Just cant seem to get proffesional sound.

[sonicsmurf]

And the answer is: get BBE SonicMaximizer (i's about $70) and put it across your output. It clarifies your mix and boosts the loudness - it 'polishes' the sound in a 'pro' way. Download a demo and see how good it is for yourself.

I just tried, but the plugin does not run in Tracktion 2. Is it only for DirectX compatible hosts? Any link to a VST version demo, maybe?

[luxgud]

The latest full version inludes VST and DX versions.

I have just the DX version which I use in FL Studio and Project 5.

http://www.etcetera.co.uk/cgi/search.pl ... +maximizer

[Emoshag]

Of course the advice you give is sound, but nobody is going to invest in a new / redecorated room and expensive mixers, when they haven't set their first few steps on the mixing/mastering path.
If you don't know what you're doing, expensive monitors won't help, but if you start learning about improving the sound, there will be a point where you definately want to improve your toys, room and monitors. But it's not the first step.

Just to note, a decent set of powered monitors will set you back around 200-300 bucks. From the standpoint of being a musician first and an engineer second, thats not a lot of money for the power to produce better sounding recordings. Think if it in terms of an instrument. A good sounding guitar will set you back at least 600-800 bucks and a good amplifier will be at least that.

Remember, the goal is to have the flattest, most uncolored response possible. If you are using home A/V speakers or receiver... you are coloring the sound moderately to drastically automatically.

I can't say enough about it... but here are some other suggestions.

Drum modules: There are more and more on the market now, between BFD, DFH Superior, Imperial, the Reason Drum Kits for the NN-XT sampler and even a few sample CDs for drums for samplers like Halion and Kontact. I have used all and for the money I prefer the Reason Kits for Reason projects and I use BFD exclusively now for all Rewire/VSTi applications. Its less machine intensive than DFH and the module itself is easier to work with and sounds as good as the rest do or better (thats just an issue of taste).

By the way, where do you buy your samples? I'm also looking for a lush drum sound and noticed the opposite effect: most of the sample vendors I have seen sell samples that seem to have been processed to sound cheap. "In your face", if you may Smile

Mind you, I'm talking about the MP3 samples the vendors have for preview, but even on an MP3 you can notice if they have sent the hi hats through a Big Muff Pi.

Use a professional module and this eliminates that problem all together. Of all the instruments I have recorded, drums are by far the trickiest to process and mix. There is just more elements to deal with. Using a drum module is like sitting at the console with the drummer in the booth, just not exactly accurate in terms of mic bleed and reverb. But its damn close and a hell of a lot easier to deal with.

As for mastering plugins.... I really like the Waves L1 and L2 plugins. They are more expensive, but they work really well for what I do.

I always end up feeling bad when I give suggestions because I always end up giving advice that will cost more money. My apologies... but you will be amazed at the difference better tools make when you see the results.

Oh, and here is how I learned to compress for mastering. Take a song you have worked on, compress it 10-20 different ways. Save each compression setting and mix down the song with each different setting. Burn each song to CD and listen to it a few times in your car or on your stereo... which ever you are most familiar with... and jot down which settings sounded better or worse. Then go back and look at the settings you used and see what made ones sound better than others.

It sounds annoying, but it does help.

[Hernan]

I always end up feeling bad when I give suggestions because I always end up giving advice that will cost more money.

I feared as much

Thanks for the recommendations, though.

L

[Hernan]

BTW, does anybody have an opinion on the Bob Clearmountain sample CD?

Thanks,

L

[Evan]

Here's what I think..

It is a big mistake thinking that a single plugin or piece of gear will give you that "pro" sounds. Big mistake. There are effects out there (like the aforementioned BBE) that can give you an instant (and quite temporary) wow factor. This is actually very misleading and the impression usually falls apart sooner or later.

A good pair of monitors would probably make your music sound even worse, because monitors are made to expose the flaws. This won't make your music sound better apparently, but it is a great way to actually help you start making the right decisions on how to to make it so.

There is only one way to reach your goals: You need to study and experiment. There are no shortcuts or magic pills. Thanks to the internet, we're all really really lucky to have access to an enormous amount of free reading material on the subject. There's no excuse not to go and look out for them.

[Kraku]

BTW, does anybody have an opinion on the Bob Clearmountain sample CD?

Thanks,

L

I do. Bob Clearmountain Drums 2 is EXCELLENT!

[pannewb]

Sound on Sound=Nice
Equaliser Techniques for
you and for me too

edit:
i have to agree with the "use comps and EQs and limiters more wisely than you used to" camp, because it makes sense to me {at least for synthy music} that all it takes for a brilliant mix is to make the right balance between the instruments playing and accent rhythms and such. You can have a super "wierd" (flanger, modulation, gate, distortion) fx laden song that sounds like the adverse end of a 18-wheeler and you can have a super dry and well balanced song with subtle EQ and compression so that it all sits together.

Pardon me if I make no sense.

[Emoshag]

A good pair of monitors would probably make your music sound even worse, because monitors are made to expose the flaws. This won't make your music sound better apparently, but it is a great way to actually help you start making the right decisions on how to to make it so.

There is only one way to reach your goals: You need to study and experiment. There are no shortcuts or magic pills. Thanks to the internet, we're all really really lucky to have access to an enormous amount of free reading material on the subject. There's no excuse not to go and look out for them.

Ahhh, which is why you need them. The hear the flaws is to correct them. To not hear them is to wonder why you can't get "that professional sound."

Like I said earlier about making 20 different final mix compressions... listen to them. Learn what makes them sound the way they do. You only ever get better by practicing and practicing more. Just remember to take breaks from mixing. Nothing is harder than trying to hear subtle differences in sound after 4 hours of constant repetition and change.