How to find that last 10-15% 'commercial' sound fully ITB?

[BertKoor]

USB mics are great nowadays!

The mics themselves are OK.

What's not ok with them: ASIO. DAWs want the same interface for input & output. Where's the output on the USB mic? Right, nowhere.

Good for podcasts, lacking for vocalists.

[donkey tugger]

USB mics are great nowadays!

The mics themselves are OK.

What's not ok with them: ASIO. DAWs want the same interface for input & output. Where's the output on the USB mic? Right, nowhere.

Good for podcasts, lacking for vocalists.

Usually you'll have a direct headphone out out on there. Not ideal if you're one of those weirdos who like to monitor with reverb on, but ok for fine upstanding chaps like me who don't give a toss about it.

[elxsound]

USB mics are great nowadays!

The mics themselves are OK.

What's not ok with them: ASIO. DAWs want the same interface for input & output. Where's the output on the USB mic? Right, nowhere.

Good for podcasts, lacking for vocalists.

Hey, have you tried a Mac?

Almost seems appropriate to go there now, but I do wish Windows would allow for the same aggregate interface options as on a Mac. That’s been great for adding all sorts of things that pass audio over USB.

[VOODOO U]

It's obvious Mac is better than PC. It's fact.

[Jac459]

I was surprised to see how the discussion evolved on this thread as it was looking dead last week.

It moved to a Mac Vs PC discussion.

Typical.

[elxsound]

I was surprised to see how the discussion evolved on this thread as it was looking dead last week.

It moved to a Mac Vs PC discussion.

Typical.

Just the one single post.

Couldn’t resist.

But honestly don’t care

[VOODOO U]

So you guys don't believe Mac is better than PC? Wow. You must be trance producers.

[elxsound]

So you guys don't believe Mac is better than PC? Wow. You must be trance producers.

It’s pronounced tarnce.

[VOODOO U]

Actually it's proniunced crap. Like Studio one users.

[Jac459]

I was surprised to see how the discussion evolved on this thread as it was looking dead last week.

It moved to a Mac Vs PC discussion.

Typical.

Just the one single post.

Couldn’t resist.

But honestly don’t care

I was just joking mate

[elxsound]

I was surprised to see how the discussion evolved on this thread as it was looking dead last week.

It moved to a Mac Vs PC discussion.

Typical.

Just the one single post.

Couldn’t resist.

But honestly don’t care

I was just joking mate

I just need you to hear me out and let me explain it one more time because I don’t think you understand my point. I’d use an analogy because that always makes arguments more clear, but it’s not an argument and just a discussion… but, but, but.

Sorry, missed it!!! Should probably just zone out with non tarnce music and then sleep.

[dj ray]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but most professional mix/master guys use extensive A/Bing before finalizing a record. Something like the Plugin Alliance Metric AB is very illuminating. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough, and can save you the embarrassment of having your mix fall apart in the car. Often when you mix in a vacuum, you end up chasing your tail; all those tweaks end up leading you right back where you started. By A/B ing, you’re no longer listening to your mix in isolation. So the best way to get that final 10% is to get a nice balanced mix (levels are everything, it’s called ‘mixing’ for a reason), slap on some gentle compression and a sweetening EQ, and then hit the A/B against a track in your genre that you admire.

You’ll immediately be able to hear how your mix stacks up, or doesn’t. Now here’s where you either go back to your mix and levels or, if you’re lucky, just make some adjustments on your mastering EQ (sort of like what you’d do with the car stereo). It’s absolutely doable.

[Shabdahbriah]

I was surprised to see how the discussion evolved on this thread as it was looking dead last week.

It moved to a Mac Vs PC discussion.

Typical.

Just the one single post.

Couldn’t resist.

But honestly don’t care

I was just joking mate

I just need you to hear me out and let me explain it one more time because I don’t think you understand my point. I’d use an analogy because that always makes arguments more clear, but it’s not an argument and just a discussion… but, but, but.

Sorry, missed it!!! Should probably just zone out with non tarnce music and then sleep.

Whew... I thought for a second there, that you were going to go off on a "MacDongle fetishists/cultists" rant. ... {whew}

[elxsound]

I was surprised to see how the discussion evolved on this thread as it was looking dead last week.

It moved to a Mac Vs PC discussion.

Typical.

Just the one single post.

Couldn’t resist.

But honestly don’t care

I was just joking mate

I just need you to hear me out and let me explain it one more time because I don’t think you understand my point. I’d use an analogy because that always makes arguments more clear, but it’s not an argument and just a discussion… but, but, but.

Sorry, missed it!!! Should probably just zone out with non tarnce music and then sleep.

Whew... I thought for a second there, that you were going to go off on a "MacDongle fetishists/cultists" rant. ... {whew}

There’s always tomorrow.

[BertKoor]

Do you want new users or do you want an echo chamber? Honest question.

You clearly don't know me, which is understandable.

In my village we give a friendly nod to strangers. I'm also on Twi𝕏. When I read something posted/replied by complete strangers which is not 'liked' by someone else yet which I feel should be liked, I'll put my thumbs-up there as acknowledgment.

Of the dozen or so people you hear echo'ing in this thread, I'm one of the few that responds in good faith some solid advice to posts of new members. I often also quote them, so they get a notification (if their board settings are still at default values.)

Experience has taught me however that a fair share of newbies never come back to the threads they started, and run straight to the Sell&Buy section once they have reached 5 posts. That is a problem on it's own over which I have no control.

What I don't tolerate is fake news, alternative facts, etc. Trouble is though, Poe's law may apply. I do suspect VoodooU was not totally serious when he posted his garbage advice.


Back to topic: a good (increasing) share of commercial music is produced fully in-the-box. That is a fact. No proof required me thinks. If you think otherwise, you have been living under a rock and you may get ridiculed. That's a normal human/social reaction.

Also live music at concerts today is processed with digital mixing consoles, and there's no reason why it shouldn't sound fine. The limiting factor is always the guy at the controls. As said on page 1, first reply:

practice and experience