hm. is this mixed + mastered correctly?

autodial · 23rd October 2008

sorry, i'm not trying to post this in the wrong forum. it has a sample clip in it, but i figured that since my question is concerning mastering, it's best that i probably go here rather than the advice & opinion forum.

i released a new single a few days ago, and i've been hearing things that they say it could be clipped or that it sounds like the "high end is too loud" or something like that. i admit i'm new to this, and i'm unsure exactly how to approach this.

but, i use flstudio 7 and i've been compressing the whole track in either a compressor or multiband compressor. and sometimes i just play with the EQs and shelves of certain channels.

tell me what you think of it, like how the quality of the song sounds. some people tell me that it sounds decent, some say only okay, and others say it just sounds amateur. PLEASE HELP.

SoundClick artist: Copy Yr Idols - page with MP3 music downloads
it's the first song, "transcendentalism (gary klatt's strings remix)

kjg · 23rd October 2008

I think it sounds pretty decent. I would prefer slightly less top-end, but that is subjective.

Don't worry about it. It sounds fine.

mehrzad · 24th October 2008

I agree, it sounds decent, here are a few words that may help:
-use the right reverb and in the right place, to preserve the depth of your mix, after positioning the instruments in the right place via panning, try to get a good contrast of dry and wet instruments (less verb, more verb), so that the inst's that are in nearly the same place, get separated (distance-wise).
-try to pan certain instruments to far left or far right to get a wider image.
-to avoid a thin mix (characteristic of a digital recording), you can mixdown the whole song, add compression (short attack, long release), a little distortion, a little verb, and add this to your mix (at a very low level), also add more body to your drums by mixing down the drum sec., adding comp (crazy compression like pumping and breathing), a little distortion, high and low cut, and adding it to your mix(again at a low level).
-in the mastering stage you really need to work on the mid-range.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

M-mastering - Audio mixing and mastering services

autodial · 24th October 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjg

I think it sounds pretty decent. I would prefer slightly less top-end, but that is subjective.

Don't worry about it. It sounds fine.

i'm sorry if what i'm about to say/ask is newbie-ish of me, but i always get confused when people say that... that the quality could be less "top-end".
are you referring to the shelves?

also, how do you hear this shit? i mean, how can you tell if the low shelf is too low or needs to be raised? what are key characteristics of a perfect, or ideal sounding mix?

right now it's hard for me to aim for what is an "ideal" quality because i'm pretty much just guessing and stumbling around in the dark.

autodial · 24th October 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mehrzad

I agree, it sounds decent, here are a few words that may help:
-use the right reverb and in the right place, to preserve the depth of your mix, after positioning the instruments in the right place via panning, try to get a good contrast of dry and wet instruments (less verb, more verb), so that the inst's that are in nearly the same place, get separated (distance-wise).
-try to pan certain instruments to far left or far right to get a wider image.
-to avoid a thin mix (characteristic of a digital recording), you can mixdown the whole song, add compression (short attack, long release), a little distortion, a little verb, and add this to your mix (at a very low level), also add more body to your drums by mixing down the drum sec., adding comp (crazy compression like pumping and breathing), a little distortion, high and low cut, and adding it to your mix(again at a low level).
-in the mastering stage you really need to work on the mid-range.

ah yikes that sounds crazy! so many things there that i don't know how to do yet,

.

right now a lot of that is just

i'm using fruityloops 7. i guess i should look into some tutorials or try and track down some newbie mastering & mixing websites. i really value your help, trust me i do, it's just that right now it's a bit hard to understand because i've always just tried making the music. and now, i'm trying to tackle the technical issues.

nonetheless, should be a fun ride, eh?

jordanstoner · 24th October 2008

I think a lot of what has been said could be corrected in the mix phase. In other words, experiment with such suggestions when you have access to the multiple track mix. Mastering is usually (*usually*) concerning the stereo bounced file, when the individual elements are a little trickier to adjust.

I would suggest less hi hat and more kick/snare. Although ambient / breakbeat, this music deserves an in-your-face foundation... at least with the selected kit. If you were to use a more glitch-style kit, then I'd probably have a different opinion.

All-in-all, nice sounding track. I like the sample / synth of the main "guitar" sound. Reminds me of a tracker program I liked a lot back in the day. Agree that reverb and lo-mid / mid could help out here. Check your multi-band to make sure you're not attenuating this range unnecessarily.

Cool track. If this is a remix, do you have a link to the original (for personal interests)?
EDIT: Nevermind about that last question - it's right there on the site. Did you have a hand in the original as well?
EDIT (again): PS - I really like the feel of your track above the more laid-back groove in the original.

autodial · 24th October 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordanstoner

I think a lot of what has been said could be corrected in the mix phase. In other words, experiment with such suggestions when you have access to the multiple track mix. Mastering is usually (*usually*) concerning the stereo bounced file, when the individual elements are a little trickier to adjust.

I would suggest less hi hat and more kick/snare. Although ambient / breakbeat, this music deserves an in-your-face foundation... at least with the selected kit. If you were to use a more glitch-style kit, then I'd probably have a different opinion.

All-in-all, nice sounding track. I like the sample / synth of the main "guitar" sound. Reminds me of a tracker program I liked a lot back in the day. Agree that reverb and lo-mid / mid could help out here. Check your multi-band to make sure you're not attenuating this range unnecessarily.

Cool track. If this is a remix, do you have a link to the original (for personal interests)?
EDIT: Nevermind about that last question - it's right there on the site. Did you have a hand in the original as well?
EDIT (again): PS - I really like the feel of your track above the more laid-back groove in the original.

thank you! both of the tracks were done by me. i don't work with anyone else so i still have to learn more about mastering & mixing.

Neon Heart · 24th October 2008

well, what could have been misunderstood as "clipping" could be that bloppy high sound in many parts. it sounds like bad cuts between samples, on the other hand it could be intended or even one of the drum loop's instruments?

best part to hear it: starting at 0:34 - 0:54 on both channels. regular in 8th notes.
dramatically decreases the listening pleasure for me as you really can't rid of it once picked up and it's hard not to pick it up.

of course that's not a mastering thing but would be interested if that particular sound "effect" was intended?

EDIT: after listening to the last parts it seems to be intended.

23rd October 2008	#1
autodial Gear interested Joined: Oct 2008 Location: croydon, pa Posts: 8 Thread Starter	hm. is this mixed + mastered correctly? sorry, i'm not trying to post this in the wrong forum. it has a sample clip in it, but i figured that since my question is concerning mastering, it's best that i probably go here rather than the advice & opinion forum. i released a new single a few days ago, and i've been hearing things that they say it could be clipped or that it sounds like the "high end is too loud" or something like that. i admit i'm new to this, and i'm unsure exactly how to approach this. but, i use flstudio 7 and i've been compressing the whole track in either a compressor or multiband compressor. and sometimes i just play with the EQs and shelves of certain channels. tell me what you think of it, like how the quality of the song sounds. some people tell me that it sounds decent, some say only okay, and others say it just sounds amateur. PLEASE HELP. SoundClick artist: Copy Yr Idols - page with MP3 music downloads it's the first song, "transcendentalism (gary klatt's strings remix)

24th October 2008	#6
jordanstoner Gear addict Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 400	I think a lot of what has been said could be corrected in the mix phase. In other words, experiment with such suggestions when you have access to the multiple track mix. Mastering is usually (usually) concerning the stereo bounced file, when the individual elements are a little trickier to adjust. I would suggest less hi hat and more kick/snare. Although ambient / breakbeat, this music deserves an in-your-face foundation... at least with the selected kit. If you were to use a more glitch-style kit, then I'd probably have a different opinion. All-in-all, nice sounding track. I like the sample / synth of the main "guitar" sound. Reminds me of a tracker program I liked a lot back in the day. Agree that reverb and lo-mid / mid could help out here. Check your multi-band to make sure you're not attenuating this range unnecessarily. Cool track. If this is a remix, do you have a link to the original (for personal interests)? EDIT: Nevermind about that last question - it's right there on the site. Did you have a hand in the original as well? EDIT (again): PS - I really like the feel of your track above the more laid-back groove in the original. __________________ http://www.twistedsessions.com/Jordan_Stoner/ __________________ I don’t care if they died in puddles of their own vomit, I want someone who plays from his f***ing HEART! -Bill Hicks Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature. -Tom Robbins

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23rd October 2008	#2
kjg Lives for gear Joined: May 2008 Location: Amsterdam, NL Posts: 937	I think it sounds pretty decent. I would prefer slightly less top-end, but that is subjective. Don't worry about it. It sounds fine.

24th October 2008	#3
mehrzad Gear interested Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 6	I agree, it sounds decent, here are a few words that may help: -use the right reverb and in the right place, to preserve the depth of your mix, after positioning the instruments in the right place via panning, try to get a good contrast of dry and wet instruments (less verb, more verb), so that the inst's that are in nearly the same place, get separated (distance-wise). -try to pan certain instruments to far left or far right to get a wider image. -to avoid a thin mix (characteristic of a digital recording), you can mixdown the whole song, add compression (short attack, long release), a little distortion, a little verb, and add this to your mix (at a very low level), also add more body to your drums by mixing down the drum sec., adding comp (crazy compression like pumping and breathing), a little distortion, high and low cut, and adding it to your mix(again at a low level). -in the mastering stage you really need to work on the mid-range. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- M-mastering - Audio mixing and mastering services

24th October 2008	#8
Neon Heart Gear addict Joined: May 2008 Posts: 350	well, what could have been misunderstood as "clipping" could be that bloppy high sound in many parts. it sounds like bad cuts between samples, on the other hand it could be intended or even one of the drum loop's instruments? best part to hear it: starting at 0:34 - 0:54 on both channels. regular in 8th notes. dramatically decreases the listening pleasure for me as you really can't rid of it once picked up and it's hard not to pick it up. of course that's not a mastering thing but would be interested if that particular sound "effect" was intended? EDIT: after listening to the last parts it seems to be intended.