The following is a link to three songs I recorded recently. http://soundcloud.com/cha...e/sets/christmas-tunes I've mastered them as well as I know how using the tools I have. After mixing, (using a limiter to clean up vocal volume) I rendered and then ran the whole song through the mastering process. I used a compressor with attack and release set to zero, Compressing with a threshold of -10 and 20:1 ratio (probably too much, but it sounded good to me). Then ran it through a limiter to place the song at -0.4db. The final volume should actually come out lower. Maybe -6 db because of the master slider. The files sound great on my computer, ipod, car, and several other computers and CD players. However, one other computer (father in law's) it sounded distorted and the mix was way out of whack. I don't understand. I really don't. Can someone tell me what I did wrong? I'm still learning, so I probably made a "rookie mistake". If anyone can help me identify it, I'd greatly appreciate it.

The first song I heard sounds good on my system.  A very natural mix that is balanced and clean.  Maybe it's your father in law's computer or soundcard that's off.  It's all good here.

I really appreciate it. It's been killing me because of how meticulously I tested it on other systems. I just always worry when something goes wrong that it's my fault.

Mastering, unfortunately is more than just popping in some plugs that other people tell you that you should use. 

It is a process that I believe starts at the tracking stages.  

2 people can take the same project and using the same plugs get 2 totally different sounding mixes. 

It is a process that takes time to learn. 

To my ears on this system the mix sounds balanced but lacking that quality that takes it to the next level.  Not too shabby though for an overall good job.  The finer points will come as you continue to mix and learn not only what to use and where, but what the plugs are doing and why or why not you would want or need to use them in a given situation. 

The vocals over all on the various songs sound a bit muffled. On the songs I mix, I do not use (generally) compression on the main bus just because I have them.... I use compression, limiting, or EQ,  only if I need it.

I would recommend getting and reading a few books on the subject of mixing and mastering in home studios. Mike Senior's book is a good one to read and study.


You did not state what monitors you use nor did you mention the tools. The listening environment really matters to getting a good mix that holds up across many playback systems. 

For mastering made easier......Many folks here use Ozone or another of the "mastering suites" available. They are not a cure all, and can easily screw up a good mix if misapplied, but they can provide good starting points. 

In addition, on the Ozone web site ...go there and find the MASTERING GUIDES and download them. They are free and are packed with really good info to help you understand the what, where, when, why of using the tools. 

wow... just re-listened on my ear buds.... the good ones...

last christmas blew me away with the bass levels.  I turned it down and it was still much too bass heavy.

Bass was heavy on the other songs as well.... ( 3 songs on the list)  

the vocals are nice, but they are a bit muffled to me.... no sparkle and no air. Baby please come home is such a well sung song..... 

drums sound flat.... fake. no punch in them .... the snare is like slapping a cardboard box. That is a simple sample replacement fix. Use a better drum sample. And don't compress it so much. 

There are so many really good things about these songs, and a few things that really should be addressed to take this up to a different level where it would really shine. Its a matter of fixing the things that are lacking and leaving the good stuff.... loved the production that was going on with vox & BGV in come home..... especially there at the end.... the girl can hit the high notes. 

I have to agree with Guitarhacker in that the vocals sound a bit muffled. The recordings themselves wound pretty good, but they all lack a bit of lustre. I wish I could help you fix it. Would you be willing to post the final mixes in their non-mastered form?

great idea... Here we go. http://soundcloud.com/cha...sets/unmastered-tracks Any help would be most appreciated. Since mastering them, I installed a VST Graphic EQ and Audio analyzer. Though, Looking at the form, The only think I could think to change was a slight highs increase. Is that wrong? How will I know?

Since those are down loadable I will grab one and play with it to see if I can do anything with it. 

Normally, I will insert EQ into the vocal track or buss so that I can bring the vox out of the mix a bit without effecting the highs on the other tracks. 

I'll get back in a bit after I have completed this. 

Those mixes are mixed to hot to "master" or limit them with these settings:

"Compressing with a threshold of -10 and 20:1 ratio"


If you want to use a 20:1 ratio then you'll want the threshold to be set so that only the peaks of the peaks hit the threshold.


If you want to use a -10dBfs threshold on music that is already peaking at -3dBFS then you'll probably want to use a much softer ratio to gently turn down the stuff above the threshold and not change it's character as much.



I wouldn't worry to much about your in-laws computer... unless he has it set up for hi-fi. Did you listen to any commercial stuff on that same system to see what you can realistically expect from it? That may be reassuring.



FWIW, I don't think the mixes sound bad, but I also agree with Herb with regards to the idea that anything about them that you wish to change should be done in the mix or the arrangement.


Personally, I'd ask you to ask your self why you felt compelled to master/limit these songs?

It seems like the "premastered" mixes were sitting in the *zone* already.

It seems as if you did it *just because*... you don't have to do that. I could have easily called the premaster versions *done*. People can always turn it up if something is not loud enough for their taste.


I liked the songs!!!


best regards,
mike

I down loaded the song Baby Please Come Home.... and put it in a new project.

I added a bit of reverb and Ozone with my custom preset I use as a starting point for most of my songs. 

Based on the mix... I had to pull the low frequencies down considerably. I used no limiter, and only mild compression (4 band) with more compression on lows and highs and less in the 2 middle bands. 

  Aside from that... I did nothing else to this mix.

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12019005

  It would have been better if I could have had the tracks in a project so I could adjust levels and EQ individually... but this will have to do for now.  

Let me know what you think and I'll be willing to go into more details.