levelling songs loudness

[Farview]

I asked a specific question on what technique people use to make finished songs sound unform.
If you are tired asnwering the same question again and again just skip it, or send a link to another thread, which I may have missed.

There are a thousand ways to to what you are asking. There are a lot of different reasons why songs aren't the same volume. You have to determine why the songs aren't the same first, then apply the proper technique for that situation. What I meant (about being specific) was you have to diagnose the problem before anyone can help you with the cure.

What you can do is put the songs in your DAW and just move the cursor around listening for volume differences between songs. Turn the loud ones down to match the quieter ones. If you turn the quieter ones up, you might run out of headroom.

After you have them at about the same relative volume, you can use a mastering limiter (like the L2) or something to bring the volume of everything up so the CD isn't quiet.

This is an alright way of doing it, but if the volume differences are due to arrangement or instrumentation issues, it will sound rediculous

 

[madhg]

I use Goldwave for audio editing (not expensive). It has a featurefor adjusting the volume so that a track has a given "average loudness level", the same level for all tracks. It has suggested loudness levels for different types of music. It's not perfect - sometimes a track sounds louder than the "average" level, but it's a good start.

 

[LemonTree]

2 posative solutions.....

1: listen to the bear

2: listen to your ears

When you get it as good as it gets from all that advice and you still want better, seek a mastering house.

Softwear mastering is like furry dice on a kit car (you can quote that, Bruce )

 

[spinynorman]

My favorite is R-Tacks EQ and Compressor with Waves L3 Multimaximizer,its a great combination - matt

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

Eegads guys Wavelab=$700 list Is it worth it ya think ?

I love noob sticker shock.

Yes, Wavelab is an extremely powerful program in the right hands and in many ways a standard for mastering in all but the top notch mastering studios. You can achieve excellent results with just Wavelab, a UAD-1 card and maybe a few Waves or TC plugins (L2 Ultramaximizer or the Sony Oxford Inflator).

For people with less than amazing budgets it is a godsend.

 

[kylen]

I love noob sticker shock.

hehe I have that kinda stuff - for non-production homerecording I like the Magix $40 price.