Why are my levels so low????

[WATYF]

O.K. I record using n-Track... when I mix... I have the VU meters just below peak. It doesn't distort or anything, but I really "ride the edge" as far as what my Playback levels are set to...

now... my question is...

how come my stuff is so darn quiet then...????

I listen to other stuff from the MP3 clinic and I have to turn the volume down on WMP because it's so much louder than listening to my own stuff... and when I go back to listening to my stuff, I have to turn the volume back up again just cause my stuff's so quiet. What's up with that? Is there something simple that I'm overlooking..? Is it all in my mind? Am I slowy going insane????





anyone???



WATYF

[Evildick]

Are you using any sort of compression? When you say you're recording at peak levels, are those peaks spread out or is the entire song close to peak?

[ambi]

hmm, i notice this too when mixing in logic! I have to turn my master buss volume about about +3-4 decibles, and even still its really really quiet. Some compression can clip the few peakers that hit up there with a big boost, but the compression usually makes it more quiet, i guess i need to use it differently.

[WATYF]

Originally posted by Evildick
Are you using any sort of compression? When you say you're recording at peak levels, are those peaks spread out or is the entire song close to peak?

Yeah man.. I use compression on each channel.. but.. well.. I don't know a dang thing aboot compression. It doesn't seem to really "compress" the channel totally.. like, my guitar hops from around -15 to around -2 depending on how hard the strum is at any given time. I tried adding a comp. to the Master Channel and tried oat a new compressor plug-in I found on the main git, so that will prolly help... but I'm sure I'll eventually have to get some real plug-ins... and stop using these freebie VST plug-ins..

WATYF

[crosstudio]

here's what you need to do:

1) make sure you record as hot as sounds good. i try to keep my peak level for each track at -6db or better. my gear and the mic-preamps on the 1604 allow me to attain that level without a bunch of noise (noise being equipment hiss and unwanted distortion).

2) compress the individual tracks that need it but set the attack long enough to let enough of the transients through so you don't make your mix dull and the release long enough that you don't pump on individual notes. DON'T FORGET THE MAKEUP GAIN. If you set the compressor up on a track so that you get 4db of reduction, then you need to set the makeup gain to +4. otherwise, your track will sound more quiet.

3) if you are doing this to go to MP3 and you want it to sound nice and loud (as opposed to just doing a nice mix that can be sent for mastering), or if you are masterbating... oops, i meant mastering the material yourself (as i do), you'll probably want to put a look ahead peak limiter on the main buss. when set properly, it will squash some of the transients that you allowed through the individual track compressor, but not so much that it throws the balance of the mix off. i also set a multiband compressor (Waves C4) in front of the Peak Limiter (Waves L1) on the main buss to limit the dynamic of the whole mix so that the bass frequencies sit nicely, the instrumentation and vocals maintain an even keel, and the highs add an 'air' of professionalism without sizzling the mix.

now you've got compressed individual tracks, and a nice loud mix to MP3.

[PowerCouple]

Happened to me until I learned...

Peaks, as you see them visually, don't reflect an overall volume level, you can have a BIG peak that actually is slightly audible. Problem is, you are not cutting enough when it comes to give each instrument its own space in the mix. For example, you can have a guitar with too much of Low end that is actually "obscuring" the bass, and both low ends added, make a big low freq peak that you actually dont hear (low freqs need more volume to be heard).

Peace...

PC

[crosstudio]

in Sonar you can set it up to see both the Peak and RMS signal levels for a given track. that way you can visually see the difference between your peak and average and set your compressor (if necessary) accordingly.