Overall audio mixdown volume w/ Cubase?

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Member Since: Dec 05, 2008

I use Cubase LE 4. Once i have mixed down a song and go to play the file, the master volume of it is abysmally low; even though its as loud as it can be in Cubase. Not sure if I'm articulating this very well, but hope someone can help me out with this!

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Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Dec 05, 2008 04:28 pm

In short, you need to use a limiter. Don't overdo it though.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Dec 05, 2008 04:55 pm

Just for the sake of argument (not that I want to argue), your levels aren't "abysmally low" -- They're perfectly normal.

Everything out today is far (FAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR in many cases) too loud.

Line level is still line level - Has been since the 40's and isn't in any danger of changing.

In any case, during the tracking and mixing phase, if your mixes even approach what's considered "reasonable commercial level" then something is probably very, very wrong. 18-20dB crests at maybe -26 to -22dBRMS is typical from the average engineer. Some are considerably lower -- those tend to be the "picky" guys who are headroom whores - myself included.

Member
Since: Dec 05, 2008


Dec 05, 2008 08:38 pm

..wont a limiter reduce the volume?

Member
Since: Dec 05, 2008


Dec 05, 2008 08:55 pm

so it's not a problem with mixing down the tracks to export them from Cubase? I get the volume level so that I'm satisfied with it, and then after i export it, it's not nearly as loud as it was when I was satisfied with it.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Dec 05, 2008 11:23 pm

Quote:
..wont a limiter reduce the volume?


YES!!! And give yourself a hearty handshake and a pat on the back for thinking through that.

Seriously - Most people think that compressors and limiters make things louder - Although they might be used for that purpose, they in fact, reduce the dynamic range from the top down first.

But I digress...

You can throw a limiter on the 2-buss and "ram" it. That's how (some) people "get their stuff louder."

How the mixes will react to the abuse is up to the mixes. Most mixes don't have the same "volume potential" as the average "on the shelf" recording (although many of those didn't have that potential either, but the labels are busy having a pissing contest with other labels and the listener is the one going deaf from it).

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