Hello friends at the Cakewalk forum, I've determined that I'm not getting an accurate mix, but I'm not sure why. I'm using Sonar X1 with a Roland Octa-Capture interface. When I listen to a project on my DAW (system A), the mix sounds great. When I listen to it on a different computer (system B), the mix sounds flat. I know it's not the monitors, because I've used them before with consoles in the same room and never had this issue. Plus, I connected different speakers (from system B) and got the same sound. The mix sounds the same during mixing and after export on system A. Played on anything other than system A, the mix sounds worse. Any ideas would be appreciated.

It sounds like a translation problem from a specific system to all other systems.  From your description, I can't tell if you are using different interface/montiors/rooms for your system B.

Every montioring system (including speakers, amp and room) has stregnths and flaws.  Getting a good mix means compromising so there are no major flaws on any system and the mix sounds good on them all.  And sounds better on better systems.

Your best bet is to listen to commercial releases (in the same style) on your different systems and see if you can hear the difference.  Then figure out how to avoid the problems in your system A.

@

Hey AT, thanks for the response. The problem is, I'm using the same monitors in the same room that I used before with recording consoles and I never had a problem with mix translation. I don't know what could be causing this other than the interface.

Hm, I wouldn't think the convertor would make that much difference, and the Roland stuff I've used is up to snuff.

Are you sure there isn't a setting on the octa capture that is changing things - I know there are DSP comps and eq after the preamps - could something like that be engaged on the octa itself?  That is about my only idea.

@

How are you listening to your export on system 'B'?

What format did you use for your Export from System 'A'?

I looked through the manual, I didn't see any setting on the Octa-Capture that would affect the sound out of the main outputs. I listen to the export the same way on both systems, Windows Media Player. The format is a wav file 44100, 16-bit.

Could it be the hardware consoles had a more forgiving sound which was easier to mix?
Using WMP, make sure it hasn't got any default FX on.

Using WMP, make sure it hasn't got any default FX on

I have encountered something similar and found that the Windows drivers were adding EQ to the sound.  You might want to look at the sound settings in the Windows Control Panel and make sure that some Windows Sound 'Feature' isn't making a difference.
 

Kalle, maybe if the mix was slightly off, but it's way off. gcolbert, no luck there either.

Digital is digital..... basically if you take the mix from one computer to another the mix doesn't change. It will be the same exact mix from the original DAW to any other computer and even to a CD that you would burn.... the mix will be the same. 

Therefore..... you have to look to see what HAS changed from one "mix" to the next and the answer is:

1 the sound card
2 the speakers
3 the environment

In the OP #1 you said: 
I know it's not the monitors, because I've used them before with consoles in the same room and never had this issue. Plus, I connected different speakers (from system B) and got the same sound. 


So the way I read that is using the same speakers in the same room on a different system the mix sounded exactly the same.  But, when you move to a different room or environment, throw in some different speakers, it does not sound the same. 


This is a common problem that is related to the original mix and how it was done. This is the reason they sell acoustical room treatments and hardware as well as software which is able to analyze the given mixing room and attempt to correct the deficiencies it detects in the room to give you as close to a flat response as is possible given the original acoustical problems in the room. 


If you can't hear something, you can't mix it correctly.  Basically if you are mixing on headphones or stereo speakers or even the inexpensive "studio monitors" sold in the pro-audio depts of music stores, and doing this in a spare bedroom, basement, or corner of the living room, there is no way you are hearing the TRUE acoustics of the music.  Between the acoustically bad room, and the inefficient and biased sound reproduction, it's at best a hit or miss proposition to get an accurate mix. 


There is no easy "do this or that" answer to it. A combination of try to fix the acoustics, get better gear if you are using home stereo or headphones, look into the room correction software solutions, and most important, learn the strengths and weaknesses of the system you are using. 


Compare the pro mixes on the commercial CD's and use that as a starting point. But, in the end it's about learning and listening. Fix what can be fixed and learn to compensate for what can't. 


You can produce some amazing quality in the corner of a spare room, but it will take some work.