Output Level

[Tmoney64]

Hey guys,

I've already done a search and not finding satisfactory answers, so here's a new post from a newbie. I'm using latest ver. of Garageband, loving it so far, but have been frustrated with volumes of tracks say when playing them from my iPod for instance. I can play some other artists' track and have a normal output but with the same settings on whatever speakers I'm playing through, my GB tracks have much less output. Granted, this is comparing my GB tracks to pro studio tracks, but it's quite a drastic difference. In GB I'm getting fairly good at mixing, and have a decent overall track volume, but when mixing a track down and sending it to my iPod to try out in the real world, there is just a lack of volume. Sorry if I'm being vague, I can attempt to give more info if anyone has any help they can provide. Much thanks.

 

[Massive Master]

[BEATING A DEAD HORSE]

The long story is that playback volume is determined and attained during the mastering phase. Your mixes "aren't supposed to" be at "commercial" levels. So keep that in mind -- You aren't doing anything wrong (yet). The story is so much longer than that though... So much longer that you'd be better off using the search function or visiting Tweak's Lab for some basics on the process.

The SHORT story is to strap a limiter across the 2-buss and smash it (unfortunately, that's where a lot of mixes end up - but that will certainly give you more apparent loudness).

However (as I'm extremely biased), let's not confuse that with the mastering process (just nipping that in the bud).

[/BADH]

 

[Tmoney64]

Thanks for the tip. I'll continue my search and invest more time into acquiring more knowledge.

 

[kcearl]

Yeah tm any loundness increases should be done in a separate project..its a common mistake at the beginning..

dont push your faders into the red during the mix, leave plenty of headroom, bounce down the file and open a new project with it....stick a limiter on the new project with a compressor first, then try using mild compression and a combination of the limiters ceiling and threshold to bring the volume up without squashing the crap out of it

to get the best results you are going to have to read up on these and experiment...increasing loudness isnt really that difficult, retaining the tracks dynamic while doing it is where the skill comes in

there is a very informative guide here for home studio users, and something you can come back to again and again...welcome aboard

http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

 

[Armistice]

Keep flogging Massive!

Fight the good fight...

 

[Massive Master]

I hope you mean "Kepp flogging (comma), Massive!"

The other way sounds so hateful...

 

[Armistice]

I hope you mean "Kepp flogging (comma), Massive!"

The other way sounds so hateful...

Whoops...


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