Sound problem

[GlobalDragon]

Hey guys Im using a g5 dual, apogee ensemble and Event 8 studio monitors with Logic pro. I just cant seem to hear the sound correctly through my monitors. The best example i can give is that i hear just the higher end of my kick and everything just seems blurry. When ever im in friends of mines studios the difference is enormous(when i play my stuff in their studios i immediatly see what differences i need to make to the sound) I know that room acoustics are definitly playing a role. But can they be making this much of a difference? Is it the Events? Also is there a good master channel setting you reccomend? comp ect.... I do electronic dance



Thanks in advance

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by GlobalDragon

I know that room acoustics are definitly playing a role. But can they be making this much of a difference?

Yes.

Room acoustics have a huge influence on sound and, going by your description, are quite likely the main cause of the problem.

A simple yet effective way to test whether the acoustics are the main culprit is to just take your setup to one of your friends' good sounding studios, play one of the tracks you're working on and compare the sound there with how they sound in your own place. This should give you a goo idea to what extent the problem is down to room acoustics.

Also is there a good master channel setting you reccomend?

In mastering, there are no fixed recipes, no standard settings, no presets. What is done depends entirely on 'what needs doing', so first, you need to listen, then decide. That neatly brings us back to your main inquiry: Improving your listening situation should be your top priority. Once you do that, 'what needs doing' will become much more obvious and you'll be able to mix / master / evaluate much more intuitively.

Hope this helps.

[Franco]

It could be that you have your amps fried in your monitors, have you ruled that out? Acoustics can make a huge difference, definitely, but you should be able to hear bass coming out of your monitors if you're directly in front of them. I believe those are bi-amped so it could be that only your tweeter's amps are working (?)

[GlobalDragon]

@ 24-96 I have actually brought work iv done(not my entire setup) to a friend of mines studio and immediatly heard what i had to do to improve my sound. I just cant seem to hear the subtltys in the track.


@Franco I am able to hear some bass its not all highs. if i step 8 feet back i hear the bass fully clear which is expected. But at my friends studio standing right in front of the monitors then steping back a few feet doesent make the sound much different where as in my set up the bass drops dramatically at close range


Thanks alot guys appreciate the responses

[brethes]

Have you checked that your speaker are not out of phase?

[Franco]

It sounds like your friend's monitors, monitor positioning and acoustics are better than yours.

What kind of monitors does your friend have?

Does he have any acoustic treatment, do you?

What are your friend's monitors sitting on? What are yours sitting on?

How far apart are your monitors, how far apart are his?

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by GlobalDragon

@ 24-96 I have actually brought work iv done(not my entire setup) to a friend of mines studio and immediatly heard what i had to do to improve my sound. I just cant seem to hear the subtltys in the track.

And you're wondering whether this is more down to speakers or acoustics. To find out, simply:

Take reproduction system -> into the car -> drive to friend's studio -> set them up -> listen to your current production->

still pretty smushy / woolly / undefined? = your reproduction system needs to be examined
much less smushy / woolly / undefined? = your room acoustics need to be examined

It's that easy

(Alternatively, ask a good local sound engineer to help figure it out)

[DuX]

Originally Posted by brethes@mac.com

Have you checked that your speaker are not out of phase?

I'd check that first, too .

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by DuX

I'd check that first, too .

His speakers are active, unless the connecting XLR cables are self-made, switched polarity seems reasonably unlikely.