need help upgrading my studio

[thug lord]

i have a mpc 2000 xl, a rolland vs 1880 and my pc equipt with samplitude and sound forge. in my rack i have a scl compressor limiter and a digitech studio s100 effects. i produce mix and master and my music still doesnt sound like quality cd's is it my skills on mixing and mastering r do i need more equipment. if u have a studio n ur work sounds like the professionals pls tell me wat u hav in ur studio so i could upgrade my studio.

[Track Rat]

Totally yer skillz dude. It's EXACTLY like learning to play a musical instument. It takes years to get it down.

[Red Dog Studios]

yeap, although new and better equipment give you more choices and options to work with, the skills is where it all comes from. Take the Beatles' album "Srg. Pepper" it was recorded on a 4 track reel to reel and if i'm not wrong i think it was voted Album of the Century in Time Mag. But yeah, get your skills down first.


Zeke

[transmothra]

learning how best to use compression is one of the biggest problems many people have. most people either don't use enough, or use WAAAAY too much. making sure your frequency spectrum is full (i.e., no big gaps in a particular range- i often find i've left out a giant swath of mids) but your sound isn't muddy is important, too. placing tracks nicely within the stereo space can do wonders (especially when used with EQ in mind to separate/blend the instruments sonically). and a whole lot goes on in mastering to make a record sound professional, too.