[Solved] Another Mixdown Question

Your question opens a plethora of more questions. 
 
What does it sound boomy on, your monitors or your car stereo? 
WHat are you using for monitors? 
Are you hi pass filtering tracks that don't need low end? 
Have you put a spectograph on the tracks to SEE what frequencies are hot? 
What is it that is boomy? which instruments,,, Audio? Midi? 
 

I recommend the mixing videos as well as the videos on EQ and compression at Groove 3. I think you'll find your answers there as it's a huge question on what could be going on with your mixes.

dannyb00
Thanks for the reply....
 
In my project, the mix sounds good through speakers and headphones. As soon as I mix down to audio the mix sounds boomy through the same monitors and headphones. This has never happened before and I for the life of me can't figure what I'm doing wrong.
 
I even did a test with a stereo music track.
• It's peaking at -3.0 absolutely no effects
• I select "File" "Export Audio"  I select WAV
• Source (Tracks)
• Sample Rate (44100)
• Bit Depth (16)
• Dithering (Triangular)
I even deselect "Fast Bounce"
 
When done, double click my file and it sounds boomy and muddy.
 

try selecting "what you hear" from mixdown options.

Dannyb00

Do you use busses? Do you have a master output in your routing?

There must be some type of FX on a bus or on the master. Do you have any tracks hidden that are still active?

Many things could cause this to happen.
 
Start by checking your routing: make sure EVERY track goes either to a sub-buss or to your master buss. You don't want ANY track going directly to your main outs. Also ensure ALL of your sub-busses are going to your master buss.
 
Next, do an export using the same bit depth & sample rate as your project (24 bit hopefully!) and with NO dithering.
Now import your new export into the same project on a new track. Route this one straight to your main outs (you don't want to "double up" any master buss Fx. Solo it. This should sound identical to your raw tracks and you have proved conclusively that Sonar isn't the problem.
 
Now do the same exercise but export as a 16 bit 44.1 KHz file. Reimporting it into Sonar should again sound exactly the same.
 
Now you can try playing it in Media Player, car stereo etc. If it sounds wrong in WMP, check you haven't got any weird EQ curve in WMP

DISCOVERY MOMENT!
OK, so I discovered something interesting. I exported my track to audio and of course it sounded boomy and muddy. I took the same boomy and muddy audio file and imported it back to Sonar and guess what? It sounded just fine.
 
Discovery: Media Player is somehow making my audio sound crappy.... but the file sounds fine once it is back in Sonar.
Now I'm trying to see what is going on with the Media Player. I don't recall adding any Eq or sound adjustment to it.
 
Has that happened to anyone?

OK, you guys are going to hate me..... The problem was Windows Media Player all along. It had the "SRS WOW Effects" settings on. The track sounded exactly as intended when I took that setting off.
 
Still, thanks so much for all your help. I learned a few things about the Export Settings out of this experience.

Discovery: Media Player is somehow making my audio sound crappy.... but the file sounds fine once it is back in Sonar.
Now I'm trying to see what is going on with the Media Player. I don't recall adding any Eq or sound adjustment to it.

This mistake happens way too often.