Benjamin Dreessen wrote: > Message posted by Benjamin Dreessen <bjdreessen@sbcglobal.net>: > > I was noticing how terribly my mixes suffered from playback in iTunes as > compared to just playing back the file in a finder window, and I learned > that the cause of that horrible sound was the "enhancer" in iTunes. I'm glad > to have solved that problem, but I'm still left with this nagging question: > Why did my mixes suffer so much more from the 'enhancer' than did the songs > from some of the commercial CDs I own? > > This is really a broader question. I know I'm not using the finest equipment > or plugins (I use the Logic plugins in the mix and PSP VW for > finalising/"mastering"), and I know my monitoring equipment and room are > nowhere near up to spec, but I've found that my mixes actually sound even > better on pro monitors. They sound right. But then when I try them out on my > two cheapo car stereos, they suffer so much more than commercial CDs do—huge > peaks and valleys in the overall EQ that I just don't hear on my Radiohead > or Badly Drawn Boy or Gillian Welch CDs? Is it too optimistic for me to hope > that I could make my mixes as system-proof as these CDs? I try to take what > I learn by hearing the mixes on junky systems into account, but I feel a bit > like I'm chasing my tail. Not at all. Those tracks have been professionally mastered. And that means at least 4 parameters you don't have. Mastering studio monitors, mastering studio processing, mastering studio ears, mastering studio experience and a fresh perspective. I love PSP VW and I use it on demos. It sort of goes half way there but that's it. At first glance it appears to be magic, but it's not. > > Also, as for volume. I read a lot of people on forums like this sneering at > the notion of trying to up the volume of the final mix, but my ears keep > telling me that even with a good deal of compression/limiting on my overall > mix, my levels don't approach those of, say, Badly Drawn Boy's 'One Plus One > is One,' which to my ears still sounds incredibly open and natural and > dynamic. Am I supposed to believe that they're not using a ton of > compression on their mix? Some, not necessarily a ton. Much depends on the mix in the first place. It's possible to do mixes that are just plain without too much processing. So much is to do with the right sounds and combination of sounds in the first place, whether it's instruments, mics or orchestration. -- Pete Thomas www.petethomas.co.uk Logic Tutorials, Hints, Tips, free Icons, Environments EXS Instruments (donationware) ***Please support my trek in the Andes in aid of APEC*** ***info & sponsorship: http://www.justgiving.com/petethomas***