hoponpop
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How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels without the sound distorting??? Something really evolved staring in about 2000 or so and id like to know what it is. Every new recording I listen to no matter what genre has levels that are off the chart. --Yet no distorting?? My recordings sound totally wimpy compared to anything today, yet compared to stuff from say, 1995 and before it is comparable. wtf?
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ba_midi
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 00:51:02
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This is the "simple" answer -- because so much depends on the individual tracks and other elements, but the big trick is simply Master Limiting (a generic term). BOOST 11 is one example, but there is a lot that goes into getting "loudness" without distortion. But in general, master limiting plugins, with other compression techniques throughout the project is how it's done. I want to overstate that this is a "simple" answer. But just throwing a mastering limiter on the final stage output bus (Master Bus, for example) is one way to achieve this. Poor use of this, however, will not make things sounds "better", just louder. SO - like anything else in life, learning as much as one can about the techniques involved in producing/mixing/mastering is still the best way to achieve the results one desires in the end. ORIGINAL: hoponpop
How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels without the sound distorting??? Something really evolved staring in about 2000 or so and id like to know what it is. Every new recording I listen to no matter what genre has levels that are off the chart. --Yet no distorting?? My recordings sound totally wimpy compared to anything today, yet compared to stuff from say, 1995 and before it is comparable. wtf?
post edited by ba_midi - 2008/12/16 00:54:23
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altima_boy_2001
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 01:15:53
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I think brickwall limiters and multiband compressors have added a lot to the loudness wars, but you may try serial compression. Load up 8 compressors on your master bus and adjust each one so it takes about 1 dB off the signal then add 1 dB to makeup gain. By the end you have added 8 dB to the signal but each compressor is only making a slight adjustment so there is less chance of introducing distortion. You may want to adjust attack and release somewhat on each one so they don't all act the same. If you really want to get crazy try serial multiband compression... 
post edited by altima_boy_2001 - 2008/12/16 02:15:06
You can use me as your eSoundz referral (altima_boy_2001).
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montezuma
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 01:18:52
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I think this discussion has been going on for a fair while now right?
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JSGlen
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 01:26:55
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Just Google "Loudness Wars" and you will learn quite a bit.
ADK Quad Pro, Intel Core i7 3770 IVB 3.5 Ghz, Windows 7 64 Seagate 500G Sata 600 OS Drive, Seagate 1 TB Sata 600 Audio Drive, 16 gigs of ram, 700 watt Coolermaster Silent Pro power supply. Apollo Quad Interface, Dangerous D-Box, Burl B2 ADC, UAD 2 Duo, Avalon 737, UA LA 610 MK II, UA 1176 LN Hardware, Focal CMS 65 monitors, Avid Artist Control. Sonar X3d Pro Tools 11 & 10 Wavelab 8
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RockStringBender
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 01:42:25
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Nothin from nothin, but it's not the distortion as much as it is the mud. If you want your stuff to sound like that use the VC64 or B11 and squash the stuffing out of your mix. A group sampling of those engineers would prob recommend the mix they heard prior to the mastering process IMO. I stopped doing it to my mixes. Great to have the tools, nice to know I can get there..... but not for me.
I prefer to turn my volume knob up and dig the nuances...just like back when a 1oow stereo and a vinyl turntable could rock the house (or car)
I wish my lawn was emo..... then it would cut itself.
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RockStringBender
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 01:46:52
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....err, OK....... the car was an 8Track.... never had a turntable in a car (the bumps would have ... well, you know... ) But a mid 70s Craig quad in a 69 cougar sounded great when the cash registers were floating around the cab with Pink Floyds "Money"
I wish my lawn was emo..... then it would cut itself.
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hoponpop
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 01:50:10
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i just visited WIKI on loudness wars. I had NO IDEA this was such a phenomena.
Wow.
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RockStringBender
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 01:53:25
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Listen to the last Pink Floyd or Metalica CDs and compare the clarity and artistry of the material verses their respective earlier CDs.
I wish my lawn was emo..... then it would cut itself.
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montezuma
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 03:06:11
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It's something you can do at home easily judging by several songs I have heard. I can't get enough
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ston
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RE: How are producers/sound engineers able to get those insanely high levels
2008/12/16 05:37:45
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I really like this article: http://www.prorec.com/Articles/tabid/109/EntryId/247/Over-the-Limit.aspx It's a signal analysis of Rush's last five albums. Of particular note is their last studio album, Vapor Trails and the horrendous destruction of the waveform into...well, a square wave really, caused by ludicrous compression techniques. It's pretty representative of what's been happening in music production over the last few years. Personally, I don't bother trying to achieve uber volume levels when mixing/mastering. I use a special technique which has fallen into disuse of late. I call it the "Volume Control" By turning this control, the music can be made louder or quieter, *without* affecting the audio waveform! 
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