[MPA] Recording for CD Sound Level with Digi001 and Mackie 1202VLZ-Pro

[Luke Snarl]

yep, I agree - sounds like you have your drums too loud in the mix and 
are struggling to get your lead/vocals to compete.

As Jeff suggests do the mix the other way round.

Don't worry too much about getting the mix as loud as possible in 
ProTools, rather mix the track down to a stereo file after you have got 
the mix sounding balanced and then compress that afterwards in a 
mastering application - a lot of hobbyists use T-racks but any multiband 
compressor will help.

Now after saying all that I'm going to get you all to read this:

http://rvcc2.raritanval.edu/ktek9053/cdpage/

Isn't it ironic that CD has the highest dynamic range of any consumer 
format (except HiFi video) but everyone feels the need to totally 
flatten their music (dynamics-wise) just to get it to sound 'loud' thus 
not making use of the format's benefits....

:L uke, out.
http://snarl.org



On Thursday, February 20, 2003, at 05:53 AM, Jeff Carruthers wrote:

> It sounds like the various inputs (vocals, instrumentals, drums) are 
> not properly balanced when you do the original recordings. In my 
> experience, you would want the vocals to dominate, followed by lead 
> instruments, followed by drums and bass. It sounds from your 
> description that the drums may be too loud and the others not loud 
> enough.
>
> As for the Red line, going over the Red in analog recording is less of 
> a problem than in digital recording. With the latter, you will notice a 
> nasty-sounding distortion. The trick is to get each track as loud as 
> you can without going into the red and then balancing them when you are 
> doing your final mix.
>
> Trying to record multiple vocals with only two tracks can be a 
> challenge, as can mic'ing different instruments.
>
>