Song is distorted whenever played on iTunes

[jennywinter]

When I bounce the project it automatically turns into a QuickTime file, and it sounds ok, almost like the Logic Pro file of it, but whenever I open it with iTunes the song sounds terrible, awfully distorted. The instruments are too loud and the melody is not clear, and all the effort I put into emphasizing specific instruments and parts goes to waste

I tried to decrease the volume of the master track, but the result was the same :/

 

Any tips?

Thanks

[Jordi Torres]

First make sure normalization is Off (Bounce window) when bouncing from Logic.

In iTunes, make sure the EQ, Sound Check, and Sound Enhancer are also deactivated.

 

turn off the itunes sound enhancer

 

J.

[jennywinter]

First make sure normalization is Off (Bounce window) when bouncing from Logic.

In iTunes, make sure the EQ, Sound Check, and Sound Enhancer are also deactivated.

.

 

Thanks jordito!

The normalization was Off and i deactivated Sound Enhancer on iTunes, and it really helped, but the song still sounds bad, comparing to the way it sounds as a Logic project.

 

today I bounced another project, and this time even the QuickTime file sounded bad - drums were too loud and distorted, not like in the Logic file, where they sound great.

 

From what I have learned by now, i came to the conclusion that it may have something to do with the dynamic range, which is wider,and basically limitless on Logic, so something that sounds ok in Logic may be too loud for ordinary music player.

if i am right, how can i find the optimal dynamic range, so my projects won't ever be too loud and distorted, nor too quiet?

 

hope i've made myself clear! lol

 

thanks again.

[David Nahmani]

Jenny, I'm afraid that does not make sense: when normalization is off in the bounce dialog, Logic takes the same zeros and ones it would send directly to your audio interface connected to your speakers when you press play in Logic, and sends them to an audio file. When you playback that audio file in QuickLook or QuickTime or iTunes with transparent settings, those same zeros and ones are sent to your audio interface connected to your speakers.

 

So I'm not sure what you're doing wrong, but bouncing in Logic with Normalization off is "what you hear is what you get": rather than streaming the zeros and ones in real time, you're placing them in an audio file, and streaming them later when you playback the file in QuickTime. The sound is exactly the same.

[jennywinter]

Jenny, I'm afraid that does not make sense: when normalization is off in the bounce dialog, Logic takes the same zeros and ones it would send directly to your audio interface connected to your speakers when you press play in Logic, and sends them to an audio file. When you playback that audio file in QuickLook or QuickTime or iTunes with transparent settings, those same zeros and ones are sent to your audio interface connected to your speakers.

 

So I'm not sure what you're doing wrong, but bouncing in Logic with Normalization off is "what you hear is what you get": rather than streaming the zeros and ones in real time, you're placing them in an audio file, and streaming them later when you playback the file in QuickTime. The sound is exactly the same.

 

OOOOOK!

i know what i did wrong in the second project i have mentioned and it's a FAIL!

when i listened to the logic pro file of it before bouncing, my headphones' volume was quieter, and while the project was converting itself into an MP3 file I listened to a song and probably raised the volume, and when i listened to the QuickTime version it was too loud ><

now i listened to it, and it's the same ><

 

but still, the first project i have mentioned - its quality is lower when i listen to it on iTunes.

[David Nahmani]

iTunes has many different settings that affect the quality of the playback (auto-level, sound enhancer, EQ etc...) so it's not obvious to get it to be transparent. Better to use QuickLook or QuickTime for transparent playback.

[jennywinter]

thanks everybody!

[shivermetimbers]

http://mylt.ltcdn.com/files/images/Blonde0529.jpg

[David Nahmani]

Jenny, you also may want to check out the end of that thread, which may be the reason why iTunes doesn't sound the same as QuickTime.

 

http://www.logicprohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=64642