Trying to get a good mix on a boom box

Posted on

Member Since: Dec 24, 2006

Hey...

I've been playing all my mixes on speakers around my house, tv, stereo, ipod.........and then I tried a pretty basic boom box.

Unfortunatley the vocals were so faint you could barley hear them, however for some reason everything sounded perfect on other systems as well as my monitors. And originally I had thought the vocals might be to loud in the mix. Are there certain frequencies these little boom boxes cant play and that is why the vocals are not coming through because im boosting them at 4k?

If anyone can help with this it would be great.

[ Back to Top ]


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 30, 2007 05:53 pm

Try other boomboxes too...odds are it's just a frequency range that box has trouble with.

Member
Since: Dec 24, 2006


Apr 30, 2007 05:59 pm

I was thinking that as well, but ruled it out because I've tried it on three and it's all the same results. Other CD's I play on them sound really good though, so it doesn't make sense.

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006


Apr 30, 2007 06:03 pm

If you want to mix for a boom box, try mixing your music using the boom box as your monitors. That'll guarantee results. But I wouldn't expect that mix to sound great on good studio monitors, either.

Member
Since: Dec 24, 2006


Apr 30, 2007 06:11 pm

But isn't the point of studio monitors to help allow a mix to stay true on all speakers? or generally most of them.

Alot of people listen to boomboxes. I don't see how you cant traslate a good mix from your monitors onto a boom box.

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006


Apr 30, 2007 06:24 pm

The role of studio monitors is to be as accurate as possible. Unfortunately, this being the real world, many (or most) boom boxes aren't. Them's the breaks. We can't have it both ways, so we have to compromise. Just try to adjust the EQ on the box the best you can.

Member
Since: Dec 24, 2006


Apr 30, 2007 06:29 pm

Alrite. Thanks for your help

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006


Apr 30, 2007 06:34 pm

Sure nuff.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 30, 2007 08:51 pm

Ya, it may just be the EQ that those particular boxes are using. I have an expensive Sony that handles all mixes very well and a kind of cheapy out in the garage. The cheapy in the garage can have that same effect depending on were have the EQ set.

A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004


Apr 30, 2007 09:19 pm

Doesn't Har-Bal Fix a lot of these types of Issues?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 30, 2007 09:27 pm

This is exactly what HarBal is made for...but I figured I'd let someone else mention it for a change :-)

Member
Since: Dec 24, 2006


May 01, 2007 06:12 pm

How will Har-bal fix this issue? and what's wrong with the recording?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


May 01, 2007 06:16 pm

Read the site, it will help you fix the frequency curve, it's very likely the problem has a peak or valley in the frequency curve that happens to match the weak point in the boom boxes speakers.

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.