Help... what'd I do wrong?

The following is a link to three songs I recorded recently. http://soundcloud.com/cha...e/sets/christmas-tunes I've mastered them as well as I know how using the tools I have. After mixing, (using a limiter to clean up vocal volume) I rendered and then ran the whole song through the mastering process. I used a compressor with attack and release set to zero, Compressing with a threshold of -10 and 20:1 ratio (probably too much, but it sounded good to me). Then ran it through a limiter to place the song at -0.4db. The final volume should actually come out lower. Maybe -6 db because of the master slider. The files sound great on my computer, ipod, car, and several other computers and CD players. However, one other computer (father in law's) it sounded distorted and the mix was way out of whack. I don't understand. I really don't. Can someone tell me what I did wrong? I'm still learning, so I probably made a "rookie mistake". If anyone can help me identify it, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I really appreciate it. It's been killing me because of how meticulously I tested it on other systems. I just always worry when something goes wrong that it's my fault.

wow... just re-listened on my ear buds.... the good ones...

last christmas blew me away with the bass levels.  I turned it down and it was still much too bass heavy.

Bass was heavy on the other songs as well.... ( 3 songs on the list)  

the vocals are nice, but they are a bit muffled to me.... no sparkle and no air. Baby please come home is such a well sung song..... 

drums sound flat.... fake. no punch in them .... the snare is like slapping a cardboard box. That is a simple sample replacement fix. Use a better drum sample. And don't compress it so much. 

There are so many really good things about these songs, and a few things that really should be addressed to take this up to a different level where it would really shine. Its a matter of fixing the things that are lacking and leaving the good stuff.... loved the production that was going on with vox & BGV in come home..... especially there at the end.... the girl can hit the high notes. 

great idea... Here we go. http://soundcloud.com/cha...sets/unmastered-tracks Any help would be most appreciated. Since mastering them, I installed a VST Graphic EQ and Audio analyzer. Though, Looking at the form, The only think I could think to change was a slight highs increase. Is that wrong? How will I know?

Those mixes are mixed to hot to "master" or limit them with these settings:

"Compressing with a threshold of -10 and 20:1 ratio"


If you want to use a 20:1 ratio then you'll want the threshold to be set so that only the peaks of the peaks hit the threshold.


If you want to use a -10dBfs threshold on music that is already peaking at -3dBFS then you'll probably want to use a much softer ratio to gently turn down the stuff above the threshold and not change it's character as much.



I wouldn't worry to much about your in-laws computer... unless he has it set up for hi-fi. Did you listen to any commercial stuff on that same system to see what you can realistically expect from it? That may be reassuring.



FWIW, I don't think the mixes sound bad, but I also agree with Herb with regards to the idea that anything about them that you wish to change should be done in the mix or the arrangement.


Personally, I'd ask you to ask your self why you felt compelled to master/limit these songs?

It seems like the "premastered" mixes were sitting in the *zone* already.

It seems as if you did it *just because*... you don't have to do that. I could have easily called the premaster versions *done*. People can always turn it up if something is not loud enough for their taste.


I liked the songs!!!


best regards,
mike

They are nice musically and vocally but do have a flatness about the drums and bass.  I play bass so I listen to it critically.  I am not the engineer for our projects so the other guys will help you there.  I agree with Herb that the bass was loud.  I listened on good headphones and then on good monitors.  Great start, though.

I agree with the others on the mix don't think it was bad its just the bass for me that isn't right - a little to high and no one has mentioned it but I wonder if you really play the right notes on the bass in the first song - it sounds like big terse where it should be a small one etc. The last song is really good and a little calmer. Play and mix on Chadtindale

Hi Chad,
 How about trying to limit the tracks again but this time just limit the very peaks.

 That means you'll have to set the threshold differently for each song and as I mentioned you can set the threshold much higher.

 Last Christmas barely needs any limiting, the majority of the entire track is limited and peaking steadily at -6dBFS and the end is a bit louder with sections peaking up to -4dBFS occasionally.

 At a 20:1 ratio I'd guess that setting the threshold to -6dB and using 5dB of make up gain would be a place to start listening.

 What you'll find is that this particular song already has a rather significant averaged -18.4dB RMS power,  and if you add 5dB of make up gain to it the mix will get thicker and perhaps muddy. 

 I think that if you wish to use a final stage to "glue" stuff together than you have to mix with less compression and limiting.

 But I also think that you can mix to a final output and skip all but light polishing in the master phase.

 I think the most compelling reason to "master" digital files these days is to have a second set of ears listen and make adjustments. If you have another person do your mastering they will generally ask for a lighter and lower level mix so that they may have more flexibility while doing their thing.

 The part where you turn it up and limit it is fairly easy... figuring out which frequencies bunch up and get muddy when you do it takes some practice. The more you figure that out the more likely you'll just predict it when you mix.

 If you are doing it all your self it seems fine to just mix to a final output target and be done with it.

 With regards to this mix... it sounds bass heavy. The bass tones sound great but they are balanced much louder than the other instruments.

 I think this sense of bass heavy balance contributes to the way the song does unexpected things after it was compressed or played on your in laws computer.

 I like big strong bass... but it seems a bit pronounced.

 If I liked the mix as it is, which I do... I might just set a limiter at -4dBFS and turn it up 3dB and call it done. Basically just turn it up with out actually limiting anything.

 If you really want to glue the vocals in with a final pass... go back to the mix and turn down the bass, beef up the rhythm guitar with some low end eq, beef up the lead vocal with some low end and a bit more reverb, raise the levels of the back ground vocals, and then go limit it all together.

 Then listen to your mastered mix and go back and tweak it from the mix if you feel an urge.

 I like the song and would try those very minor tweaks I mentioned and I would not wait for limiting to bring the balance together.

 

 You are so close... it's hard to give advice because it seems that you surely have a vision for what you want... so I am just trying to encourage you to grab the parts that help you get there.


 all the best,
mike

Hi Chad,

 I sincerely believe that experience and time in the saddle is the easiest, and actually the only, way to get where you want to go.

 I encourage you to just keep at it.

 It may be revelation to someday realize that you are probably your own harshest critic. 

 I think you are doing great... the songs are strong and it's pretty obvious that you are thinking about your mixes and doing a darn good job.

 Just keep at it and you'll get to where you want to be.

 Good luck with it!


 best regards,
mike