Exported Music / commerical levels

Hello all.

I have a problem. When I mix down songs even with a master limiter like the l3 ultramaximer they still come out slightly lower. I have noticed that with pretty much ever export i have ever done.

they seem to be coming out at 0.0db max and when i put commerical music in next to the tracks in cubase they seem to be the same but still others have noticed the slight volume lack that is happening.

Anyone else having trouble like this with Cubase or is it just commercial cd are compressed like crazy for that hot radio sound.

That.

L3 should be able to accomplish that. just ratchet that sucker up.

there is a bunch of other stuff that helps, like removing all the peaks and such

Yeah, we wouldn't want any of those pesky peaks in there!! Make that puppy look like a 2x4!!!!!

oh come now. when you look at the sound wave, you can see the peaks jart up 200% higher than anything else. lopping them down with an editor has ZERO effect on the actual sound - if you are not agressive - and that lets the compressor deal with things a lot easier.

1. It's a joke. See the ?

2. How can I see the waves? You haven't shown them to me.

oh, I felt the sarcasm but I do think cutting off peaks is a good idea

Here's the wave in question

Oh, but that's a glorious, beautiful looking peak!! And rather analog looking, if I'm not mistaken!!!! We can't mercilessly lob that off, can we?

Or - mixing flatter. Those Lord-Alge mixes don't have big peaks anywhere. They're wide, but they're flat.

Right. If there's a peak that's really causing problems, I'll automate volume there.

Then +9 dB @ 50 Hz on the bass to exaggerate low end compression; fast attack and slow release.

Then replace snare, kick, overheads....

Yeah, that's it...and on and on...then some MaxxBass from Waves....then a stereo spatializer...then another compressor...

I prefer the V shape mastering EQ meself

yeah, just kidding. but really L3 should handle it. probably just push it beyond where you really want to.... exactly like the commercial masters did

I do but they always seem to come out at a lower db. Does cutting to mp3 instead of wav make a difference?

Not really, and if anything mp3s can come out very slightly louder because of the rounding errors.

There are mastering houses out there making a steady stream of income, so consider that this problem is more complex and requires more skill than you may think.

Ive got a good tip. Your mix is obviously compressed to hell as it looks like a commercial release but still it still is not reaching the same volumes. After you've compressed and EQ'ed everything export ur mix and bring it back in, right click on the wav and go to processing and select gain apply 20pocent gain. It will make ur track louder and if its mixed and processed right should sound great. After which i would put into harbal and shape its EQ up more so its not too harsh. By the way if your tracks instrumentation and arrangement is fuller than your reference you;ll never reach the same volume. Something i find that works if the stages are done right.

doesn't it just clip then because it would be over 0.0db?

no it saturates the sound file to be louder depending on how much you saturate it by. Im pretty damm sure this is done in pro mastering with hot albums.

is that some ProTools plugin or something?

btw Gain does clip the signal at 0db when the peaks go over they saturate so be aware, but most albums dot that anyway. Erm the audiosuite process gain in protools will analyse the RMS volume say -14RMS and call it 100% then you can choose using a 2nd fader how much % of gain you want too apply.

Im finding a balance between gaining my mix then attenuating the overal volume of the track to stop peeking over 0dbfs. using 20 % gain will make the track louder "saturated" at this stage you should not renormalize the audio instead you should attenuate the overall track volume using a limiter's output vol or fader. Basically once ur mix has had gain applied you should be going over 0dbfs which is louder than most consumer DAC allow and so will distort. Attenuating by say -0.7 db will resolve this depending on the tracks volume. You can apply simple gain in all DAW's but how much is really upto you im just finding 20% pretty nice and suitle. WWWJD ive got a present for you.