any tips?

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brutus569
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2011/08/23 13:05:55 (permalink)

any tips?

Hi there I'm new, i have a question, I'm new at this whole cakewalk thing, and so far most of my songs sound pretty mediocre, so i was wondering, can you give me any tips on making you're music sound more professional? thanks. (ps. I'm using music creator 5 if that make any difference.)
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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:any tips? 2011/08/23 14:34:41 (permalink)
    sure:

    record the tracks so that they are not maxed out... this isn't tape.

    record them dry... save the FX for later

    use as little FX, EQ, and compression as possible. 

    Keep plenty of headroom in the mix.

    use busses for vocals and other things

    mix the levels a few db below 0db (some say 6db below 0db is a good starting point. 

    use envelopes ... you might have 12 tracks or more but you don't want everything playing all the time all the way through.

    exporting: use a bit of compression to fatten it up and make it a bit louder.... but don't kill it or squash it.


    go to http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/   scroll down the page and download the GUIDES and read them. they will help you to understand the mastering process. This is where the average sounding mix is worked on to make it sound stellar. You gotta understand this process before you can make it happen...... but like anything, the more you work with it, the better you get. Mixing and mastering are an art unto themselves that must be learned. 



    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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    Kalle Rantaaho
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    Re:any tips? 2011/08/23 16:05:17 (permalink)
    It'll take a year or two. What are you recording? Are you using soft synths or recording real audio? The quality of each link of the recording chain matters. The microphones, instruments, studio acoustics, soundcard. There are many well written guides at tweakheadz.com.
    A lot of trial and error is included, sure, so be patient. Books by guys like Bob Katz and Roey Izhaki are worth reading, when you get over the most basic beginner problems.

    I'm sure you can find many kind of advice by googling.

    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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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:any tips? 2011/08/23 17:15:38 (permalink)
    the best tip: learn how it works by recording even if it sounds crappy... post the tune in the songs forum and let people listen. They will offer advice to help you improve.

    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 " 
    #4
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