Audio too soft, NEED HELP!
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Posted on Jan 06, 2008 02:38 pm
xlakejunkiex
Ryan
Member Since: Dec 28, 2007
Hey, I was wondering if anybody could possibly help me out with a problem I have been having. Whenever I export a song, I bring it up on iTunes and compare the recording to a professionally recorded song, but the problem is, every time I do this, My recording is alot softer than the professional recording, but I am afraid of clipping and don't know how to fix this. Please help!
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 06, 2008 07:12 pm You need to use either a maximizer to bring the level up or a compressor with a limiter. You set it to bring up the gain of the outputs and then set the limiter to stop it from going past 0db. Normally most of us use a limiter to stop it around -2 or -3 dB.
What software are you using to record with? That will help us get you turned in the right direction.
Jan 06, 2008 09:37 pm Cubase LE
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 07, 2008 05:51 pm Ya, Cubase le should have both a compressor/limiter as well as a maximizer that will get your levels up there.
Jan 07, 2008 07:00 pm how do i go about doing that without clipping??
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 07, 2008 10:43 pm Crank up the output and set the limiter to 0dB and your all set.
Jan 07, 2008 11:24 pm i found the limiter, thank you.
one more question, should i turn on the compressor feature on every track? what are the pros and cons of that? and what does an autogate do?
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Jan 08, 2008 01:23 pm I don't normally put a compressor on every track. I find it gives a squashed effect, and different tracks need a different setting. If you're not careful there are all sorts of "breathing" issues as various tracks' compressors compete. It also eats CPU.
Be cautious as use only as needed.
It also can lend itself to the 'dark side' of the "loudness wars." You end up with something that has no dynamics and is overall quite squished.
I've been putting ModernDeepPurple (the "master" presets are pretty good to begin with, and are great with a little tweaking) and ModernExpander into my output track to get some "excitement" going on for the overall mix. These are free from Antress, but CPU hogs.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jan 08, 2008 06:05 pm Man, with a name like Deep Purple, it has to be good =).
I've heard (read) in several places that -.3 db is the place to land for limiters, as some CD players will clip if the signal is over -.3db. I've been doing this ever since, as there was quite a few people that were concurring this.
Anyone else do this?
I sometimes use compressor on several tracks, but not always all of them. I like to round the top, just a little, not very much at all, to most tracks.
I will use a multi-band on the stereo track, pre-mastering, depending on how much time I have to work on a project.
Autogate (i'm guessing) will kill the signal if it falls below a certain level. I don't know why it'd be called 'auto' as the function of a gate does this already. Maybe it does something more 'automatically'. =)
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Jan 08, 2008 06:10 pm yeah, pjk, I go to -0.3db as well. I think I read it on this site some years back.
I use compressor on almost every track, but that's in effort to get the individual track to sound like I want in the mix. Then, after its all mixed down, I'll throw a multiband compressor on the final mix and a limiter/maximizer at the very end to boost levels up to "radio" levels.
I think the maximizer/limter on the final mix down is the main thing that is going to get your loudness results you're looking for. Everything else is just to mold the sound.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Jan 08, 2008 06:15 pm Ya, -0.3 here as well. I honestly don't know where I read it as being best.
I usually only compress the snare, bass, kick and if needed, vocals. On final mixdown I will compress to get my volumes up to that of my reference CD.
Jan 08, 2008 08:21 pm I a maximixer/ limiter something i have to buy? or how could i access it on my softwAre?(cubase le)
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Jan 08, 2008 08:24 pm There are tons of freebies floating around the net. VST plugins are supported in Cubase so have a look at KVR Audio to find some good plugins:
www.kvraudio.com
Fish Fillets, Camel and Kjerhaus Classis Series are my favorite compressors, plus the multiband compressor included with Cubase.
Jan 08, 2008 08:30 pm what does a processor do? ps- thanks alot for that site
