soens
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Export Mixdown sounds terrible *Solved*
Lately when I mix down with Export Audio the results sound like they've been over compressed when I don't even have a compressor on the project. The mix sounds great when played in Sonar but the mixed down wav file sounds terrible. Both X1d and X2a are doing this. Any ideas?
post edited by soens - 2013/01/11 22:23:25
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Kalle Rantaaho
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/05 05:42:21
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Do you import the exported wav back into SONAR for auditioning? In case you audition them in WMP, make sure its compressor is not on. At least it used to have a compressor.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/05 06:29:07
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You'll need to list all the settings in the Export dialog box.
And double check that all your tracks & busses are routed to the Master Bus
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CJaysMusic
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/05 10:27:37
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Sonar exports exactly how you tell it to. Are you setting your export properties correct?
Also, other playback systems are different, so you need to take into account that songs may sound better in your studio, as you may not have a tuned environment that your mixing in and when you play it back on other systems it will not translate well, because you never mixed it in a tuned environment. That's one of hundreds of theories.
None the less, you need to tell us more about exactly what your doing and your entire signal chain needs to be gone over and the other playback systems need to be listed.
You do not have enough info listed in your post to tell you what you are doing wrong
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Beepster
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/05 10:44:31
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/05 21:39:44
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I think I had the track outputs routed goofy. I'm trying several setting changes here and there but that seems to be the main glitch.
Thanks guys!
Steve
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CJaysMusic
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/06 10:27:35
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This is the "normal" routing. Just like a hardware mixing board.
1. Tracks go to the Master Bus
2. Buses Go the the Master Bus
3. The Master Bus goes to the Main Outs 1/2
The master bus is the "catch all' for all tracks and buses
Cj
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/06 12:15:40
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I know this, though, I had several tracks routed to the REVERB Bus and their Sends routed to the same Bus. REVERB Bus was routed to the MASTER Bus.
I also had Channel Tools in the MASTER FX Bin. Don't know why but it was over distorting the output signal so I took it out.
Not sure what was causing the trouble but it seems to be working OK now.
.
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/06 20:43:28
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Until now.
For some reason I can get 2 totally different results back to back.
Only change is a few fader adjustments.
This is the 1st project with this trouble so maybe it's going batty... I know I am.
.
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swamptooth
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/06 21:27:38
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@cj - one of the odd things ive noticed in all of cakes sample projects is that track outputs always go to a bus then to the master. cant find a single file that shows tracks going right to the master. odd for me that they would always choose not to send ANY tracks output direct to master
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/07 04:07:18
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Swamp, none of my tracks go direct to the Master Buss - ever!
All drums go to drums bus
All guitars go to guitar bus
All vocals.....
You get the picture
CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughoutCustom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/07 08:35:47
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I have X1 essentials.... in the export window I use 44.1/16 and I also select the export preset called "What You Hear"... I understand not all Cake DAW's still have this option but in X1, it's there and I always use it.
The export will sound exactly like WHAT YOU HEAR in the playback. Nothing more, nothing less.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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CJaysMusic
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/07 15:53:42
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cj - one of the odd things Ive noticed in all of cakes sample projects is that track outputs always go to a bus then to the master. cant find a single file that shows tracks going right to the master
That doesn't matter at all. Maybe they wanted all instruments going to a sub buss before the master. If thats what you want, then thats fine. Maybe you want all tracks going to a sub bus before the master. Think of it like a real hardware mixing board, because that is exactly what it is, but in software. I have all tracks going to the master and then i have some or most tracks going to buses with effects on them and those buses go to the master bus. then that master goes to the main outs.
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/07 23:36:21
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Guitarhacker
I have X1 essentials.... in the export window I use 44.1/16 and I also select the export preset called "What You Hear"... I understand not all Cake DAW's still have this option but in X1, it's there and I always use it.
The export will sound exactly like WHAT YOU HEAR in the playback. Nothing more, nothing less.
That's the problem. Sometimes it does. Somethimes it doesn't. Project may be corrupted some how. I'll start fresh and see what happens.
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fmath
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/09 17:10:22
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Hey Soens, here's something else to try. I fought with the same problem - I tried everyone's suggestions here and on other threads I found, but still couldn't figure out why my export sounded terrible (and different than within Sonar).
I'm using a Win7 PC with x1d. I just happened to look at Properties settings of the audio devices of my system (not within x1d). Under the Enhancements tab, there was an unchecked box for "Disable all sound effects". Once I disabled the sound effects, my exports sounded just like within x1d. Also, under the Advanced tab, there were Exclusive Mode settings enabled to "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device". This might explain why my projects sounded fine with x1d running, but not when listening to the export files.
I also confirmed that the Windows Update that I just applied today enabled that sound effect setting, so I had to disable it again after the update.
Hopefully, you'll have similar settings that will help.
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paildef
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/10 15:14:39
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YES YES YES YES YESSSSSSSS Man you njust saved me HOURS of frustration I was contemplating buying a new sound card altogether because I could sense the problem was coming from there but you saved me alot of anger and money It was EXACTLY the problem coming from my card's "SRS Premium Sound" (my azzz***) feature which added lots of low freq plus a compressor Thanks man Just can't thank you enough I was going nuts fmath
Hey Soens, here's something else to try. I fought with the same problem - I tried everyone's suggestions here and on other threads I found, but still couldn't figure out why my export sounded terrible (and different than within Sonar).
I'm using a Win7 PC with x1d. I just happened to look at Properties settings of the audio devices of my system (not within x1d). Under the Enhancements tab, there was an unchecked box for "Disable all sound effects". Once I disabled the sound effects, my exports sounded just like within x1d. Also, under the Advanced tab, there were Exclusive Mode settings enabled to "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device". This might explain why my projects sounded fine with x1d running, but not when listening to the export files.
I also confirmed that the Windows Update that I just applied today enabled that sound effect setting, so I had to disable it again after the update.
Hopefully, you'll have similar settings that will help.
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John
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/10 15:34:25
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soens
I know this, though, I had several tracks routed to the REVERB Bus and their Sends routed to the same Bus. REVERB Bus was routed to the MASTER Bus.
I also had Channel Tools in the MASTER FX Bin. Don't know why but it was over distorting the output signal so I took it out.
Not sure what was causing the trouble but it seems to be working OK now.
.
That could be because its getting too hot a signal. Put it back in and lower the input trim at the top of the Master Buss. See if that helps. Some plugins are sensitive to the signal's volume. Because Sonar uses a floating point mix engine it will let hot signals go through without distorting or clipping. But some plugins are not able to handle that.
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/10 15:47:12
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fmath
Hey Soens, here's something else to try. I fought with the same problem - I tried everyone's suggestions here and on other threads I found, but still couldn't figure out why my export sounded terrible (and different than within Sonar).
I'm using a Win7 PC with x1d. I just happened to look at Properties settings of the audio devices of my system (not within x1d). Under the Enhancements tab, there was an unchecked box for "Disable all sound effects". Once I disabled the sound effects, my exports sounded just like within x1d. Also, under the Advanced tab, there were Exclusive Mode settings enabled to "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device". This might explain why my projects sounded fine with x1d running, but not when listening to the export files.
I also confirmed that the Windows Update that I just applied today enabled that sound effect setting, so I had to disable it again after the update.
Hopefully, you'll have similar settings that will help.
Thanks math, but all my enhancements have been disabled. I may have an idea to try out later and will let yall know if I fix this. 
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Marcus Curtis
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/10 15:51:43
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fmath
Hey Soens, here's something else to try. I fought with the same problem - I tried everyone's suggestions here and on other threads I found, but still couldn't figure out why my export sounded terrible (and different than within Sonar).
I'm using a Win7 PC with x1d. I just happened to look at Properties settings of the audio devices of my system (not within x1d). Under the Enhancements tab, there was an unchecked box for "Disable all sound effects". Once I disabled the sound effects, my exports sounded just like within x1d. Also, under the Advanced tab, there were Exclusive Mode settings enabled to "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device". This might explain why my projects sounded fine with x1d running, but not when listening to the export files.
I also confirmed that the Windows Update that I just applied today enabled that sound effect setting, so I had to disable it again after the update.
Hopefully, you'll have similar settings that will help.
I had a similar issue with my sound card about a year ago. I thought it was the way Sonar was exporting the song. I tried different dithers and checked and rechecked the export options. Finally I bounced the whole mix to a single stereo track within Sonar and compared it to the mix. Sounded the same. That is what got me to look at the sound card on the computer. Now when ever I am in doubt I listen to the exported file through my audio interface. Not my computers Sound Card.
http://www.marcuscurtismusic.com/ Windows 10 ultimate, Sonar Platinum, AMD Phenom 2 x6 1075T processor 3.00 GHz, (6 cores) 8 gigs of Ram, Audio interfaces=VS-100, Pod X3 live pro, Boss GT-100, Boss GP10 Midi Controllers=Edirol PCR 800, roland GR-55. Ozone 7, Podfarm, Th2 Full Version, Melda, True Pianos Full Version, and a whole bunch of free VST plugins which can be found through my site.
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/10 15:56:30
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That's exactly what I do. But sometimes I route the soundcard through the interface which may be the culprit.
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Marcus Curtis
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/10 20:56:16
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How do you route the sound card through the interface? Do you selected the interface as the default in the control panel? Is that what we are talking about here. I have a few audio interfaces I check an exported mix on.
One time I could not figure out why the export sounded so different. It was when I went into the settings of windows media player that I discovered that the EQ was not set up for a flat frequency response. I had to go into the enhancement section and turn off all the plug in stuff. This was a few years ago.
After a mix is exported I will listen to it on my computers sound card. Then I go to the control panel and make my audio interface the default sound card and listen again. Then I switch to another audio interface and listen through the P.A. system
About that time my wife is ready to kill me. That is if she has not left the house and is near the ummm man cave....
http://www.marcuscurtismusic.com/ Windows 10 ultimate, Sonar Platinum, AMD Phenom 2 x6 1075T processor 3.00 GHz, (6 cores) 8 gigs of Ram, Audio interfaces=VS-100, Pod X3 live pro, Boss GT-100, Boss GP10 Midi Controllers=Edirol PCR 800, roland GR-55. Ozone 7, Podfarm, Th2 Full Version, Melda, True Pianos Full Version, and a whole bunch of free VST plugins which can be found through my site.
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/11 12:31:55
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Why not hire her as a backup singer, tambourine player, or teach her guitar riffs???
.
.
On the laptop I had the soundcard going out the phones jack into the mixer into the interface which goes back to the laptop via USB. I haven't looked into this yet so who knows.
I don't fully inderstand the USB connectivity thing as there's no real control for it.
I monitor thru the interface headphones or speakers connected to the interface main outs.
Another issue is the interface volume control is supposed to affect the speaker outs but it doesn't.
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Marcus Curtis
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/11 20:39:13
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☄ Helpful
soens
Why not hire her as a backup singer, tambourine player, or teach her guitar riffs???
.
.
On the laptop I had the soundcard going out the phones jack into the mixer into the interface which goes back to the laptop via USB. I haven't looked into this yet so who knows.
I don't fully inderstand the USB connectivity thing as there's no real control for it.
I monitor thru the interface headphones or speakers connected to the interface main outs.
Another issue is the interface volume control is supposed to affect the speaker outs but it doesn't.
Have you tried software routing instead of physical routing to your Audio interface. Go to start, select control panel. Click on Sound. under the playback tab look for your audio interface. Right click and choose set as default. Then make it the default communication device. If you follow those steps /your computer will use your audio interface instead of the sound card. Now you can play back a file on windows media player with no outside wires to hook up. You will get a better example of just what was exported. If it sounds drastically different then you know there is a problem somewhere. Once your done auditioning the exported file you can switch everything back. I think this is the best way to listen to exported files.
http://www.marcuscurtismusic.com/ Windows 10 ultimate, Sonar Platinum, AMD Phenom 2 x6 1075T processor 3.00 GHz, (6 cores) 8 gigs of Ram, Audio interfaces=VS-100, Pod X3 live pro, Boss GT-100, Boss GP10 Midi Controllers=Edirol PCR 800, roland GR-55. Ozone 7, Podfarm, Th2 Full Version, Melda, True Pianos Full Version, and a whole bunch of free VST plugins which can be found through my site.
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soens
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/11 22:22:18
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Thanks A Million for that trick, Marcus! Didn't know about it.
After making the MOTU Phones default, all the exports sound great now. So it was the routing, not the file, that made for bad sound.
It wasn't necessary to make it the default communication device, tho.
Steve
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Marcus Curtis
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Re:Export Mixdown sounds terrible
2013/01/12 08:22:09
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soens
Thanks A Million for that trick, Marcus! Didn't know about it.
After making the MOTU Phones default, all the exports sound great now. So it was the routing, not the file, that made for bad sound.
It wasn't necessary to make it the default communication device, tho.
Steve
setting it up as the default communication device also allows the system sounds to travel through your audio interface. things like the alert sounds and such. Usually when I am listening to a few different exports I will turn my computer speakers off and not use them at all. Your right. It is not necessary to make your audio interface the default communication device when listening to your exported mixes through something like media player or real player. That is just my OCD kicking in. I am happy you got it working Cheers
http://www.marcuscurtismusic.com/ Windows 10 ultimate, Sonar Platinum, AMD Phenom 2 x6 1075T processor 3.00 GHz, (6 cores) 8 gigs of Ram, Audio interfaces=VS-100, Pod X3 live pro, Boss GT-100, Boss GP10 Midi Controllers=Edirol PCR 800, roland GR-55. Ozone 7, Podfarm, Th2 Full Version, Melda, True Pianos Full Version, and a whole bunch of free VST plugins which can be found through my site.
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