How can I eliminate the mud?

[RicoNEgro]

I bought myself a Boss BR600 digital recorder not long ago (not the best but it's what I could afford). I can't seem to get the Mud out of the tracks. When I transfer them over to my PC, load em up in audacity, they look like solid chunks of noise instead of nice wavy bars, and they sound terrible too. I'm using the on-board effects from the BR600, so I'm thinking it could be a limitation in that distortion or a limitation with volume.

Would my tracks look/sound more dynamic if I patched in through my amp and/or a mixer? I do have a pre-loved Peavy 4 Channel mixer I have never used... just have to find another power cord for it.

 

[RicoNEgro]

PS: I just downloaded Reaper, seeing as a lot of you guys prefer it. About to go play around with my amp/mixer/recorder set up and see how it all works out. Hopefully i can clean up the sound a little better that way before i move the tracks to my pc for the final mix.

 

[TetraFish]

Sounds like your levels are too high.

 

[TetraFish]

http://lib.roland.co.jp/manual/en/dl_06-10961/BR-600_e4.pdf

Check out page 36 & 37

 

[RicoNEgro]

you know, the manual i have must be an older one, it isnt exactly translated correctly into english. thanks for that link, it will help a ton.

i have dialed back the master fade so the LED only spikes once in a while, maybe i just haven't dialed it back enough.... will mess with it and get back to ya!

 

[Massive Master]

Your tracking levels are by far more important than your mixing levels. And your tracking levels shouldn't even approach the "clip" indicator. Not by a substantial amount.

 

[TheChikenMaster]

Seems like your levels are to high retrack them. And never fix in the mix it will sound yuckier.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Sounds like your levels are too high

 

[Dogbreath]

I'm not sure is anyones mentioned this yet or not but...
It sounds like your levels are too high.


I keep my tracking levels at around -18 to -12. The mixes come out clearer and punchier.
Try tracking everything at lower db's and then when you get to mixdown, high pass is your friend.

And also about the mud.....Each track is gonna dictate what it needs so just give the mix a critical listen but..... I generally cut the very low ends out of a lot of my tracks.
Like vocals, I'll get into my EQ and cut out everything from say...100 to 150 hz down. Take em out. That's just rumble and mud. When you start adding all the tracks...guitar, bass drums etc...the mud adds up pretty quick.

You'll also need a lava lamp.

 

[themdla]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say your levels are too high

+1,000 on the lava lamp, this only way to get a decent mix

 

[RicoNEgro]

the lava lamp was too expensive, so i just drew a picture of one and taped it to the wall.

im getting a lot better sound now from it, just have to decide if i want to try to mix everything right there on the recorder, or transfer individual tracks to the PC to mix.

actually, scratch that... Im going to mix on the PC because i hate the BR600 drum machine.