Obtaining a Reasonable Volume Level on Master

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zaphod B
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Zaphod B

Zaphod B

Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
I have a very basic setup - I use a TASCAM 2488 with no outboard processing, and use no preamps. Mics for vocals and my guitar amp go directly into the back of the unit.

The 2488 is cursed with a very small LCD screen, and there is no way to get a really high-definition view of signal levels. Also, the LCD screen has a slight delay in reaction time so a peak indication may actually come just after a peak has occurred. So when I'm creating a master I have to be a bit conservative with the level to avoid clipping. As a result, all of my mastered mixes have ended up having low overall volume (relative to commercial CDs). They sound good through the various systems I play them through if you push the volume level, but the problem is when they are in a tray with commercial CDs and the sound levels between the two are so different.

Can anyone recommend a way to increase the overall level? So far I have not experimented with running any dynamics on the overall mix (to compress the whole mix) and I'd like to avoid that to the extent possible. Are there any other products that can take the mastered stereo mix in CD audio format and increase the overall level without mangling it? Or any other ideas?

Thanks!
 
Not really. You'll have to compress/limit the mix a great deal to get it anywhere near commercial CD levels.
 
scrubs said:
Not really. You'll have to compress/limit the mix a great deal to get it anywhere near commercial CD levels.
Click to expand...
That's what I was afraid of. I may try a little compression on the mix just to bump it up a bit.

A friend at work uses a piece of software called Audacity on some of his audio work (he develops computer-based training) and recommended it, but I assume it's doing the same thing. :confused:
 
Zaphod B said:
That's what I was afraid of. I may try a little compression on the mix just to bump it up a bit.

A friend at work uses a piece of software called Audacity on some of his audio work (he develops computer-based training) and recommended it, but I assume it's doing the same thing. :confused:
Click to expand...

You can trasfer the tracks to audicity or another program but, you will need some pretty nice plugs to master with, I have pretty nice plugs my self but, I never attempt to reach commercial volumes. I push it up as far as I can until it starts to degrade the mix and then I back it off a bit.

I'd rather have it sound good than be loud. I also have to say that put threw my monitors alot of the "loud" comercial cd's really sound like hell.
Fiona Apple, criminal for example clips like an sob all over the place and sounds like utter crap. When you set your goal make sure you know what your getting.

The trend now also is leaning alot tward apperant loudness too. Mixing things harshly bright so as to make them seem louder. Not a fan.

I'm sure you can get louder and still sound good but, I'd leave the commercialy loud stuff to the big boys with big bucks.

Good luck.

F.S.
 
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Zaphod B said:
That's what I was afraid of. I may try a little compression on the mix just to bump it up a bit.

A friend at work uses a piece of software called Audacity on some of his audio work (he develops computer-based training) and recommended it, but I assume it's doing the same thing. :confused:
Click to expand...
Zaphod...Audacity is just a hosting program. It doesn't really do anything other that play a file. Any effects or compression would be done with plug-ins of some sort. So, using Audacity is no different than using Wavelab or Cubase, really.

I have the 2488, too. I keep my mixes at moderate to low levels and then export to my computer, where I will compress with a mastering limiter like the Waves, L3, for example.
 
Try sending your mix through the improbability generator and mix it with a really hot cup of tea. ;)
 
Robert D said:
Try sending your mix through the improbability generator and mix it with a really hot cup of tea. ;)
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I thought that was the recipe for a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster :confused:

G.
 
Don't start getting ideas guys. It could be painfull!




F.S.
 
Robert D said:
Try sending your mix through the improbability generator and mix it with a really hot cup of tea. ;)
Click to expand...
Or something that is almost, but not entirely, unlike tea. :D
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
I thought that was the recipe for a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster :confused:

G.
Click to expand...
No, no, no. Here's the recipe: :D

-- Take the juice from one bottle of that Ol' Janx Spirit.
-- Pour into it one measure of water from the seas of Santraginus V.
-- Allow three cubes of Arcturan Mega-gin to melt into the mixture (it must be properly iced or the benzene is lost).
-- Allow four litres of Fallian marsh gas to bubble through it (in memory of all those happy Hikers who have died of pleasure in the Marshes of Fallia).
-- Over the back of a silver spoon float a measure of Qualactin Hypermint extract, redolent of all the heady odours of the dark Qualactin Zones; subtle, sweet, and mystic.
-- Drop in the tooth of an Algolian Suntiger. Watch it dissolve, spreading the fires of the Algolian suns deep into the heart of the drink.
-- Sprinkle Zamphour.
-- Add an olive.
-- Drink... but... very carefully...
 
Zaphod B said:
No, no, no. Here's the recipe: :D

-- Take the juice from one bottle of that Ol' Janx Spirit.
-- Pour into it one measure of water from the seas of Santraginus V.
-- Allow three cubes of Arcturan Mega-gin to melt into the mixture (it must be properly iced or the benzene is lost).
-- Allow four litres of Fallian marsh gas to bubble through it (in memory of all those happy Hikers who have died of pleasure in the Marshes of Fallia).
-- Over the back of a silver spoon float a measure of Qualactin Hypermint extract, redolent of all the heady odours of the dark Qualactin Zones; subtle, sweet, and mystic.
-- Drop in the tooth of an Algolian Suntiger. Watch it dissolve, spreading the fires of the Algolian suns deep into the heart of the drink.
-- Sprinkle Zamphour.
-- Add an olive.
-- Drink... but... very carefully...
Click to expand...
....and that's why you're in exile, man.....
 
RAMI said:
Zaphod...Audacity is just a hosting program. It doesn't really do anything other that play a file. Any effects or compression would be done with plug-ins of some sort. So, using Audacity is no different than using Wavelab or Cubase, really.

I have the 2488, too. I keep my mixes at moderate to low levels and then export to my computer, where I will compress with a mastering limiter like the Waves, L3, for example.
Click to expand...

Audacity can adjust the volume level. It comes loaded with alot of filters and plugins and volume leveling is one of them. I use it all the time to adjust overall volume of LP's and cassettes I convert to mp3's. I have even used it on songs I have recorded in my studio. It will adjust the volume as loud as you want. It will push it to almost clipping or whatever you want.
 
RAMI said:
Audacity is just a hosting program. It doesn't really do anything other that play a file.
Click to expand...
Wow, I didn't quite catch this the first time around. I'm sure Rami didn't quite mean this exactly as he said it, but it's statements like this that scare the hell out of me.

I have often joked about how many newcomers to this racket have become so hooked on the idea of plug-ins as magic wands that they often seem to view multitrack non-linear editing software as nothing more but hosts for plugs. I always thought that I was kind of exaggurating for effect, to make a point.

But to hear it seriously stated in public that one of them is just a plug hosting program that does nothing but play audio files is, well, just scary. And saddening. Maybe I'm still just too strung out from last night's gig, but this almost makes me want to just write off any hope whatsoever for the future of audio production.

Twenty or thirty years ago no one ever heard, "studios are just places for using your compressors."

G.
 
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