Every time I export an audiomixdown in cubase it sounds crap

[Equilibrium]

Ah! Changing the sample rate to 44.1 and lowering the resolution to 16bit made a difference. A big one, I think that may have solved it and I may be dealing with another problem now. When I exported the drums they sounded fine, as do the pad sounds, but the bass line remains totally distorted. I'm guessing this is due to some prinicple to do with sound that I'm not aware of, unsurprisingly the bass line has a very low pitch.

Sorry this may be some whole other issue I just want to check that it's not related.

Thank you for the help

[DevonB]

What levels on what tracks are you clipping? The internal engine is 32 bit, and you can REALLY push it past 0dB and not really 'hear' the difference sometimes.... until you mix down. Make sure all channels and master levels aren't clipping for starters too.

Devon

[IIRs]

Try exporting at 44.1KHz / 32-bit.

[Spaceman Sounds]

I know this whole topic is never ending, but I did notice working at 24/32 in Nuendo 2 that when I exported bass sounds back into Nuendo to (exported with the master at 0db)there was a tonal difference, not a volume difference, the sound lacked a bit of power than the origional. I fixed this by using Tapeit which records the output of the sound engine without going through any a/d convertors.

[IIRs]

Exporting and re-importing doesn't go through any a/d converters either. Why not try the invert / sum test? I bet there's no difference..

[TankGirl]

As excellent as Cubase SX is, its mixdown's have always sounded crap to my ears, whatever the settings.

There's a simple way of ascertaining whether or not the difference is in your head.

Download a soundcard recorder like AudioRecordWizard:

http://www.nowsmart.com/arwizard/index.html

(the demo will let you record 3 minutes)

set it to WAV and simply record your mix playing in Cubase.

Do a blind test by getting a friend to play both mixes (the recorded one and Cubases's mixdown), in different orders, a dozen or so times, keeping a note of which was which and which one you thought sounded the best.

When I did this I chose the soundcard recording as best every time. Now I use AudioRecordWizard to record every mix. The sound is excellent.

[davor]

Exporting and re-importing doesn't go through any a/d converters either. Why not try the invert / sum test? I bet there's no difference..

Of course there is a difference, but if you are not able to perceive it , which means that nothing in the quality of the your exported sound bothers you, then there is no problem for you.

[ericj23]

Oh god he's back

you are your "friend" do not understand how the computer works OK

he even admits at much - please go away

[davor]

Oh god he's back

you are your "friend" do not understand how the computer works OK

he even admits at much - please go away

I am my friend? What are you talking about? I know that there's neither a/d nor d/ a conversion involved in exporting, but I can hear the difference. It's not my problem that you're "audio challenged" person, i.e. that you cannot hear the difference, and since you cannot hear the difference, there is no problem for you, so it's you who should go away.

[M'Snah]

I had a very strange experience today. After reading the first pages of this thread, I decided to change my pc setup. Instead of having it on my desk, I have put it on the floor now.

Then I started eXT again, with Albino, ZV, etc. And suddenly all the songs I created last week sound so much brighter now. I would never have believed the change until I tried it. My pc is feeling more relaxed and confident now it's out of sight of the keyboard and away from the Behringer stuff. I tried to capture the new sound, it's in the mp3's in my sig.

Thank you davor. You rock my world.

[diverdee]

I find that my pc performs much more reliably if I nestle it gently against a cushion, make sure it gets plenty of light (not too much), clean it with a light feather duster & occasionally talk to it, y'know - tell it how wonderful it is etc.

[headquest]

My P4 laptop works well if I regularly hoover out the vents and store it in the fridge overnight

(PS, I also find it helps not to use Cubase SX )

[ericj23]

oops you and your friend - bloody typo

you see the problem here is there is no difference - if you can hear one your mildly insane

i just imported a sample into cubase - then exported a mixdown and reimported it into cubase
i then solo'ed the new file and exported it again - i then reimported the export of the export
using the phase reversal on one of the two mixdowns i started play and heard

absolute silence - export does not change the file in any way

Try it - its to do with how data in a computer works - this is simple maths 1+1 = 2 every time

if you hear a difference you need your ears examined

[diverdee]

I bet you he doesn't talk to his computer & tell it how nice it is, or store it in the fridge 'sniff', poor little blighter, no wonder it's having problems adding all those 1+1's together. give it some love man, fer gawds sake.... just give it some love!!!!

[davor]

oops you and your friend - bloody typo
- this is simple maths 1+1 = 2 every time

if you hear a difference you need your ears examined

Yes, I, and all the successful and sought after sound and mastering engineers who hear the difference, they all need their ears examined. And you, a would be amateur techno home quasi musician, you are the one to be taken as a judge. Sound is more than zeroes and ones, maybe after some 20 more years, you will come to be able to hear that. meanwhile I refer you to:

http://www.rogernichols.com/EQ/EQ_2000_02.html
http://nautiluspro.com/power_cords.htm

I'll quote Roger Nichols ( engineer for Steely Dan, and many others ) again ;
"Just remember, all of the expensive test gear said the pressings were perfect. The quality control people at the record company said we were crazy, the test equipment said the pressings were perfect. When asked if they listened to the CD pressing they said "No, do we need to?" Still the best piece of test gear is your ears."

He had similar problem when Steely Dan test cd didn't sound identical to the pressed one, although they were bit identical, and should have sounded identical according to the expensive test gear that the people like you used in the process of manufacturing. According to your mediocre ears, he would also be mildly insane.