follow recipes, which is why I try to stay as vague as possible, it is all "domesticated guessing" without having heard the actual material itself...

http://documentation.apple.com/en/logicstudio/effects/#chapter=4%26section=2%26hash=apple_ref:doc:uid:TempBookID-ReplacedWhenAssociatingWithMessierRevision-DYN-1007877

 

Anyway, if you don't "listen for yourself" to what a plugin does, how are you ever going to experience (=potentially understand) what it is for?

 

Plus the AdLimiter makes everything wicked loud, man! Innit?

 

OTOH, I think I get what you are getting at with your disapproval. You don't have to yell in my face though. 8)

 

Cheers, Erik.

[Doye]

I have experienced the position the OP is in. It cost me a lot of customers. I know how he is feeling hearing all those tracks distorted I don't want my dog to go through that sh&%. Other producers would hear what you did and bad mouth you with the customers.

[Kent Sandvik]

Hi guys,tks for your replies:) I'll try that

Kent not sure what you mean by free release via a netlabel will google it

 

There's an amazing amount of good music released via netlabels nowadays. Free Music Archive is another great resource (just got an artist account there so I will release stuff through that channel.) And if anyone thinks they could make money from releasing it via digital distribution channels without doing any live shows where the money is (excluding royalty rights for film et rest....)

 

Anyway, going back to the point, I think most producers should learn to master because you just can't afford to always send a track to a mastering engineer for final work, unless someone else is of course paying the bill of some known reason.

[Rev. Juda Sleaze]

That is a nice Catch 22... I just use it because it's there, of course!

As for the OP: I think people should also discover things for themselves, not just blindly follow recipes, which is why I try to stay as vague as possible, it is all "domesticated guessing" without having heard the actual material itself...

http://documentation.apple.com/en/logicstudio/effects/#chapter=4%26section=2%26hash=apple_ref:doc:uid:TempBookID-ReplacedWhenAssociatingWithMessierRevision-DYN-1007877

 

Anyway, if you don't "listen for yourself" to what a plugin does, how are you ever going to experience (=potentially understand) what it is for?

 

Plus the AdLimiter makes everything wicked loud, man! Innit?

 

OTOH, I think I get what you are getting at with your disapproval. You don't have to yell in my face though. 8)

 

Cheers, Erik.

 

Hmmm, well I was actually shouting at the OP, not you, but anyway...

 

I agree that people should figure stuff out for themselves, 'cos that's the only way folk ever figure anything out.

 

BUT

 

Limiting affects the character of the sound, and IMO should only be applied to the stereo 1-2 channel once the track is properly mixed. I wasn't criticizing your workflow (if that is your workflow), just saying that I don't think it was helpful advice to the OP, s'all

[Rev. Juda Sleaze]

Well, there are few producers who would send their tracks to a professional mastering engineer concerning a free release via a netlabel, for example. So all this is not so black and white.

 

Any idea how much it costs to have a 1 track CD mastered professionally?

 

That's the only reason I mentioned professional mastering, I wasn't suggesting it out of the blue. I doubt a mastering engineer would be happy to receive a limited-to-**** track, possibly with 3rd party plugs clipping on individual channels.

[Eriksimon]

 

Hmmm, well I was actually shouting at the OP, not you, but anyway...

 

Ok - I'll put that down to my semantic sensitivity/paranoia then...

 

Limiting affects the character of the sound, and IMO should only be applied to the stereo 1-2 channel once the track is properly mixed.

 

I couldn't agree with you more - well, actually I could, because I think you can also apply AdL to a submix - but that mix or submix should first be mixed well - no plugin can "correct" an unbalanced mix, even though it may in some cases appear that way...