Can not get the mix right on VS2480DVD

[wpawley]

I am using Roland DS-8 powered monitors to mix down with. So far everything that I have tried to mix down comes out way too bassey or way too thin, I can't seem to hit a happy medium. When listening on the monitors or headphones it all sounds like it is right but when I write it to a disc, well, that is where things go downhill really fast. When I play the CD on the 2480, it sounds okay but when played on any other CD player is doesn't. Where am I messing this up?

 

[LDT2]

wpawlley,

I've had the 2480 with DS90A monitors since 2001 when the 2480 1st came out and I had problems with this initially, too. Here are some things that I did to solve this pretty common problem:

Listen to commercial CDs through the 2480/DS-8's and "learn" where the low end is sitting in the mix. I would concentrate on ,say, the kick drum or bass guitar and just focus on that, then play my song back on the 2480 and try and match the level and tone.

Also, the 2480 has a speaker modeling patch called "super flat". Insert this into the Mastering Room and check your low frequency sound. This patch will tell you when the bottom end has gone too far. Great tool for this purpose.

I've found that the 2480 captures low frequencies very well and have yet to add low EQ to properly recorded drum or bass tracks . However.... I always use the HPF (high pass filter) on EVERY track while mixing down, even if it's set to 20Hz.
This will remove the mud that builds up over mant channels when combined.

Try rolling vocals off around 80Hz to 150Hz. Same with guitar tracks.
Roll bass guitar off to about 30Hz to 40Hz (depending on whether it's a 4 or 5 string bass).
Try rolling the kick drum off at 25Hz or so.

Alot of this really depends on the tone of the instrument and the sound that you're after, but you could use these numbers as a starting point.

Give this a try and let me know if you need more info. Hang in there, this is the roughest part of recording next to capturing good audio.

Hope this helps,

Lucio

 

[wpawley]

I am trying to put a song on here that I have mixed down. But so far I haven't been able to get it to upload (tried MP3, WMA, and now Zip). How do I get a song on here to see where I am havening problems on the mix-down and Mastering?

 

[LDT2]

You need to upload the mp3 to a server and then make a link to it. I'm not really that computer literate, I just use the space allowed me by my server. Others can probably be more specific.

Do realize that an mp3 will only tell so much. That's why it's important to use a commercial CD that sounds "close" to what you're after as a reference point for sound. Alot of major engineers do this to keep perspective. I know George Massenberg is big on using them.

Maybe if you could give me some more specifics about your process I can help you out a bit more. For instance;

How hot are the track channel levels?

How hot are the master levels before you insert the MTK?

Also, what kind of music are you recording?

Just trying to find the best way to help you out.

Lucio

Which MTK are you using and what settings are you using?

 

[Dumby]

This may or may not help, in the begining, I would burn a copy of my song bounced to the master track, no mastering nothing. Then I would burn a copy with a mastering patch. Listen to the differences. Go back and start modifying your mastering patch bit by bit...you'll probably go through a bunch of cd's but you'll become more consistent with you mix and mastering. Also, try not to mix a and master the same day you recorded, because your ears will be playing tricks on you or paying attention too much to certain parts. Do some searches there's lots of useful pointers in here. Bottom line, trial and error will get you to where you want, sometimes it's a fluke and sometimes it takes lots of time and frustration. Try and get some over to you house or meet someone with another box studio and see their approach...Good luck!