Making a recording loud

[cliepe12]

hey everyone, I am currently in the mastering stages of my CD and I am using a Q4 and the L1 MAX with IDR on my master track. So far the mix sounds really good , but it is only about as loud as a CD produced in the early to mid 90's. How are people getting that loud "in your face" punch these days??

[spudsound]

The best way to try to make your recordings as loud as commercial CD's is by using EQ, compression and then a little peak limiting.. use low ratio's and high thresholds with the compressor and experiment with the attack and release times try the Waves Ren compressor with the output just lighting the overload into the yellow this kinda emulates a soft clip but don't over do it... however I'd reckon that if you really value your recordings then i'd take them to a proper mastering engineer and don't try to compete with the loudness freaks out there if it sounds good you can always turn your monitors up... try to keep some dymanics there not just loudness which will just result in ear fatigue.... and be a little less inspiring to listen to...

[Joseph Anderson]

Maxim helps.

[cliepe12]

Good advice!! Maybe I should just ship it off. Right now, the recording is just barely louder than Soundgarden's Superunknown album, so its pretty good. I just want it to really hit the listener in the face, and not have anybody reach for the volume knob (to turn it up that is)

[Notefarm]

This might be of interest
http://www.prorec.com/prorec/article...256C2E005DAF1C

I thought it was an interesting read.
Peace,
NoteFarm

[byteme]

A loud CD by todays standards is so over the top I, wouldn't worry about meeting them. The RMS level of loud rock records nowadays is usually between -2 to -1db at it's peaks. That is very hard to do with an 001 without it sounding like crap. Hey even records done by big guys sound like crap that loud (Kaliforniacation?). The Waves master plugs are much more transparent then the L1, C4, getting louder is easier with them. Use some strong compression with the C4 with a high makeup, compress with the Ren Comp before the C4, keep it much less aggressive. Use an opto setting leaving the threshold at 0 or -1, just to grab the vocals/snare really. Try the Opto Fat in the presets (good place to start). do as much eq as possible with the C4, then move to a good eq like the Q10. Make small adjustments to even it out, shouldn't need much more then 1-3 db in most areas with no more then 6 db. Just guidelines, learning this stuff takes A LOT OF TIME to get right.
Good Luck. If you can post the song I am sure people will be happy to throw an opinion on the level/eq.
AJ

[dkrz]

As a music editor I sometimes have to use current stuff to score to picture. Not only do most new releases sound like total crap today from way way overcompression. But it's tough stuff to listen to for any length of time. Very fatiguing. Also, when looking at the waveforms after ripping them into Tools, their just solid blocks down the whole waveform. Trying to find transients to make edits is like trying to edit a 400khz test tone wave form. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

dk

[where02190]

Originally posted by cliepe12:
How are people getting that loud "in your face" punch these days??

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">By destroying every ounce of dynamics by limiting and compressing to death.

Be a leader not a follower, let you music breathe.

Hope this is helpful.

[TAPKAE]

Amen.

[Notefarm]

I have clients that want it "too be loud"
I ask them, "would'nt you rather people turn your CD up rather than down?"

Hm I just dont get the pont of spending money on good gear spending so much time on geting a good mix, on tone. and nuances, only to kill it in mastering,

I must be geting old.

Peace
NoteFarm