Rendered Audio Not Matching

[zelnik]

I am rendering my audio and it sounds very funky, as if the lower frequencies are over compressed, etc. However, when I play the song from inside the software, it sounds totally normal. Does anybody know why this may be happening?

I have used a compressor to compress all audio with a 1.1 ratio. I have used a limiter with a 0dB ceiling to bring all audio to a 0dB maximum.

When exporting:
"Normalize" is set to "Off".
File type is WAV
Sample rate is 44100
Bit depth is 24
No Dither.

Also, I understand that there will almost always be a difference between rendered and original material, but I am talking about a very significant difference.

[yur2die4]

What program are you playing the rendered material in?

Are you using different audio outputs when you listen to rendered verses Live set? Or different audio settings with your operating system??

[zelnik]

Playing in iTunes. No different audio outputs or anything.

[AaronYeo]

You using a Mac or PC? If PC, are you using some sort of ASIO interface?

[Tarekith]

Make sure you have "Sound Enhancer" and "Sound Check" turned off in iTunes preferences, they are on by default.

[zelnik]

Make sure you have "Sound Enhancer" and "Sound Check" turned off in iTunes preferences, they are on by default.

Yes! Sounds normal now. However, this worries me a little. Does this mean that when I share my music with others iTunes will automatically make the audio crappy (I mean it sounded pretty terrible with sound enhancer on)? Is there any mixing/mastering techniques used to prevent this?

I appreciate the help, and the online guides that you have put out!

[Tarekith]

I honestly can't say for sure, there's not a lot info out there about how Sound Check works. Seems to work best with stuff you buy from iTunes, but that's just a gut feeling I have. If it makes you feel better, every musician has this same uncertainty to some extent, unless you follow the mastered for iTunes specs:

http://tarekith.com/mastered-for-itunes/

[zelnik]

I honestly can't say for sure, there's not a lot info out there about how Sound Check works. Seems to work best with stuff you buy from iTunes, but that's just a gut feeling I have. If it makes you feel better, every musician has this same uncertainty to some extent, unless you follow the mastered for iTunes specs:

http://tarekith.com/mastered-for-itunes/

Actually, it as the Sound Enhancer that was causing the trouble. Anyways, great article and thanks!