Help, PLEASE!

[MAXMEDLOW]

http://soundcloud.com/maxmedlow/1-3

To my ears, this sounds like a pretty good mix, but the waveform gives away that actually I'm doing something wrong, it's horribley wiggley and should be flatter. Maybe the kick drum is a bit loud or something....But I can't quite work out what I've done wrong which is meaning the waveform isn't flatter than it is, can someone try to suss this out with me here Thanks!!

 

[xx|fiend|xx]

Personally, I think it sounds a little lacking on bass which could be part of the holes and fluctuations you're seeing in the WAV. I'd beef it up some and or push it a little harder on the master limiter to smooth it out a little. If that's not the case you could go back and start compressing each track a little more to get a smoother more stable WAV. Just my 2 cents but it does sound good and I love the change ups!

 

[MAXMEDLOW]

Well, I have most of it compressed to shit, but I didn't even consider using a limiter on the master hahaha! I think that could cure it, so thanks

 

[xx|fiend|xx]

Anytime, I've been studying this forum for a while with my own mixes so I figured I'd finally start chiming in. I currently use an SSL comp on the master bus followed by a limiter and push the thresh. That usually pulls up any valley's and smooths out any extreme peaks for a more even. Hope that helps smooth it some!

 

[MAXMEDLOW]

So you think I should use a compressor to push up the dips, and a limiter to smooth out the bumps, both on the master track? Coz every individual track has compression of different amounts and I don't want to add too much more unless you think otherwise?

 

[xx|fiend|xx]

ah, it depends on how much comp you really like. I use loads but in small doses. But for a master bus limiter, you tend to put a slight compression before it hits the limiter. That way it doesn't make the limiter work too hard in certain places or clamp down too hard, if that makes sense. So if you comp the master bus, then do something small like a 2:1 ratio with the attack at like 30ms, release "auto" if you have that option....Just something to glue things over a bit before it hits the limiter. I still love the Waves L2 limiters. You can push the holy hell out of them too, lol...

Note: you may end up needing to adjust a few things in your mix though after pushing the limiter in case they get buried. For example, I usually mix into a limiter so I know that the snare doesn't get too buried.

 

[MAXMEDLOW]

Well it's super late right now, and my ears are tired from watching Top Gear, but I will definitely try this out tomorrow Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[xx|fiend|xx]

yea man, let me know how it goes. I think you'll like doing that from now on and it'll def make your mixes even more powerful.

 

[PremierProductions]

for the ssl comp i would put the threshold at -4, make up all the way down, release on auto, ratio 2:1, attack at 1 and the rate-s turned all the way down. thats a standard master compression that i know alot of guys use. then i just take a limiter under that and bump the thres. up to around -16 or so with the release also on auto. that limiter should smooth it out a good bit, like previously stated.

 

[MAXMEDLOW]

Thanks so much for your help guys, it worked a treat!

 

[BeneGuitar01]

Can't speak about the waveform, but I think the mix sounds pretty damn decent and I'm loving the overall style of the music!!