Strange Mastering Behavior

I have an orchestral project (started in Sonar, finished in Reaper) that I am now mastering and exporting as wave and mp3. I exported the mixed-down wave from Reaper and imported it to Sonar, because I can use my favorite mastering tools, Vintage Channel and LP 64 EQ, which don't work in Reaper. Fine so far, everything sounds exactly the same. In Sonar, I use VC and LP 64 as mastering tools, and get the finishing touch I'm after. Then I export that as a wave file. This is where it gets weird. Everything sounds fine, except in one spot, where the flutes are in thirds.  One flute sounds too loud, the other too weak. I figure whatever is happening, has to be happening during that last stage,  the final wave file creation. Could it be bit depth, dithering, or some other setting? I have no idea. Anybody have an idea what's going on here?
 
Thanks, 
 
Michael

Hi Michael,
 
Export in highest quality 16/24 bit for your mix downs.
Im sure you know this but don't try using an MP3 as a mix to go master off of.
use only a high quality WAV file.
 
Do a reference check as John has mentioned. Import this mix in to sonar and just listen to it closely.
Listen to it using Windows media player as well. (try choosing at minimum 2 different sources) to track down where your mix is going array. Also be aware of your export options in Sonar. there are many choices and many different kinds of export presets.
 
You first need to rule out possibly a bad mix coming from reaper.

John
Does it sound OK in any other playback app before you import it into Sonar?  

I'll have to listen to it in media player all the way through. It's a 16 minute piece, so I may not have gotten far enough in my preliminary sound check, before importing it into Sonar. I'll report back after I do that.

It won't be bit depth, sample rate or dither, none of which will cause the symptoms you describe. The logical culprits would be EQ or compression. Make sure any filters are broad and gentle. If you're applying any EQ boosts that might be over-emphasizing certain parts, consider using a dynamic equalizer instead.

bitflipper
It won't be bit depth, sample rate or dither, none of which will cause the symptoms you describe. The logical culprits would be EQ or compression. Make sure any filters are broad and gentle. If you're applying any EQ boosts that might be over-emphasizing certain parts, consider using a dynamic equalizer instead.

I do try to use gentle mastering FX. In fact, with Vintage Channel I use the "Gentle M-S Mastering" preset, and with LP 64 EQ I use "Subtle Analog Warmth," but I change the gains on all the focus points, cutting them in half or more. This puts a nice sheen on everything. Also, in Reaper, I have Spaces reverb, the Cakewalk Tube Leveler and the LP 64 multiband on the mix track. Some of Cake's FX work in Reaper; some do not.

mettelus
I think the OP said it sounds the same after the import into SONAR. It is the export from SONAR that doesn't.

Best suggestion may be to mixdown to a single track inside SONAR and then drag/drop that wav to the desktop to check.

Yep, good idea. O ne weird thing: every time I import the wave into Sonar, I have to slide the whole thing to the right by one second, or the beginning is slightly garbled. Don't know what the heck that is from.