I'm not using a soundcard in system A, just the Octa-Capture interface. System B uses a soundcard and it's never had an issue with accuracy. Maybe the Octa-Capture is emphasizing certain frequencies?

Hmm, so it sounds fine playing through the pro-level Octa-Capture, but doesn't sound quite right through the generic sound card on system B? Am I understanding this correctly?

Well, the Octa Capture IS to all intents & purposes, a soundcard (= Interface)

The fact that it doesn't sound the same through WMP on a generic sound chip sort of points the finger at System B.

Are there any settings in WMP that you might have enabled without knowing it? Like a graphic equalizer?

Have you tried to import the mix back into same project in sonar onto a new track? Try it, and make sure you route the output directly to your main outs, bypassing your master buss & any Fx that might be on the bus.

This should completely null with your mix

The digital part will be 100% the same.... however, the DA converters and the audio output section (amplifiers)  as well as any custom DSP settings will make a difference in how it sounds coming out. 

I'm certain now that it's the monitors/room. This new setup (system A) is just putting out more sound than my previous setups, so I have to come up with an easy way to A/B the mix. Thanks again to everyone for the help.

Have you tried ARC? 

I haven't tried it, but I'll look into it. Thanks

One sure way and I mean sure way to get mixes to translate is to use a single small mono speaker like this:

http://www.soundonsound.c...s/avantonemixcubes.htm

You need to sum left and right of your stereo buss and feed it into this speaker. They make an active version too if you don't want to mess with amps etc..(Do not use two and put your mix into mono! not the same thing)

The idea is you sit directly in front of it quite close and turn it way down. Once you pull a great mix on one of these it will translate to everything else out there, period! I have got a slightly different speaker to this but the principle is the same. I spend hours on the small mono speaker. All you need your main monitors for is checking bass and reverbs mainly. 

The small mono speaker shows off what I call the critical mix and it is very important. And by sitting in front of it at low volume the room acoustics have NO involvement what so ever and as a result will not influence your decisions.

If you are only mixing on bigger or your main speakers you are still shooting in the dark to a certain degree. You will never get it 100% right. The small mono speaker ensures you do, simple as that. People who disagree with this are simply not using a small mono speaker and therefore don't know how good it really is. If they invested in one and used it all the time they would never go back or say anything negative about it because there is nothing negative about it!

Interesting Jeff.... 

Perhaps I will try this. I have a small pair of non powered speakers....and an old Carvin power amp.... I can make that work..... now, just trying to get the time to do it ..... 

CarvinAbuser


I'm certain now that it's the monitors/room. This new setup (system A) is just putting out more sound than my previous setups, so I have to come up with an easy way to A/B the mix. Thanks again to everyone for the help.

This is the most likely case. Didn't read through fine details above - but you might want to just check levels in your "A" system against another reference (like the "B" system). Take another WMA or MP3 (or just a CD), play it on "B" at a level that sounds right, then play it back on "A" and adjust things until it sounds right there too. If you're suffering from ear fatigue you can use a basic tool like a sound level meter to help get yourself out of the rut of second-guessing yourself. This technique is handy, too, if you're wanting to checking things across many systems ("C","D", etc.).
 
ARC is great, but setting levels consistently first is vital to taming your system(s). That, and some good room treatment. (And yeah, good monitors too.) Then the fancy stuff like ARC will really sing.