mastering tracks in cubase

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daveblue222

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ok finally got everthing set up to record through my multimix 16 (firewire). i have recorded a rough demo with my mate. i know how to get a basic mix by using the mixer within cubase. i now want to master it abit more. one thing i have realised is that when i playback the song within cubase it is considerably lower in voume than mp3s/cds/pc alert sounds ect. this isnt because the faders are low down on the mixer in cubase. the vocals also sound a bit flat and dry (not due to poor singing) and dont seem to fit into the mix that good. basiclly i now know how to play/record/and do a basic mix, but am now having trouble with getting it to sound professional or rather un-professional (bands i like:-sonic youth, billy childish, white stripes) if you know what i mean.

any advice tips ect would be great

-dave
 
daveblue222 said:
ok finally got everthing set up to record through my multimix 16 (firewire). i have recorded a rough demo with my mate. i know how to get a basic mix by using the mixer within cubase. i now want to master it abit more. one thing i have realised is that when i playback the song within cubase it is considerably lower in voume than mp3s/cds/pc alert sounds ect. this isnt because the faders are low down on the mixer in cubase. the vocals also sound a bit flat and dry (not due to poor singing) and dont seem to fit into the mix that good. basiclly i now know how to play/record/and do a basic mix, but am now having trouble with getting it to sound professional or rather un-professional (bands i like:-sonic youth, billy childish, white stripes) if you know what i mean.

any advice tips ect would be great

-dave
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If the vocals sound dry, it's a 'problem' with the mix;Try adding reverb, or double-track them.

Mastering is different altogether, and to master it properly you'll need to send it to a mastering house, for a variety of reasons. You could try using a pre-master compressor plug-in and then a master-limiter plug-in to boost the volume. Kjaerhus audio has freebies of these two plug ins in its classic series. Tele.
 
Agreed - If the mix isn't done, why would you even *send it out* for mastering (much less go the DIY route)?
 
Loudness does not equate to quality music it's just louder. You can alway just raise the volume later with a loudness maximizer or limiting compressor.

Instead what you could do is turn up the volume against a commerical track you like to a comparable loudness level. Then determine if there is something wrong with you song first before you send it someone to master. Get it mixed properly first.


You should ask yourself question like:
Does my song have:
too much or too little low frequency sounds - 249 hz and lower
too much or too little mid frequency sounds - 250 hz - 5999 hz
too much or too little high frequency sounds - 6000 hz and up

If answer yes to any of these questions. You should than think of what's sounds are not working. Like if you said you song has to much mid range stuff.

Then you should think about what sounds are contributing to the midrange and start roll off/equalize frequency from instruments that are not benefiting the song. Doing this will allow you track to breath more and give it some clearity. Doing this will also allow a loudness maximizer to work more efficiently and therefore louder music in the end.

If any instrument is too quiet in a certain frequency you can give it a boost, but becareful because you could break your meter before you know it and will sounds worse. If that's case you might have to turn everthing else down or figure out another way to get it sound right.

If the arrangement has to many elements it can cause confusion to the listener like ie, if you working on a rock tune you woundn't have a lead guitarist doing a solo over someone singing.

Yeah this is a pretty obvious example, but your problem could be a more subtle example of this.

At this point you could try experiment with effects and other processors, but it hard to say what wrong without hearing a track first. Compressor can take a lot experimenting for a less experience person to get a feel of what it's doing. Alot of times you don't need alot of these things, but sometimes it takes alot of effort to get something to sound right.

The most important thing you can do now is train you ears and listen carefully. This is easier said than done I know I still have alot trouble in this area.

GL
 
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