My Quiet Recordings

[xX5thQuarterXx]

Hey guys.

Im not part of a pro studio or anything. Im just trying to get the best recording i can out of my home setup.

So this little irritation of mine is when i record and get a decent mix, but you play another studio qualiity song and the volume levels are way up its just really in your face compared to mine.

Can anyone point me in the right direction about how to fix this....i have a feeling its in the mastering process but i just dont see how i can get it lounder with out clipping.

thanks =)

[Massive Mastering]

Yes, to a very large extent, it's part of the mastering process.

but you play another studio qualiity song and the volume levels are way up its just really in your face compared to mine.

So if you go to a studio with a professional staff, track and mix there, then go to a professional mastering facility with a qualified engineer, you can be that loud too. Assuming the arrangements and core sounds allow it.

Making professional recordings doesn't happen by accident.

[rockstardave]

of course he says that you have to have it mastered... he runs a mastering company

now, he's absolutely right. pro recordings dont just Happen. but the average hobbyist isnt willing to spend hundreds of dollars to be a little bit louder.

what can you do? you'll probably take some of the life out of your tracks, but you could use some compression.

[Roidster]

compression eq reverb

[Michael Fossenkemper]

compression eq reverb

Huh? reverb?

[Cucco]

Yeah...reverb...

Geez Mike - you don't know how to make your tracks louder with reverb??

Okay, this is how you do it:

Take your raw tracks and put it in an empty track in your DAW.

Patch the output of the DAW to an Aux Buss. We'll call this buss "Reverb" so as to avoid confusion...

On this reverb buss, put your favorite reverb plug in on and set it with the wet signal at 100% and the dry signal at 0%.

Now, here's the crucial part...Crank the gain on that bad boy up to 40 or 50 and keep your Aux faders at unity.

Now THAT's what I call a lush, full mix!!

[Massive Mastering]

compression eq reverb

I suppose that one deserves the "Yoinks!" award of the day...

[xX5thQuarterXx]

okay so im thinking im gonna have to sacrifice a little bit.

what exactly do they do at a mastering studio to get it loud?

[mwacoustic]

I'm not a mastering engineer either. That's why all I will say is:
http://recording.org/ftopict-37287.html

[Massive Mastering]

what exactly do they do at a mastering studio to get it loud?

Whatever each individual mix requires - IF it can handle it. Although the tools and experience of the engineer are obviously important, most (how do I put this...) mixes done by "less seasoned" engineers will never attain those sorts of levels no matter who might be at the controls.