Why do my mixes sound "raspy"?

[zenlikethat]

So, I have improved a lot with my mixes/mastering over time (I know I should probably get professional mastering done, but this isn't really an option at this point- short on dough). Good monitors, subtractive EQ, and learning to work Multiband Dynamics have all helped significantly but a lot of the time I can't really seem to get a nice, warm, full sound like I hear in a lot of my favorite professional recordings. For example, here:

http://soundcloud.com/fbdjs/funny-bones ... al-bootleg

I "mashed up" a few existing songs and... got the rasp. I'm not sure why this is. I would say overuse of exciters or something, maybe, but I didn't use any of my exciters (FX Returns) on this bootleg. Why do things not sound full and warm? I don't think there is a magic plugin that will solve my issue. I'm just looking for commentary on the general approach.

Thanks,

Nate

[memes_33]

does it only sound 'raspy' once you upload it to soundcloud or another site? or just all of the time?

if it only sounds thin on internet streams, it might just be the encoding.

[Tarekith]

Hard to say exactly without seeing what you're doing, but from the sound of it I'd guess it might be the multiband compressor. If you're compressing all the bands, you're probably really flattening the highs and bringing them too far forward into the mix. Makes them more in your face over shorter durations, and could be leading to your issue.

Could be an EQ issue too. In general I'd say your lower mids are a little muddy and undefined, and the upper mids are really forward to the point they almost sound distorted (the snare especially).

And as mentioned, the encoding on Soundcloud sometimes exacerbate the issue too.

[zenlikethat]

Hard to say exactly without seeing what you're doing, but from the sound of it I'd guess it might be the multiband compressor. If you're compressing all the bands, you're probably really flattening the highs and bringing them too far forward into the mix. Makes them more in your face over shorter durations, and could be leading to your issue.

Could be an EQ issue too. In general I'd say your lower mids are a little muddy and undefined, and the upper mids are really forward to the point they almost sound distorted (the snare especially).

And as mentioned, the encoding on Soundcloud sometimes exacerbate the issue too.

Thanks for the feedback. I am well aware of the encoding issues with Soundcloud, the particular "raspiness" that seems to be so troubling characteristic of my mixes is something that I was really noticing checking .wav files played back over my car stereo system. So I know it's not encoding that's the issue, it must be the mixdown/mastering/sound selection.

I didn't use any Multiband Dynamics on the track I linked to, just EQ and volume automations. The multiband compressor actually seems to really HELP give my mixes more punch. I do, however, seem to run into a bit more mud and "rasp" than I would like at the expense of the added boom. What I've been doing is leaving the mid/high bands mostly unaffected, while compressing and boosting the output of the bass band at around 60 - 100 Hz depending on what sounds good to my ears. Here is an example of somewhere I applied this process, what do you think? (edit: that's a 320kbps mp3, sound quality should be pretty reflective of the lossless file)

http://funnybonesbeats.org/wp-content/u ... -final.mp3

I just have a hard time figuring out how to get that really nice bass "bump", I suppose. My finished songs tend to sound a bit too weak for my blood, and many of them don't really thump on the P.A. system where we play the way I'd like (but professional audio recordings do- so frustrating). Guess I need more practice?

I'll take a look at the file(s) tonight- thanks again for the feedback.

[The Carpet Cleaner]

well for me it's obvious.
You use EQ and multi band compression on already ultra compressed mastered tracks. And you mash them up !

For this kind of mix, just use a light limiter and that's it. all the high hard sound you get it's because it's over compressed withouth correcting EQ. I mean, this is what I get if I do the same as you.
Edit : ha I see you didn't use multi band compression on the track on sound cloud ?
hum. Weird, and also the volume is really low.
Just try to do that : mash up your track just using EQ like you would when you DJ, and just put a limiter at the end, you can limit just a bit. That should be all.

[Rave]

Multi band compressors are a bitch. You are better off fixing the mix than using one. You will do more damage than good if u don't know what u r doing.

[zenlikethat]

well for me it's obvious.
You use EQ and multi band compression on already ultra compressed mastered tracks. And you mash them up !

For this kind of mix, just use a light limiter and that's it. all the high hard sound you get it's because it's over compressed withouth correcting EQ. I mean, this is what I get if I do the same as you.
Edit : ha I see you didn't use multi band compression on the track on sound cloud ?
hum. Weird, and also the volume is really low.
Just try to do that : mash up your track just using EQ like you would when you DJ, and just put a limiter at the end, you can limit just a bit. That should be all.

Word, it seems I might be unnecessarily boosting some frequencies. It's just so damn hard to songs that are already fully mastered to "gel" without clipping. Back to the old drawing board, I suppose.

[zenlikethat]

Multi band compressors are a bitch. You are better off fixing the mix than using one. You will do more damage than good if u don't know what u r doing.

Ha. I'm rapidly starting to figure this out. Are there any good resources for do's/don'ts/tutorials of using them? I have a feeling that I'm on the right track with a little bit of usage, but just get a bit carried away and try use Multiband Dynamics as a "band-aid" fix for mix problems that I should be digging around in the original files to fix anyways. And, naturally, end up f*cking myself.

On a side note, the reason I've been taking this route is because I've built myself up into a horrible hierarchy of resampling myself through different "cuts" in different Live Set files... anyone familiar with this kind of issue and how to keep runaway versions of the same song under control?

[Khazul]

Hmm - can you get nicked for cruelty to audio?

[Khazul]

Multi band compressors are a bitch. You are better off fixing the mix than using one. You will do more damage than good if u don't know what u r doing.

Pretty easy really - dont.

Unless you have a really clear idea of why you are using it and specifically what you want to acheive with it - then using them is like herding kittens.

If you can fix the mix - you never need multiband on the mix. They have their uses otherwise - personally I like them on pianos etcs - but thats easy compard to dealing with an entire mix.

Most of the time unless you have been using them alot and really familar with them, then some combination of eqs and a single compressor will do just as well and be a hell of alot easier and not result in something that sounds like it has been strangled