Ableton Forum

Here's a simple problem:

I've been noticing that the music I have been producing (via Live) doesn't have that full sound that you get from professionally mastered music (a 320 kbps mp3 for example). Usually I'll record what I've made in Live through a mixer to digital 8 track where I have more control over the sound. Then once I transfer that to PC where I can edit the sound (amplify it, etc.) I still find that it doesn't have that great of quality sound. I want my music to have that all-around-you feel that you get from listening to professionally mastered music in headphones, which I don't get no matter how high I raise the volume or use other effects (I also want to avoid hiss and clipping while having it loud enough). So I was wondering: what tips, tricks, and effects can I use to enhance the sound quality of my music -- either in Live or via external devices. I'm really curious to see if I can make better sounding music without have to have it mastered professionally. Thanks.

First, 320kbps MP3 has nothing to do with mastering, and despite how close they sound to a wav file, they're still not the same, so really, don't compare anything professionally mastered to an MP3

Second, read all you can on mastering if you want to do it, then practice. A lot. There are many guides around on the internet, but since I have no real interest in mastering aside from the very basics, I can't really recommend any Helpful, I know But keep in mind very few mix engineers (as far as I know) are also mastering engineers. They're both very different crafts, which take years of dedicated practice to master (no pun intended).

Or you could just put a brickwall limiter on the Master track and crank the gain Or invest in iZotope products.

you are basically asking "how do i become a good producer and sound engineer", which is not really a simple problem at all.

mastering is not magic, the best mastering in the world will not make a crap mix sound great, and conversely a great mix will require little work at the mastering stage.

fishmonkey wrote:you are basically asking "how do i become a good producer and sound engineer", which is not really a simple problem at all.

mastering is not magic, the best mastering in the world will not make a crap mix sound great, and conversely a great mix will require little work at the mastering stage.

yep,

work on your mixes, and that just simply requires time and practise, no way around that, mix, mix, mix and mix, try around and experiment a lot.

tarekith here from the forum has written some good essays about mixing and mastering, in an easy to understand language for beginners.

go to his website and read those, then practise, practise, practise...

http://tarekith.com/misc.html

even he uses shit speakers made by imported chinese kids in aussi land, he knows more or less what he is talking about.
those guides are good reads to get you started.















just kiddin' about the speakers

KrisM wrote:First, 320kbps MP3 has nothing to do with mastering, and despite how close they sound to a wav file, they're still not the same, so really, don't compare anything professionally mastered to an MP3

Second, read all you can on mastering if you want to do it, then practice. A lot. There are many guides around on the internet, but since I have no real interest in mastering aside from the very basics, I can't really recommend any Helpful, I know But keep in mind very few mix engineers (as far as I know) are also mastering engineers. They're both very different crafts, which take years of dedicated practice to master (no pun intended).

Or you could just put a brickwall limiter on the Master track and crank the gain Or invest in iZotope products.