beginner help with putting track onto disc pls

[alexw]

Hi,

I'm just doing my first project on Ableton and a beginner with music software, so please excuse obvious questions...

So I've managed to make something I'm quite happy with (recorded myself playing different tracks acoustically) - I like it listening through my headphones and also listening through our stereo (which is quite good quality).

Then I clicked on render to disc, then I clicked on the new file it made and it started playing from iTunes on my laptop speakers and sounded pretty awful (the level seemed too high, but it's pretty distorted however loud I have it).

Is there some vital part of the process I've missed out?

I'm making something that might be played on a not-such-good-quality CD player, so I'd like to be sure it sounds ok whatever system it's played on...

Thanks

[Rationalizer]

Maybe your master output is clipping. Lower it so the meter doesn't turn red.

[alexw]

Thanks,

I guess this is the level thing under master - it's flickering in green as the track plays. It sometimes goes up to the little line and arrowhead, but it never goes red in the whole track.
If that's what you mean, could it still be too high??

[Ableton_David]

Thanks,

I guess this is the level thing under master - it's flickering in green as the track plays. It sometimes goes up to the little line and arrowhead, but it never goes red in the whole track.
If that's what you mean, could it still be too high??

You'll want to keep your master level from going into the red - the easiest way to do this is to put a Limiter on the Master track. Make sure it's the final device in the Master effects chain.