CD-R quality

  • Thread starter Thread starter P Johnston
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P Johnston

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Hi, I'm looking for tips on getting a good sounding CD-R or CD-RW when mixing down from my 2 ADATs, back through the Alesis board, and into a stand alone Marantz CD burner. So far, even though I thought I had the levels optimized, the CD result sounds noisy and bass heavy. Do I need to run it through the compressor/limiter? Thanks!
 
I doubt your problem will have anything to do with the CD; CD records exactly what it hears since it is digital. What kind of monitors/speakers are you mixing down with?
 
Event 20/20bas, and I have to admit that I was not able to get the board set to monitor the signal going on the CD even with the 2-trk switch on the board activated.I'm going to go give it another shot this weekend with some CD-RWs.
 
Hmmmmmm....

Do you have the output of the CD-R burner plug into the 2Trk input of the console? I know stupid question, but just had to be asked.

Ed
 
Yeah, I'd suggest you DEFINITELY use the highest quality monitors you can afford, and monitor the sound BEFORE it goes to the CD-R. Are you recording on-the-fly, or setting up the tracks like you want them and then recording and finalizing?
 
The monitor are not the problem...Event 20/20's are a great monitor. Sonusman is on the right track..Start with this basic look, then let us know if that is OK.
DJ
 
I am just interested Trippalot....

Why do you suggest monitoring BEFORE the CD-R?

Why would you want to be hearing something that could potential sound very different then the finale product?

On my Soundcraft Ghost console, I can monitor any number of sources. I ALWAYS monitor the Output of the mixdown deck, preferably AFTER the A/D conversion so that I am monitoring what the audio is going to sound like on tape.

If there is a problem with something, like noise, etc...I then monitor the output of the console, and work my way back from there so that I can isolate what exactly the problem is.

Ed
 
My thanks to everyone for their advice. Sonusman had predicted the problem: Much to my chagrin, it turned out the output of the CD burner was not routed back to the 2-trk input of the Alesis 32 board. However, now I know that the system is working properly, and I can concentrate on tweaking the sound going to the CD burner.
In answer to Trippalot's inquiry, we have been putting down click tracks, then recording bass and drums, a throwaway vocal track, then the guitars and the real vocal track(s)on later.
 
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