This is why you should not overcompress

  • Thread starter Thread starter CyanJaguar
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CyanJaguar

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Because it will sound like this

www.artistlaunch.com/jagarslogic

omo de

first song on the page

Its horrendous no? You hear what you want from your favorite references, You have 90 %of the tools, yet one cannot cross from a to b

Anyhow, I hope that you dont make the mistake of overcompression.
 
I dont know...Im not really hearing overcompression.....the mix is pretty dynamic...the vocal level does seem to be a tad loud in relation to the other tracks....i think raising the other tracks or lowering the vocal level would help...or am I missing something?....
 
thanks for the updated post gidge. Youre the man.

I had 8:1 compression on 12 of the 14 tracks, with a -15 threshold and to make it worse, ran everything through ultramaximiser. I am glad that it does not affect the music too much.

Hey, buck62, I am glad that all you here is my bad singing. This means that the mix is maybe decent.is the horrible singing for real or are you joking? I am so sensitive to my voice. I am enrolled in voice for next semester and will be for as long as I am in college. Its funny how one throws out most of the things one learns when the headphones are on and I am staring at the pop filter.

Are there anyother comments on the mix that could help improve it?

Thanks for taking the time.
 
Last edited:
CJ, I'm kidding... really!

Hence, the smilie. :D

I'll try to do a critique of the tune when the baby isn't sleeping.


Buck
 
Cyan,

First of all, another good song and Im glad to hear that you are in the creativity mode :)

Second, I agree with Gidge..This isnt a over compression deal at all to me. Sounds like you may be misusing compression or from what you state..the setting you laid out is more or less a "limiting scheme" where there doesnt seem to be a need for limiting.

I pasted the following in here as I cant seem to remember how to use the quote feature

I had 8:1 compression on 12 of the 14 tracks, with a -15 threshold and to make it worse, ran everything through ultramaximiser. I am glad that it does not affect the music too much.

Being that you are using sampled music..there should not be a need for that much compression..due to the fact that is already compressed enough.

I am assuming that you are applying this compression during the mixdown phase correct? And thats the reason you dont hear it affecting the musical portion of the song..in other words try taking the compression off the music tracks..you will find that you dont need it. What you are hearing is the affect that it is having on the vocals simply because more limiting or compression could have been used during the tracking phase..thus it has changed the balance of the mix..

The real benefit would be to use a limiting scheme on the vocals during the tracking phase...and a 8:1 ratio may simply be too much..If you are not already ..try using an outboard compressor to track the vocal.I like to start with a 4:1 ratio with a -10db thres
with slow attack and slow realease times and using a over easy compression scheme..then i determing the final setting by adjusting the threshold for a max of about 4 db on my gain reduction meters at the most during the entire performance but
if it sounds better with more I adjust for more...the real key being to focus on singing the part dynamicly without varying the level of my voice while doing so..it takes practice but thats another benefit of being a homerecordist..sing and watch the meters and try to keep as a consistent level as possible...once the consistency is there..u want to get it as hot to tape or HD as possible..insuring that the mic pre is adjusted for optimum and the output of the compressor controlling the level to the HD.

The problem im hearing with the vocal is the wet/dry ratio on the reverb..even in the beginning its washing the vocal out..making the words unclear..

and the level of the backing vocals are too loud..
along with the other instrument that comes in with them in the portion of the song I would call the chorus..this might be a product of the ultramaximer that was applied..which brings me to this point...if when adding the ultramaximer to the main buss you notice a big change in any element in the mix..try goiing back to the mix and add the compression or the limiter there as an insert and remix at that point..reapply the L1 at the main buss and see if it changes the mix if so go back and work on the problem area again..it simply means that u didnt get an optimum level during the tracking phase..

Again, good song and I went into an expose :) because Ive seen that you mentioned this 8:1 ratio thing in another post and you have aquired an obsession with reverbs lately..

You have alot of potential as an engineer..and youre gonna be o k

I kinda look at you as being the heart and soul of the BBS..

Keep on keeping on!
 
ELbenj,

Thanks man. Thanks for the encouragement and the critique.
Before I forget, I listened to a guy who mixes with ns10ms and his mix was so much wider. I emailed me and he told me his secrets for getting a spacious reverb sound without drowning the sound as I am wont to do. It will do wonders for my mixes.

I heard that the keyboard samples dont need compression. I know sjoko2 does not use compression, but everything was sounding so lifeless, fighting to be heard. I did everything in soundforge so its irrevocable.

I added the limiter on the master bus in logic. I also turned down the reverb and vocals. I think it sounds better now.

Yes, I have been obssessed with reverb lately, simply because I could not get it right, but I believe that I have got it now and it will show big time in my next song.

Thanks for the grear expose . I count on you and value your posts because of that.
 
I don't know if this is overcompressed or not....that's not a problem that jumps out at my amature ears. It's loud yes, but that's not out of the ordinary in mixes consisting of all electronic instruments...in fact it's a lot easier to mix loud when you're not working with live instruments I think.

As far as the mix goes:

First of all I'd say you've got to do something about the backing tracks. You can do electronic without it sounding SOO electronic. You might considering blending things together quite a bit more. It's sort of sparse and noisy.

Second the backing tracks get way too loud when they get...louder. :) During the chorus I think...the non-english lyrics really through my feeble mind for a loop They just blast in and beat the crap out of the vocals. Then there's a synth sound at 3:20 or so in the right channel that's way too loud. Let your vocals carry more of the power and set the music back a ways...I've been suprised at just how far you can leave your vocals stand out front without ruining the overall power of the recording (a good limiter can help a lot I've found).

Third, I think your vocals sound fine. I know what it's like to be shy about singing...I'm about as bad about it as a person can be. That said, my only complaint is that you do go blazing off-key several times, but I think it's because you're really driving from the gut which is admirable and difficult. If you're taking voice in school then I'm sure you'll really be able to belt it out before long!

Slackmaster 2000
 
thanks slackmaster 2k,

I am basically incorporating all ideas I get into the mix. Luckily, you can update the file on artistlaunch.com

I agree about basically everything you said. It is easier to get a loud mix with elec music. Mixing live recorded music is a nightmare for me.

For the off pitch. I am hoping and praying and crossing my fingers that a good headphone mix will fix it. Ie. a headphone amplifier and good headphones where I can hear the mix voice in both ears. YOu dont want to hear how I do it right now. Of course, my voice teacher will hear this track and work on the problem areas.

I was trying to copy the mix "petit pays" one of the biggest african artists. He uses only synths. I think I can make it sound more natural. Infact, I am off right now to tweak. Thanks. I think that I will eventually have to rerecord the vocals. Maybe when I get my nt2.

precciate the positve any detailed critique.
 
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