Final mix volume

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kinsley
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Kinsley

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Hi, people!

I´m starting with Cakewalk and I have a doubt.
Supposing I record all audio tracks with highest volume possible (avoiding clipping).
Even so, my final mix has a low volume.
How to increase it?
Thanks in advance.
 
opposite problem...

I have the opposite problem in CWPA 8.04. I record fairly hot signals without clipping (habit from days of recording to tape), but when I mix down using tools->mixdown audio everything is much louder in the mix than on the original tracks when I A/B them, and the wave file clips badly (the visual representation of the WAV shows the file pretty much maxed out). I didn't bother running it through a volume reduction effect afterwards, I just deleted the mix, so I'm not sure if that would've fixed it. I'm just wondering if there's something I'm missing, there doesn't seem to be any options for configuring the mixdown process. I read the Cakewalk FAQ and searched the board but couldn't find an answer.

<--Will-->
 
Use the built in mixer (Console View) to either lower or increase a tracks level or just use the volume control on the Track Page. Check the master output in console view to get your final mixed level correct. If you like you can insert a compressor over the whole mix (like an L1) in the console view.

Cheeers :)
 
Damn, everytime I know the answer to something...John always beats me to it :) And I don't know the answers very often! BTW, how do I get to be a "Force of Nature"?????????
 
John is right on with his comments. Before you resort to other means for altering the volume in Cakewalk, use the Vol settings in Track View (127 is the maximum setting) together with the faders in the Master Output Section in Console View.

What you need to understand is that the faders in the Master Output section of the Console control the volume level of your "final mix" (regardless of whether your mixdown is being bounced to a new track, or exported to a wave or mp3 file). These are not there just to adjust listening levels, they also control the volume level of the new track or file you create during mixdown.

I typically use the Vol settings in Track View to get a good balance among all the tracks. I start with all the tracks set around 75, and then raise or lower the number of an individual track depending on whether I want to hear more or less of what the track contains. Once you have established the overall balance, play back all the tracks while monitoring the audio meters in the Master Output Section in Console View. Tweak the master faders up or down as required to get a good volume setting while making sure you're not clipping. Once you have this set, begin your mixdown.
 
I tend to lean to the volume settings in track view as stated previously by dchay2tnr , the only time I will use the virtual mixer is for fader automation. I try to get a nice clean mix prior to mixdown. Once I have a 24 bit mix that I can work with, then it is converted to 16 bit and I use outboard processing (comp,eq) to beef it up.
 
Just to be clear, I was talking about the Master Output faders only and NOT the individual track faders. I, like Jonesie, do not use the individual track faders either. I find them quite annoying since everytime you return to the beginning of a song they get reset to the Track View Vol settings anyway.

When I need to change the volume on just a small section of an individual track I use a volume envelope to do this, rather than fader automation. I guess it's just a matter of personal preference, but I find it easier to work with the "visualness" of the audio view and volume envelope, rather than trying to "time" the fader automation.
 
dachay2tnr - I had that problem with the tracks reverting to Track levels until I discovered that the default setting is to update (little fader icon) if you disengage it the track will stay put.

cheers
John :)
 
Hey, guys.
I really thank you all. Your answers helped me a lot.
 
console view? what's that? -LOL-

Wow, all this time using Cakewalk and I've never used the console view! -LOL- I've been strictly using Track view for mixing and Staff view for editing MIDI notes.

Anyway, thanks for the help! I adjusted the levels in the console (the tip about unchecking Update was priceless) and did several mixes over the weekend. Much better! Thanks again guys,

<--Will-->
 
just one extra thing about console view. If you are using midi you can access your midi tracks much better in console view than in track view.

Make sure you use MODULE MANAGER (small icon with switches)to determine what tracks are viewed.

Cheers
John :)
 
Thanks for preachin' on the console view, John Sayers. I always knew it was their, but never thought it was neccesssary, till reading through this thread and sayin to myself - oh yeah. It was always so clumsy and awkward till you start using the module manager. I can now see the advantages of using the console view and am utilizing it every chance I get.
 
Console view is an easy way to add effects as well. Right click in the effects area and select the fx you want. Then double clik it and make the adjustment. If you like the effect and want to keep it highlight the track in track view then select the console view. You will see that track highlighted and the Add FX Audio button will be highlighted, clik it and the effect will be added to the track. Good way of saving processor load.

Another thing I discovered is when you have say a final vocal made up of lots of edited parts you can combine them using combine in track view and they show up as one track, yet when you go to say soundforge it is still in little parts and they load one after another - I discovered that if you open the track in the audio editor and select all parts and then combine it actually does join them all together into one track, which when opened in forge is still only one full track. neat. ;)

Just one more thing with regard volume of tracks. If you open a track in the audio editor and right clik and select envelope/volume you will get a Volume line running through the track. This can be used to automate volume changes or if pan was selected, pan actions.

I gotta say the more I learn about cakewalk the more I like it. I've been playing around with CEP, Vegas, Nuendo and Cubase 32VST 5 and I think I still prefer Cakewalk over them all.

cheers
john :)
 
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