Help! One-track live mix with some big volume problems! (sample included)

[skaneverdies]

Hi everyone! First time posting, but I'm sure it won't be my last.

So a few years ago, I recorded my friends' ska band at a show in PA. By record, I mean that I ran the outputs of the PA into my Fostex VF-80 and let it run. I didn't do anything more than look to make sure that it was still recording a few times during the set, so I could stay up front.

Anyway, now I have this soundboard mix that is all one track. The good news is that the recording itself is clear, and I kept the gain low enough that it only clips a few times. Unfortunately, this is also the problem. We didn't have the drums, or guitar mic'd, so I compensated by putting a condenser microphone near them. Still, the rhythm section is woefully quiet.

So all told, this is the story:
-Horns are WAY too loud. Can I manipulate the EQ in a way that will curb this?
-Drums and guitar are just too quiet.

I am using Cubase LE. I am a total beginner, so any tips regarding compression, EQ, and normalizing would be hugely appreciated.

Here is a particularly bad example of what I'm talking about:
CLICK HERE

Thanks in advance!

 

[TetraFish]

Wow, Those horns kind of catch you by suprise, glad I didn't have the headphones on.

Maybe someone here that knows about some magic program that could help but my first instinct tells me you're screwed.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

I've actually been in a very similar boat before.
Obviously, garbage in=garbage out. You'll have an uphill battle.
You could possibly identify what EQ ranges the horns occupy and turn that down; then identify what EQ ranges the other instuments are in and turn them up.
Then compress the whole thing so that you don't get those sudden jumps from the brass.

Otherwise, there's not a lot you can do. (In my thread, I was told to retrack a lot. Perhaps you could time travel several years and re-record your friend's band? )

 

[ido1957]

Compressor might work but a volume envelope would be my first try. You'll just get horns dominating but they won't blow your speakers anymore.

 

[skaneverdies]

I've actually been in a very similar boat before.
Obviously, garbage in=garbage out. You'll have an uphill battle.
You could possibly identify what EQ ranges the horns occupy and turn that down; then identify what EQ ranges the other instuments are in and turn them up.
Then compress the whole thing so that you don't get those sudden jumps from the brass.

Otherwise, there's not a lot you can do. (In my thread, I was told to retrack a lot. Perhaps you could time travel several years and re-record your friend's band? )

Hey guys, thanks a lot for the replies!

So I'll do exactly what you suggested. I'll do a little research on horn EQing and see if I can find a sweet spot that I can manipulate to soften them a little bit.

With regards to compression - I do have a few freeware compressors (Blockfish, Classic Compressor), but am still unsure about how the general concept works. If I apply a lot of compression, will this only soften the loud parts? Either way, is there some kind of technique that both lowers peaks and raises low-points in a track? Perhaps this what you meant by a volume envelope?

Thanks again!

 

[witzendoz]

Try setting up a multi band compressor with a ton of compression where the horn frequencies are. If not a multi band, try a compression with an EQ side chain setting the EQ to act more on the horns.

I would do this before EQing the whole thing if the overall EQ sounds good.

Cheers
Alan.