I'm assuming that you recorded the music with Cakewalk Pro Audio? And that when playing back as a mixed down MP3 or WAV file using a Media Player such as WinAmp it plays normally but distorts when you use Bass Boost or any other sonic enhancer?
If that is correct, then the reason would be one of two things and usually a combination of the two.
Amplitude peaks in the song where the punctuations of the music and singing (it happens with both music and vocals separately and together, a peak of volume).
The other is the equalization which may have certain frequencies higher in volume than others.
When you boost the bass, you are adding an artificial amplitude increase to some of the lower frequencies that may cause the overall audio signal to "clip" which produces distortion.
You need to use the Audio Editor (the part that allows you to edit the actual waveform of the individual tracks) to better smooth out or even out the differences in your louds and softs where the sharp volume peaks aren't at the upper limit. This will allow the use of enhancements without overdriving. The same with your EQ. make sure your volume settings are reasonably low enough to give you a good EQ that will sound good normally and also without overdriving the signal when enhancements and bass boosting is used on a Media Player.
You can also experiment some using the compressor/limiter/expander functions of the included FX plug-ins for Pro Audio.
All of these can effect the finished product and recording is definitely a learning experience of trial and error.
post edited by CorpPunisher - 2011/01/24 19:48:08