Final mix low volume help

[yul]

Hello!

There is an ongoing issue with my PC setup (or my skills). I will start here since I use Mulab.

My Mulab audio mixes and audio output are lower than say when I listen to a youtube video or MP3. My final mixes are always also slightly quieter than any other music I listen to.

I know there may be differences should the other artist use compression etc but there is one artist I definitely know they are not using any compression.

I checked my Windows mixer but it should not be an issue since I use ASIO for composing and my rendered mixes I would listen in VLC same as other artists.

There is certainly a "mastering" oe "EQ" component I am maybe a bit off about but i believe the quiteness I am hearing stems from somewhere else.

I am using the same soundcard between Mulab, mp3's and Youtube. I am composing and rendering at 16 bit/44.1. Would shifting to 48Khz help my situation?

I checked the wave in Audacity. Mine are let's say 2/3 of the amplitude filled (my mixing levels were as hot as they could before clipping) when another professional mix is more like 3/4 filled with audio. This may be misleading of course.

I tried the "leveler" option in Audacity, it definitely helps but the sound is not as crisp.
Perhaps proper EQ is my main problem? Or otherwise going to 48K?

Any suggestions please?

[humanboeing]

I'm pretty sure you'll find answers in those 2 videos

[yul]

Thanks, I believe I have watched this before.

Are you then saying that my average to peak ratios should be less and that I should use a limiter to match youtube?

On another note, I will try and use a sine yes tone exercise to check if there is a difference between my daw and youtube equivalent and report back.

P.s : are all youtube videos automatically limited and gain adjusted?

Thanks!

[pljones]

Have you compared your final mix and one you're happy with using something like MLoudnessAnalyszer from Melda Productions?

(Maybe they do an A/B or A/B/X comparator tool, too?)

[yul]

Hello, I am dong some testing and I found a curiosity.

A 1K test tone is being run. My "master" level strip is maxed out and showing 0dB.

However the SPAN plugin indicated -3dB. I am not competent enough here to fully understand what I am seeing but it is still curious. It might just be the averaging method used (as per the posted video above). Picture attached.

Anyhow, I will experiment more with EQ and the included limiter unless the above sparks anything of interest.

Cheers

Sine Test.JPG

[dakkra]

SPAN is showing RMS instead of peak level. Look at the bottom left of your screenshot

Demo of RMS vs Peak


From https://www.voxengo.com/product/span/

RMS, true peak level, and clipping detector

I suspect RMS is the colored level and peak is the white lines

[yul]

I put up my video anways I think I improved the result somehow.

I did not use lilmiter and only added slight "leveler" from Audacity and that's it.

It was however many hours of adjusting channels (beyond average I would think) to get to this result, hopefully an improvement on my previous mixes and not too bad.

[pljones]

Audacity leveler is one of my favourite mastering toys... I'm pretty sure it'd be frowned on by "skilled mastering engineers" . But if it makes mixes sounder better... who cares?

[yul]

SPAN is showing RMS instead of peak level. Look at the bottom left of your screenshot

Demo of RMS vs Peak

I suspect RMS is the colored level and peak is the white lines

Thanks so much this is appreciated I will take closer look.

[yul]

Audacity leveler is one of my favourite mastering toys... I'm pretty sure it'd be frowned on by "skilled mastering engineers" . But if it makes mixes sounder better... who cares?

Haha interesting to hear about it. So here leveler certainly helped my mix a lot, really.
I never would have thought. (p.s.: this article states a leveler is a mastering secret: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/compr ... s-leveler/)

I learned quite a lot here and believe getting those frequency ranges right (I don't EQ, I just tweak my synths) + some form of post processing should get me there.

Thanks!

[yul]

It sounds like my online Youtube video is much lower than any other musical content. This is very strange and can't figure out why. Is this only a question of mix and compression really? I can't make sense of it. Thanks

[humanboeing]

It sounds like my online Youtube video is much lower than any other musical content. This is very strange and can't figure out why. Is this only a question of mix and compression really? I can't make sense of it. Thanks

Honestly I'm playing your music side by side with other pop music content from youtube music tab and I do not hear a significant difference (maybe you are being to harsh on yourself?). When it comes to loudness there is far more to it than just compression. I recommend you give those 2 vids I sent you above another try, there is much content on the topic. Besides, I wouldn't chase loudness at all costs, your listeners can just turn it up, but you will do you of course

[yul]

Honestly I'm playing your music side by side with other pop music content from youtube music tab and I do not hear a significant difference (maybe you are being to harsh on yourself?).

Thank you good sir this is very appreciated. I will certainly go back to your videos there are probably some good nuggets left in there for me. Thanks!