Tagged Questions

5
votes
2answers
204 views

What exactly does it mean to normalize a track/how it is done?

When exporting a song I was working on in Ableton I decided to export it as an .aiff file for the first time, just for kicks I guess, when I noticed some options that I had never really paid attention ...
5
votes
1answer
154 views

Is it wrong to use compression on the master bus?

I've read some pretty conflicting statements about what people should or shouldn't do when it comes to putting effects on the master bus. In general, what I always do is put on a compressor but have ...
7
votes
1answer
65 views

General advice about sound spatialization

I am composing music by layering various instruments of different types. Percussions, strings, lead, etc... Is there a generally-agreed "best" way of putting those instruments in the auditive space? ...
7
votes
3answers
151 views

How should you mix / master when producing music for Video Games?

Should anything be done differently when mixing and/or mastering for Video Game music, considering it will play along with various other game SFX? Should a certain range of frequencies (or multiple ...
1
vote
1answer
152 views

Learning how to create, record, mix, and master audio

I've been messing around with digital audio production for something like six years on and off, and it's been a beautiful frustrating experience. I know very little if any "textbook" information and ...
3
votes
2answers
69 views

Generating massive-sounding duplicated noises

I'm using SONAR 5 Producer (I know, it's old.) to record/mix/master my recording. What I'm looking to do is with certain sounds, I'd like to create the effect of having hundreds of instruments without ...
7
votes
3answers
304 views

Getting the kick drum to really come out in the mix?

When I get done with a mix, no matter how much I work on the bass drum it barely comes out. I'm mainly working with metal bands, so I was wondering if anyone could give me pointers/ suggestions/ ...
6
votes
1answer
166 views

In which situations is Audio Expansion applied (opposite of compressors)?

I've encountered from time to time some plugins that allows a threshold and a ratio to be set so that quieter sound can have an even more quieter level (or silenced altogether). Ableton Live actually ...
11
votes
4answers
3k views

What is the best volume to work with studio monitors?

What is the best volume to work with studio monitors for mastering and mixing tracks? I own a pair of M Audio Bx8 Studio monitors and I always produce with the volume knob at the middle.... so here ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views

How to read and use a Phase / Vectorscope

I been using Izotope Ozone 4 for some time, but I'm still a bit intimidated by the Vectorscope in the stereo-imaging section. When Mastering / Mixing a signal... What "lissajous shape" are you ...