_ComposerRyan
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Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
Hi, I am new to this whole mixing and mastering thing in Cakewalk and I am finding out that my songs are noticeably lower than other songs when played side by side.
I simply set my master slider so that it does not peak over 0.0db and right now it is peaking at -0.2db, which I would think would make the song extremely loud but it just seems "weak" compared to other songs.
What am I doing wrong?
Also, keep in mind that I am a novice at this and I am still learning about the compressor as well...I still do not fully understand the purpose of the compressor and what it does to the overall mix.
So, I am looking for a step by step tutorial on how to make my mixes louder using Cakewalk's tools and the compressor.
Thanks for the help!
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congalocke
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/02 21:58:39
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_ComposerRyan
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 00:57:04
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Thanks for the help with this! These videos are showing me some cool stuff, but I still have questions like:
1) With the compressor, I'm still not sure what each control knob does and how it functions.
2) Also, I did "light compression" using the Cakewalk preset and then added Boost11 to the FX plugins and I was able to increase volume quite a bit without clipping. Is this a good place to start?
Thanks guys for the help.
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CJaysMusic
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 00:59:39
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This starts in the reocridng stage and has allot to do with the composition and the way the song was written.
Tools you can use are EQ, Compressors and limiters.
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Kalle Rantaaho
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 02:04:53
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Maybe there's a suitable guide for your needs at tweakheadz.com
The site includes guides with huge amount of info on anything related to home recording.
SONAR PE 8.5.3, Asus P5B, 2,4 Ghz Dual Core, 4 Gb RAM, GF 7300, EMU 1820, Bluetube Pre - Kontakt4, Ozone, Addictive Drums, PSP Mixpack2, Melda Creative Pack, Melodyne Plugin etc. The benefit of being a middle aged amateur is the low number of years of frustration ahead of you.
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 03:12:20
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You need to increase the RMS level while maintaining the peaks below clipping, and not completely losing the dynamics of the song while doing that. It's best done as part of a constant process rather than a one time thing but a limiter will help. Search 'Mastering' & 'Limiters' X1 comes with Boost 11 and there's the new Concrete limiter of course but also do some research on mixing as well, the better the foundations the stronger the building - or something like that. 
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 04:27:00
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daryl1968
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 07:43:57
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^^^ what he said. Also, a great free resource is this mastering guide from the Izotope website http://izotope.fileburst....stering_With_Ozone.pdf although it refers to Ozone (a mastering suite of programs) it gives you all the tips you need and it's very easy to read. Helped me a lot.
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 08:08:50
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Daryl1986 beat me to it....
I was going to suggest the Ozone mastering manuals.... they are free, and packed full of good information in an easy to understand format.
Using Ozone is one way many of us get that polished sound on our music.....BUT.... just buying the plug in and using presets will only get you so far. It really helps to know what is going on in the software and the music when you make a certain adjustment.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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daryl1968
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 09:27:46
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bitflipper
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 13:55:19
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Get the Ozone Mastering Guide here: http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/guides.html It's a good place to start, it's free, and you don't need to have Ozone to get something out of it. Volume maximizing is a bigger subject than you might think. Making your song loud is actually very easy: throw a limiter on and crank it up. The trick is making it loud without making it sound worse. That takes a combination of good tools, an understanding of sound perception, and a lot of practice.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 13:56:31
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/03 14:22:04
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.....and another +1 to bitflipper, it's a whole process rather than a quick fix.
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_ComposerRyan
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/05 14:12:20
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Thanks guys for helping me out with this! I have a greater understanding of it now and will trying a mastering session today.
By the way, I do still have some basic questions:
1) When using the compressor, do you guys put it on all of your tracks individually during the mixing phase and then do a master compression during the master phase?
2) Any other suggestions besides the compressor/limiter to get my song to sound louder? Any other plugins that I should use in conjunction with Boost_11 that you recommend?
Thanks again for the help!
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/05 14:56:17
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Applying compression is akin to painting wood.
For best results you build it up in thin layers, not one thick coat.
So yes, if & when your tracks need compression, try applying a bit on your tracks (sometimes 2, even more different plugs on a single track - but I stress, only if your tracks need it), then follow this up with some bus compression, and maybe again on your master bus
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bitflipper
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/05 17:37:10
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Applying compression is akin to painting wood. Great analogy! I might add that if applying compression is like painting wood, talking about compression is like watching it dry.
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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whack
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/05 18:05:43
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Composer Ryan;
(1) If each track needs it then yes, i would say almost all track commercially have a compressor on them, raising each rms level of each track will of course give you a louder total master!
(2) Yea, carving out the sounds in the mix to negate frequency masking is a head start, especially before you lump on the limiters at the end, this will help you push it further, especially if you can get rid of low frequency audio which takes up a lot of headroom.
There is no real quick fix for what your asking, something too that baffled me when I started out and still does, but I am getting better. You need skill aswell as tools, simple as that. start training those ears!!
Cian
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_ComposerRyan
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/05 19:33:20
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Thanks again for the help guys.
I sat here today for about 2 1/2 hours and still could not get my song to a level that I liked...it just seems way to soft compared to other songs. :( I will keep trying though and will have to redo it yet again.
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AT
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/05 20:20:03
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Be aware that comps compress a sound (as the name implies). Makes the difference between the loudest and softest part smaller. Many times comping everything just makes everything sound smaller - not larger.
It is an art, not science. I'd spend more time playing with comps on individual tracks to see how they work before slapping it on everything.
As far as master bus, I usually leave that to mastering. But it can be instructive to put a compressor on the master bus but leave it off while you are mixing. Turn it on to check how mastering compression will sound on your mix.
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/06 02:14:26
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I'd get the "Mixing Audio" by Roey Izhaki that bristoljonesey has linked you to in his first link. While not about "mastering" as such which is where a song gets it's final lift, it will help you create a much better foundation with your mixing and you'll find your songs will need very little in the way of lifting when your mixing gets better.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/06 06:56:10
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+1 FBB
Another thing to bear in mind is that when you start stacking compressors, their combined action is mutiplicative, not additive.
By way of an example, if your first comp. has a ratio of 3:1 and your second one at 4:1, the effective compression as a whole will be 12:1
CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughoutCustom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
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pwal
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/06 13:50:56
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_ComposerRyan
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/08 19:35:03
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Okay, I am still working on my first mix and master...I am VERY new to this and so far, I am seeing results in getting it louder.
But, some things are now "piercing" my ears - specifically the electric guitar (the unison bends guitar from Dimension Pro)
What do you guys recommend I do for the electric guitar to not make it sounds so rattling to my ears? I've tried everything with the EQ, but it just makes it sound muffled and in the background...
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CJaysMusic
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/08 20:02:10
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_ComposerRyan
Okay, I am still working on my first mix and master...I am VERY new to this and so far, I am seeing results in getting it louder.
But, some things are now "piercing" my ears - specifically the electric guitar (the unison bends guitar from Dimension Pro)
What do you guys recommend I do for the electric guitar to not make it sounds so rattling to my ears? I've tried everything with the EQ, but it just makes it sound muffled and in the background...
EQ is the tool you need to make the guitar less piercing. I would read up on EQ, since it seems your having trouble fixing it with an EQ. Mixing isnt easy, so it wont be an overnight thing learning it and getting your mixes to sound good. This could take a few months to a few years, to even 10 years
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DonM
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/08 20:31:49
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Bristol_Jonesey
Applying compression is akin to painting wood.
For best results you build it up in thin layers, not one thick coat.
So yes, if & when your tracks need compression, try applying a bit on your tracks (sometimes 2, even more different plugs on a single track - but I stress, only if your tracks need it), then follow this up with some bus compression, and maybe again on your master bus
BJ: LoVe ThIs! I will quote you on that one! -D
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/09 02:47:33
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_ComposerRyan
Okay, I am still working on my first mix and master...I am VERY new to this and so far, I am seeing results in getting it louder.
But, some things are now "piercing" my ears - specifically the electric guitar (the unison bends guitar from Dimension Pro)
What do you guys recommend I do for the electric guitar to not make it sounds so rattling to my ears? I've tried everything with the EQ, but it just makes it sound muffled and in the background...
I refer you to my earlier post and the recommendation from Bristol_Jonesey and myself, and others. The best £20 (ish) you'll ever spend will be on "Mixing Audio" - It's a relatively easy to read book, explains everything you could ever want to know about mixing, including the use of EQ and compression and also comes with a DVD full of examples that are referred to in the text. They really help with understanding. That book combined with practice will help your mixes no end. It is for me a 'bible' of mixing and I refer to it frequently.
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MoodyB
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/09 07:55:13
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bitflipper
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Re:Yup, I'm a NOOB. Common Question: How to make my final mixes LOUDER?
2012/02/09 11:22:51
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All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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