konalavadome

The Correct EQ ?

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andy5544

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« on: September 29, 2012, 01:45:24 PM »
I've been recording for the blueprint challenge .

So i eq it etc so it sounds good on my pc speakers , which are a pretty good quality.

then i play it back on my headphones ..... sounds bassy .

then play back through my ear buds on the laptop and it sounds tinny .

what's a person to do ?
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Boydie

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« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2012, 03:37:39 PM »
This is more than simply eq

What you (ideally) need is a room with the right listening environment and some proper monitors that have a full and flat response - or at least a consistent "known" response

You should also have some headphones and "crappy" speakers to test mixes

It is then all about learning and getting used to your monitoring environment

It is an absolute art to get a mix sounding great across different speakers, headphones, listening environments

Many a cd has been burnt to test a mix on a car stereo!!!

It is jus practice, practice, practice I am afraid - and this is when you have right gear and room!
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habiTat

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« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2012, 04:51:47 PM »
I've been recording for the blueprint challenge .

So i eq it etc so it sounds good on my pc speakers , which are a pretty good quality.

then i play it back on my headphones ..... sounds bassy .

then play back through my ear buds on the laptop and it sounds tinny .

what's a person to do ?

I have this problem all the time, blinkin' nightmare. I do recommend listening in the car though. If you play a proper bought CD, then your own track, both through the same headphones, you can use the pro mix as a comparison to help sort your own one out.

James Nighthawk

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« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2012, 07:33:02 PM »
This is a huge issue with myriad variables, but I'll touch on a main point or two

Firstly, don't beat yourself up.

Without mastering, most all recordings will suffer from variations in playback scenarios. Even once mastered, there are natural changes in tonal colour from headphone to headphone and speaker to speaker. The aim is to get is as solid as possible on as many sources as possible, while sounding kick arse on the high end.

Mastering is something I have learnt slowly (and I am still learning) over a decade and a half of academia and studio work. I have my own algorithms and methods (which alas, I am loathe to share exactingly... for fairly obvious reasons!)

Mastering is part art, part science.

The art is getting the initial mix right, and then applying the correct compressors, limitors, EQ, normalisation algorithms... each at the right stage....with the right settings. The science is understanding HOW these affect the sound wave in order to let the artistic decisions flourish as you wish. And of course to understand the dominent and sub-dominent sound frequencies of your mix, and the relative volume ratios of each frequency band area.

Should much of the above read like goobledigoob, fret not.

It isn't easy. I am still learning year on year, and improving (one would hope!) despite doing this for a living!

As I say....don't beat yourself up over it.

It may be easier to get as good as possible with your desk mixes, and then find a local mastering/mixing engineer who will work on your mixes. Those you really want to shine. Ask to hear his/her work. Then, try one song to see if you like the results. Yes, its a fee to swallow, but this is a specialised skill.


AWAY from mastering

-The comparison trick is vital. Have a folder loaded up with your favourite mixes of commercial songs with "similar" sounds. You can't match mastered with unmastered though. So be careful with pushing instruments that are "compressed" forward such as Bass drum, Bass, vocal presence. Don't over compensate, work within constraints
-Test on multiple systems.
-Mix to the song. Don't try to be something else
-Learn compression, and keep learning. BOYDIE has been on a compression bender of late, and is improving with each mix. Having sounds well compressed can have a greater impact on the mix feel, and will lesson variation across speakers/headphones. HOWEVER, beware over compression. Red peaks at the extreme; lifelessness to your dynamics are a risk with even a little too much


Lots to take in, I hope at least some of this helps


Small plug - Hey I earned it with the big ass post above!: I do mastering for external clients as well as my in house productions. PM me for details if interested.
www.riverwaystudios.co.uk
Plug over!
« Last Edit: September 29, 2012, 07:36:36 PM by James Nighthawk »
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