raising or "normalizing" volume levels??

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bloozguy

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I finished up recording my first CD...

Not too bad, and now I'm working on the next.

In retrospect, one thing I'm disappointed with is that the whole cd seems to be about 25% below the level of volume of most cd's, and I have to crank it up more.

Now...in recording, my levels were all set (instruments, vocals) so that they were in the amber and bordering the red.

Someone suggested I "normalize" my volumes of each song before I burn the cd's. However, in my Cakewalk book I bought, "Cakewalk Power" by Scott Garrigus...it warns that "normalize" similar to 3dB Louder feature alters things permanently and may cause clipping later. Only if additional things are done. So "normalizing" should be done only when everything is complete. But then, the author ends by saying that "normalizing" should really not be used at all.

He suggests instead in another Tip, to record initially at a good amplitude level and adjust volume by using the Velocity parameter.

What I'm confused about then is what did I do wrong, or perhaps not do? A "good" amplitude level would be checking to make sure record levels are primarily in the amber to perhaps just red. Correct? And just off my head, the Velocity parameter's limit raises only to the number 127...right?

Any tips that might help, or explanations that will clarify what I should do? Thanks...

bloozguy
 
Generally the overall volume of the CD will be brought up as part of the mastering process. Was the CD mastered? Typically in mastering the ME will apply compression and/or limiting to increase the volume level to commercial CD levels (or some facsimile). Normalizing is pretty much a waste of time IMHO.

P.S. AFAIK the velocity parameter is just for Midi.
 
guess it depends if I'm missing out on something by what you might imply to mean by "mastering?"

I followed the book, went to "tools" and followed the "Mixdown" to audio procedure...etc., for each song.

At my age and years playing music, I hate sounding like such a dummy, but perhaps you could elaborate a bit more for me. Asking dumb questions still proves to be one of the best ways to learn.

Coincidently, a drummer I play with in another three piece group I gave the cd to for a listen did mention it lacking some compression.

thanks...

bloozguy
 
Mixdown to Audio from Sonar (or Cakewalk) simply creates a stereo wave file of the finished mix. Generally those wave files are then sent to a mastering facility where they are mastered into a finished CD. During the mastering process the mastering engineer will attempt to make the songs into a cohesive CD. This will generally involve increasing the volume levels, and making sure the volumes from one song to the next are consistent. He might use eq to give each song a similar sound. He will set the times/spacing between songs. And so on.

Many homerec'ers on this BBS are making their own attempts at mastering, and there is an ongoing debate about the validity of this versus professional mastering. I won't get into the debate here. However, what you have are "finished mixes" that still need to be mastered if you want them to in any way compare to commerical CD's.

You might want to spend some time in the mastering forum to get a better handle on this.
 
hhhhhHHOOOoollly sssmmOKES! I had no idea.

I assumed independent homerecording and equipment meant just that! hahahaha.....silly me!

I know someone that records professionally, and offered me prices to professionally burn 'em out in bulk, silkscreen directly on the CD's, take my master insert and produce them, and shrink wrap. The whole ball of wax. I suppose then...logically speaking, that he has the capabilities to do all that you are describing.

I could take my cd of my wave files, which I thought was the equivalent of a goodenough product, and then he could master them. Perhaps then...that also explains why a few folks for some reason can't get the cd to play on their home stereo systems.

My brother-in-law for example can get it to play in his truck's cd player, but not his home system. Evidently...the wave files when mastered and then produced are in a different more compatible format when all is said and done.

Well...thanks for your insights. What seemed so simple to me at first now tells me its time to roll up the sleeves all over again and learn some more.

Ssheesh....just when I thought......

bloozguy
 
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Perhaps then...that also explains why a few folks for some reason can't get the cd to play on their home stereo systems.
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No. That is probably a function of your CD burner. However, professionally mfg'd CD's are made differently and should not have that problem.

I suppose then...logically speaking, that he has the capabilities to do all that you are describing.
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Possibly. Ask him. Everything that you described is part of the CD manufacturing process. Mastering is the step just before that. Your friend might assume you already have a mastered CD. However, many CD duplication houses offer mastering as well. I am sure, however, quality will vary tremendously.

Here is a link to an pdf of a mastering guide which was put together by a company who sells a "mastering" plugin. Download and read the guide (it's free), it will give you some good insight into the mastering process. http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/ozoneguide.html
 
appreciate your time and willingness to be helpful, thanks!

I'll check that site out on mastering.

Also, I have DirectCD 3.0 with Easy Creator 4, (about to download a newer 3.01c version for using my Sony Mavica CD300 camera). My burner is a 12x10x32x... Burn-proof by liteonit.com.tw

Sometimes I wonder too if it might not be the quality or type of bulk cd's I buy. I'm going to be trying Memorex next.

take care!

bloozguy
 
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Sometimes I wonder too if it might not be the quality or type of bulk cd's I buy.
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Yeah. I should have more correctly said that the problem is a combination of your burner and the blank CD's you're using. Certain brands of CD's just don't seem to work well with certain brands of burners.

Try a few different brands of CD-R's. When you get a brand that seems to work well with your burner, and will play on most/all CD players, then stick with that brand. I can't give you any recormmendations, as it's the specific CD-R/burner combination that is the isse, but generally you want to stick to name brand CD-R's when burning audio CD's.
 
not necessairily. just because someone can burn cds in bulk doesnt mean he even knows what mastering is.

all i do for my stuff is crank up the volume about 2.5% in soundforge. the volume monitor bars shows clipping but you dont actually hear anything. and if you can't hear it, then no need to worry about it.

just do that. unless you want to put out the cash for a pro mastering job just to be sure.

and i dont think that its the mastering part that limits where a cd can be played. its the cd player. i know a lot of cd players have problems reading RE-writables. but most of them read regular writeables fine. but then again, i believe some dont read either one.

eddie

bloozguy said:
I know someone that records professionally, and offered me prices to professionally burn 'em out in bulk, silkscreen directly on the CD's, take my master insert and produce them, and shrink wrap. The whole ball of wax. I suppose then...logically speaking, that he has the capabilities to do all that you are describing.
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thanks Eddie...

appreciate your thoughts...

in the case of this "guy" he has a recording studio in Western Wisconsin and has recorded/produced quite a few bands. I haven't seen his set up personally, but just saying I wouldn't be surprised if he can do the mastering. Wouldn't be surprised if he knows how and is quite experienced.

I was reading thru the pdf Ozone guide as dachay suggested, and it became near immediately apparent that with exception that I got pretty lucky with an "okay" sounding pretty decent homespun cd....much of what is called "mastering" was over my head and at this point out of my league.

Larry
 
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