Subject:Final Mixdown and Low Volume Problems

Posted by: SonicSounds

Date:5/14/2003 10:38:31 AM

I'm no audio engineer but I think I have an intermediate knowledge of how to mix a track before I burn it to CD. One thing I've noticed in Acid is that if I mix it using the VU meter (making sure the max volume hovers around -3db), it always comes out NOT loud enough. When I play my song to a professionally produced track, the volume is way too low.

On the other hand, when I crank the volume up way past clipping, my final mix comes out perfect. There's no clipping or distortion and it sounds comparable to a pro track.

What's the deal and what am I doing wrong?

Subject:RE: Final Mixdown and Low Volume Problems

Reply by: spongebob

Date:5/15/2003 1:20:03 PM

Have you tried normalizing in Sound Forge before burning to CD?

Subject:RE: Final Mixdown and Low Volume Problems

Reply by: SonicSounds

Date:5/16/2003 3:03:36 PM

I'll have to try that. I've always tried to use compression on the final mix but that usually doesn't work. I completely forgot about normalizing...dohh!! In theory, doesn't normalizing flatten the peaks out and bring the valleys up to equalize everything? Is there a normalization function in the Sound Forge that comes with Acid Pro?

Subject:RE: Final Mixdown and Low Volume Problems

Reply by: Jessariah

Date:5/16/2003 5:03:24 PM

Normalizing only brings the highest peak to 0dB and raises the rleative volume of the rest of the track. If you have one "hot" moment anywhere, it will keep the rest of the mix down.

It's weird in SoFo products how "clipping" doesn't always clip the sound. Perhaps there's built-in headroom on the meters.

What you want is to use a mastering compressor, like WaveHammer (which comes with Acid Pro). I use Sonic Timeworks' Mastering compressor, and it is literally the last plug-in I would give up.

Subject:RE: Final Mixdown and Low Volume Problems

Reply by: SonicSounds

Date:5/19/2003 1:11:02 PM

That's where I'm confused. My version of Acid Pro 3.0 came with Sound Forge XP and it didn't come with WaveHammer. My version of 4.0 didn't even come with Sound Forge XP. I'll have to check into a mastering compressor.

Subject:RE: Final Mixdown and Low Volume Problems

Reply by: SHTUNOT

Date:5/19/2003 1:31:54 PM

Check out Izotope ozone:

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/directx.html

Read their mastering guide and start experimenting. This is NOT a skill you pick up during lunch. But with ozone and the guide you have a great headstart at polishing your work. I would recommend having someone else do this but in a pinch...

You should do a search on mastering throughout sofo's forums as well as other audio forums to have a better grasp at what your trying to achieve.

HTH.

Ed.

Subject:RE: Final Mixdown and Low Volume Problems

Reply by: kilroy

Date:5/19/2003 9:30:56 PM

If you want a really "cheap" volume maximizer go to www.digitalfishphones.com and pick up Sasha's very good, very free Endorphin plugin. Nice piece of work indeed.

Another alternative is available at voxengo.com, called the Elephant. Beats me why this for a name, but if you can program something that works as well as this I say you should be able to name it anything you like. This limiter, in our very humble opinion, sounds better than the Waves L2, which is a very pricey plugin. The guy seems to still be tweaking it so its hard to say how much better it will get. Well worth the grab right now though. Most transparent software maximizer\limiter we've heard so far, and it's dead cheap for what it does.