Thin sounding mixes

[thechrisgibson]

Okay here is the thing. I am using a MOTU 896 HD going to my computer and using Sonar to record. I am recording through a B2 going straight to the MOTU which is set to use the 48v phantom power. So after I record and am listening to the track on my computer through my Alesis monitors it sounds full and bright, but when i mix it all down and listen to it through a stereo/ipod, it sounds thin and is not as loud as any of the other music that I have on cds(like other bands). I am new to recording and was just wanting some tips or suggestions to get a fuller, richer sound. I have heard a pre amp will do that but i thought the MOTU had a preamp in it. Any suggestions would be awesome.

[treymonfauntre]

nuendo will do it. just call up and ask steinberg customer service how.

[something cool]

Well the $100k question that you're asking is basically, "How do I get my recording to sound like the ones on the CDs I listen to?"

That, my friend, is a very involved query. Keep at it and hang around the BBS some more and you'll begin to understand why.

To answer your question about your recordings being so much quieter than your CDs -- don't worry, it's not at all uncommon. Commerial CDs go through tons of compression and overall level boosting in both the mixing and mastering process. Your recordings just simply aren't going to be as loud without going through the same process.

As far as your recordings sounding thin -- don't worry, that's not uncommon either. Recording and mixing are art forms, and you'll get better at it as you keep practicing and gaining experience. Commercial CDs are, for the most part, mixed and mastered by experienced pros who know how to get "that sound." You, on the other hand, don't have that luxury just yet (but you will if you keep at it!). Some things to consider in the meantime, though: 1) Once you turn up your recorded tracks to that 'CD volume,' they may sound fuller to you. Recordings tend to sound a lot thinner when played at lower volumes since you're hearing less of the bass and the 'power' frequencies and more of the upper midrange and high end. 2) The first thing you should probably work on is mic placement. Without knowing squat about how to mix or what to do with a compressor, you can improve your sound a lot just by figuring out where the best place to put a microphone on an instrument is.

And lastly, I don't know why your mixdown would sound so much different on your iPod versus what you hear while you're mixing, except that perhaps you're listening to your mix side-by-side with commercially/professionally-produced music and listening to both at the same iPod volume level. That would sure make your stuff seem thin and quiet in comparison.

Hope this helps.

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Originally Posted by something cool

Well the $100k question that you're asking is basically, "How do I get my recording to sound like the ones on the CDs I listen to?"

Yes, that is exactly the question he is asking. And for being the 3,172nd person this month (and we're only halfway through) to ask that very same question in yet another seperate thread without bothering to read the encyclopedia galactica of responses already available here he wins...absolutely NOTHING.

G.

[TexRoadkill]

Although the real answer is "become a better engineer" the specific problem is with mixes not translating well. If you mix your music in a room that is not acoustically treated it will trick you into thinking you have a good sonic balance. Then when you listen in other rooms you notice the mix is missing things (or has too much).

Treat your room and you will at least have a fighting chance of making mixes that sound the same outside the studio. Check the Studio Building forum for some info on room acoustics and treatment.

[RecordingMaster]

Not to be rude, but how come no one can ever just give a straight answer?
Why not ignore the post if you're not interested in replying with an answer.

Just a little info to help you understand decibels and all that jazz: You can create a mix that sounds beautiful and clear, all levels good, no hiss, etc. but it's too quiet, right? Pro bands in pro studios experience the same issue. In order for that cd itself to be louder, it has to be recorded at or amplifyed to a higher decibel level. Starting in the late 60's, this became more popular as louder rock music started coming out. But now-a-days, its getting even louder, as are the bands (eg: death metal). The louder you boost your decibels, the lesser quality your mix will be...so you have to find somewhere in the middle of quality vs. loudness.

A few examples:
1. Ever buy a cd of a band that you like, and you enjoy the album for maybe a month or so...but then you find yourself ignoring the cd and not really desiring to listen to it, even though you still love the music? I am that way with a lot of newer albums and I realized why: These mixes have a higher decibel rate just for the sake of being louder. Your subconscious is hearing that extra noisiness which makes the music mysteriously unpleasurable to listen to for extended periods of time.
2. Ever watching a TV show, and when the commercials come on they are way louder than what you were just watching? That's because those commercials have a higher decibel level to naturally be louder without you manually turning up the TV. They do that because during commercials, people are usually further away from the tv getting a snack, etc. They can't ask the tv station to turn up the volume when their ad is running, so they just boost their own decibels to have it louder.

[jonnyc]

Its hard to give a straight answer when there isn't one. In fact all you basically said was make it louder but not too loud, can YOU be more specific. Its also something that has been answer tens of thousands of times. Here's an answer for you, you want your mixes louder, send it to a mastering house. John Scrip at massive mastering is a good choice. Otherwise it'll take you years and thousands of dollars to get a song to commercial cd levels with quality.