Crappy Factory Plugins?

[stickbugg]

This is the best section I could find more this topic.

I've noticed when mixing down my recordings and encoding via a LAME VBR APS preset, that my songs all come out with low bitrates.

My question is whether (in general), the plugins that come with programs like Cubase, Protools and Audition/CoolEdit (what I have), tend to be of lesser quality and thus remove detail from the recorded WAVs. I'm not sure if I explained that right, or not. In other words, should I keep using Auditions plugins, or is it a good idea to use other plugins?

Maybe it's not even the effects processing which is making my MP3 bitrates so low. Does it have to with 16 or 32 bit recording? Does it have to do entirely with the exciters in mastering? Maybe my mics aren't sufficient for that?

[tarnationsauce2]

That has nothing to do with the plugins. It's the fact that you are using LAME VBR (mp3) for your mixdowns.
Mp3 data is a lossy format, therefore it will loose some high end and artifacts will be introduced.
Only use Mp3's for the internet, and your portable music player. Never for critical audio situations, such as a final mixdown.
Usually it's best to mixdown in WAV format.

[SouthSIDE Glen]

No, that's not what he's asking.

Stick is saying that he is using a variable bit rate encoder to encode his MP3s, and that compared to what he's used to seeing with commercial releases encoded the same way, that the encoding bit rates are coming in at lower rates on his homebrew recordings.

Stick, it's got little to with crappy plugins. It's probably because you - like 90% of other home recordists - are making recordings with crippled dynamics and almost no useful content above 12kHz.

Why? Probably a whole bunch or reasons. Not the least of which you're probably using your average home recording mics into your average home recording preamps through a cheap digital converter, and your content is mostly electric guitar with heavy midrange distortion. And once you are getting it into Audition, the plug-in you are using the heaviest is the compressor. I may be making some bad assumptions there, but I'll bet you I'm not too far off, am I?

G.

[stickbugg]

You hit the mark exactly with what I meant.

Our stuff is mostly distorted, but I only used about 8db of compression on bass guitar and vocals. I used a bunch of eq plugins, because track eqs in Audition are 3-band only.

I am using Apex mics into Behringer board into RME soundcard. All mediocre equipment, I'd say.

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Originally Posted by stickbugg

You hit the mark exactly with what I meant.

Our stuff is mostly distorted, but I only used about 8db of compression on bass guitar and vocals. I used a bunch of eq plugins, because track eqs in Audition are 3-band only.

Yeah, honestly, I wouldn't be too suprised or worried about what the VBR is doing with your stuff. Without a lot of dynamics and double-digit HF content, the compression job for the encoder is probably relatively easy; hence the low bit rates. As long as the stuff sound good for you, that's all that matters.

G.

[stickbugg]

OK, thanks.