Mixing cd's at home on pc.

[tommy-thewho]

I love to mix my own cd's using various groups and of course different cd's.

I also use Easy CD Creator which makes it so simple.

My only problem is all the songs have a different volume to them. I'm constantly adjusting the volume on my stereo because each song has a different volume level to it. Is there a program that will even out all the different volume's on the different songs? Used to be with my cassette recorder you could adjust the volume with the "VU" meters.

Thanks in advance...

[Walt]

Some burning software allows you to "normalize" the audio. I believe Nero has this feature (it's been eons since I've used Easy CD Creator). I've never used this feature, so I can't tell you how well it works.

[Cassiel]

I don't use that program for burning, but most CD burning applications have a "normalizer" setting that enables you to equalize the volume across tracks (you'll be tampering with the dynamic range a bit, but for a mix CD it makes for a better listening experience overall). Is there a "Tools" or "Options" menu on your application? Try looking there, if you haven't already, for a feature that will let you normalize volume.

[John B Good]

I love to mix my own cd's using various groups and of course different cd's.

I also use Easy CD Creator which makes it so simple.

My only problem is all the songs have a different volume to them. I'm constantly adjusting the volume on my stereo because each song has a different volume level to it. Is there a program that will even out all the different volume's on the different songs? Used to be with my cassette recorder you could adjust the volume with the "VU" meters.

Thanks in advance...

I have the same complaint (about it being easier in the tape deck era).

The 'normalization' available on my Nero seems to raise all tracks on a compilation to the level of the loudest, which sometimes causes bad distortion on the lowest volume tracks. :(

But if you can preselect only tracks that are not very loud, or very low, the problem doesn't seem serious.

[CODOR]

Look into Replay Gain, which can adjust volume based upon a model of how loud it should sound instead of simply making the loudest thing on the track 0dB like normalization does. (Bit like normalization, it can degrade the sound a wee bit. It's great for making compilations for the car where no one will notice the difference and it keeps both hands on the steering wheel instead of constantly changing the volume knob, though.)

I seem to recommend foobar2000 (http://www.foobar2000.org/) quite a bit: it can do Replay Gain adjustments for you, supports just about every file format, and I believe it can even rip and burn CDs these days...

[semidetached]

I second Replay Gain - much better than standard normalization IMO. I love it - great for listening at work and on the Ipod.

[Vidiot]

My only problem is all the songs have a different volume to them. I'm constantly adjusting the volume on my stereo because each song has a different volume level to it.
You have pretty much described what mastering is all about. Sometimes, one track will seem to be louder than another, not just in terms of overall level, but also EQ, compression, and just relative balance. It's very hard to get right.

I have a few suggestions (just my opinion):

1) get your computer out of the room so that there's no distracting fan or hard drive noise nearby. You can use long extension cords for your monitor, mouse, and keyboard and still run a computer from the next room.

2) make sure you have decent speakers and a good amp, so that what you hear is accurate.

3) use decent software that gives you precise control over the levels and EQ. There are literally hundreds out there, depending on your price range and operating system. If you're on Windows XP, I think Sound Forge is OK for what it is; Peak iss OK on the Mac.

4) Consider lowering the volume of loud tracks, rather than making the soft tracks too loud. There's a happy medium where everything should sound consistent.

5) Once you've finished a trial run, make a copy of the CD and listen to it in several environments. I always try to listen once in the studio, in my car, in headphones, and on my main living room system before commiting to a mix. My philosophy is, if it sounds good in all four places, it's fine.

6) Resist the temptation to alter the tracks too much. One of the watchwords of any good mastering engineer is, "first, do no harm."

[bdiament]

Hi Vidiot,

...4) Consider lowering the volume of loud tracks, rather than making the soft tracks too loud. There's a happy medium where everything should sound consistent....

Good advice but a very important thing to keep in mind is that if you make a change (any change) to a 16 bit file, you will be throwing resolution away and the result will lose fine detail and "air".

I suggest saving the files as 24 bit copies, then applying the level changes to the 24 bit versions. Finally, use a good dither algorithm (also important) to decimate these to 16 bit for burning onto a CD-R.

"Normalization" (which I call abnormalization) should be avoided at all costs.


...5) Once you've finished a trial run, make a copy of the CD and listen to it in several environments. I always try to listen once in the studio, in my car, in headphones, and on my main living room system before commiting to a mix. My philosophy is, if it sounds good in all four places, it's fine....

If you have one good set of speakers (i.e. speakers that tell the sonic truth), that's all you need. Trying to adjust the sound for the car or other compromised systems is like mixing paint colors while wearing sunglasses. The color will only have a chance of working only if you wear those particular sunglasses.

Much better to be able to hear what you're doing in the first place. This will always result in a better sound from the lesser systems.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

[Ryan Lux]

I adjust the volume of the tracks in iTunes, that seems to work much better in terms of quality.

[Grant]

It is better to use a separate program to do the level adjustments rather than use any kind of 16-bit manipulation in a program that doesn't offer at least 24-bit processing.

[JLGB]

I adjust the volume of the tracks in iTunes, that seems to work much better in terms of quality.itunes and quality do not belong on the same planet.BTW..nothing personal:) ...not your fault.

[minerwerks]

I adjust the volume of the tracks in iTunes, that seems to work much better in terms of quality.If you're using the level slider in the info window, that adjustment doesn't carry over to burned discs.

I've always used a program that allowed me to adjust the volume level of each track, found the quietest track of the batch, then brought the levels of everything else down to match.

[john lennonist]

A very important thing to keep in mind is that if you make a change (any change) to a 16 bit file, you will be throwing resolution away and the result will lose fine detail and "air".

I suggest saving the files as 24 bit copies, then applying the level changes to the 24 bit versions. Finally, use a good dither algorithm (also important) to decimate these to 16 bit for burning onto a CD-R.

"Normalization" (which I call abnormalization) should be avoided at all costs.

If you have one good set of speakers (i.e. speakers that tell the sonic truth), that's all you need. Trying to adjust the sound for the car or other compromised systems is like mixing paint colors while wearing sunglasses. The color will only have a chance of working only if you wear those particular sunglasses.

Much better to be able to hear what you're doing in the first place. This will always result in a better sound from the lesser systems.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com



Thanks for the tips, Barry!

(BTW, love your mastering!)

[Ryan Lux]

itunes and quality do not belong on the same planet.BTW..nothing personal:) ...not your fault.

Don't assume that I've crushed the tracks down to 128kbps. iTunes is not necessarilly bad sound, it's what you do with it. I play either lossless or staright AIFF and it sounds great.

[JLGB]

Don't assume that I've crushed the tracks down to 128kbps. iTunes is not necessarilly bad sound, it's what you do with it. I play either lossless or staright AIFF and it sounds great.I do not doubt it...just the D/A conversion from ipod to one's ears..in the case one does that. Like I said or tried to say..the whole deal that for example I am wishing for SACDDVD-A/Blu Ray for EP... and its frustrating to know we will in the future be LUCKY with a plain in your hands Redbook CD!! I hate what that fruit (not the Beatle one lol!) represents!! Thanks for understanding best,JL:)