Loudness MAximizer - pops/Crackles/Distortion

Hello, I recently got ozone 4 and I am using for the first time. Everythings sounds nice, so when i go to "make it loud", (using the Loudness MAXIMIZER) I can't make it to 0db withou soem distortion now and then, so to avoid distorion i have to turn it down.. but then the track won't be loud enough...
 
any thoughts? thanks

Do not push your level to 0db. Leave at least 1db headroom, 2-3db is better. If you can't do that because you're hitting the input too hard, push the threshold all the way up and then turn down Ozone's Input slider until you have at least 6db difference between input and output. Then bring the maximimer threshold down to taste.

OK.... at the risk of exposing my valuable trade secrets and enduring the laughs and mockery sure to accompany them......


I use O4 as well. I do not change the settings on the maximizer at all. I will tweeze the other settings if I feel it is needed but I quit worrying about the volume level in the maximizer.

Export the song to a folder after applying O4 to it.... open it in a wave editor such as Audacity and look at the wave form..... it should have peaks and valleys in it.....it should not look like a brick. Then normalize it to 100%. That will bring the volume up to the 0db level on the highest peak in the song.....everything else will be below that level.

you want a form that looks similar to this: notice that you could..if you desired to do so, actually count the number of 100% peaks in the wave. This is a good sounding song... as loud as the stuff you hear on the radio without being overly so, and it has dynamics remaining in it.

If you are not careful with the O4 maximizer, you can squash all the dynamics out of a song in the pursuit of being the loudest on the radio. 

Yes, indeed that is one beautiful waveform, Herb. The OP - and any other mastering novice - should print it out and hang it up over his video monitors as a reference.

Esteban, spend some time with the Ozone Mastering Guide. It will be time well invested. Here's another article you might also enjoy: Part One, Part Two.

EDIT: Looks like those last two links are no longer valid. Fortunately, somebody archived it elsewhere, although the pictures are missing.

Jonesy... thanks... just don't push the levels and try to get the loudest mix, the waves will look similar.


Bit... that is the wave from my entry in the Earn My Living contest over at the other web site a while back.


Estaban.... screw the "as loud as possible" thing..... go for a good sound quality and mix with out squashing it all to crap with compressors. You can always get the volume up. My wave song was as loud as it needed to be to stand up against the other songs you hear on the radio.

In addition to that... you do not need the best gear to get a decent sound. I have a set of MR5 monitors and a Polk audio sub..... (MR5's are $300/pair) and the sub was under $200. I have been told by professionals in the music business that my music mixes are broadcast quality (most of them) and that is being done with those monitors on Music Creator 4.  If you spend the time and learn the gear and the software tools, you can produce some amazing quality with some inexpensive gear..... don't be fooled into thinking it's unattainable unless you have thousands of dollars invested in the best gear.

My advice: read and study the topic as much as you can... then get in and get your hands "dirty" so to speak. Record music and post it for review. Listen to the advice and apply it along with what you are reading. You learn best by doing.