AUdIoCoUrSeS
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 2014
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| Week 6 - Practical |
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As discussed in the Live Workshop, this practical is all about aiming for higher targets.
Ben indicated very clearly that using the "finished" Billy Jean as an example we would be able to focuss our efforts on emulation.
The demo version (forget about individual parts) is sonically miles away from the finished track, therefore: rectify this.
Use this forum for any related discussions to the mastering practical.
Tunes here:
http://www.audiocourses.com/part3/upload/wacko/
_________________
It's all in the ears. - Learn the concepts not the software.
Audio Courses is a way into the music business for you
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Mon Oct 06, 2003 9:22 pm |
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julesf
Joined: 31 Aug 2003
Posts: 58
Location: Southampton, UK |
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Hi Guys,
I had a go at this project and learnt an awful lot 
I did not have a multi-band compressor so I attempted to make one using the
technique that Chris discussed. The only problem is that in Cubase you don't have the routing to allow you to connect your channels the way that you need to, to create this effector. So I had to copy the track onto 4 tracks and then treat each individual track with a filter and a compressor. I am always wary of copying the same track to different tracks because of potential phasing problems, though I must say that I was not able to hear anything untoward when I did this but I think that it is bad practise. So I now had 4 tracks playing back the same file. I equipped each track with a Band pass filter and a compressor. I soloed out the tracks from the lowest frequency end to the highest splitting the first three into Low, Mid, and Hi, The fourth track I used a band pass filter with a wider spectrum to make sure there was no heavy frequency suck out in the mix and that the frequency spectrum was complete, all be it with altered dynamics across the bands. I tried to listen for sweet spots to filter in to the mix. The bass on the original track is quite heavy so I spent some time trying to bring out the bass. I wanted to try and control the dynamics of the vocal, which is an apparent problem on the demo. I then tried to sweeten the highs. The fourth track was then compressed and added to the mix. Not much was needed so I guess that the frequency spectrum was fairly complete still. I did not listen to the original and try and compare, and in all honesty I don't feel that I could achieve that quality from the demo source material. I know that I haven't got this right at all! But I did find the exercise extremely interesting and realised how powerful this process really is. It kinda made me think about live FOH work when you are tri-amping it sounded like that when you soloed out the individual channels. A really rich learning experience that I am really grateful for.
Thanks Chris
Last edited by julesf on Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Sun Oct 12, 2003 11:29 pm |
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AUdIoCoUrSeS
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 2014
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| SoundScape |
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Jules.
I'm delighted you found this practial exciting though you suffered a little from the inability of the software. In fact IMHO software still has a very long way to go in order to replicate some of the concepts that can be achieved very easily in the analogue world. I think one of the problems is the lack of experience in some R&D departments, it's usually far easier for software to follow fashionable trends (for obvious reasons) rather than purist ones.
However, one of my favourite platforms is the SoundScape platform which does in fact make the task you tried extremely easy. It's a no nonsence 100% configurable system. If it had had better customer support in the early stages would probably have been "the name" in audio production today (would have developed with MIDI too), instead of ProTools. - but a long story that, as it cleaned the floor with ProTools is bench mark tests.
Do explore this concept further though of using duplicate tracks processed in many different ways, as it's one of the secrets to great audio production.
Cheers
Chris
_________________
It's all in the ears. - Learn the concepts not the software.
Audio Courses is a way into the music business for you
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Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:23 am |
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mommi
Joined: 21 Apr 2003
Posts: 47
Location: Tallinn, Estonia |
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Hi guys,
As I felt better today I decided to listen through my previous work on Billy Jean demo mastering. I found it really awful (you can't say it wasn't) and deleted my MP3 from the FTP site immediately. I'm so sorry you had to waste your time on listening to that  ! In case you downloaded it to your computer you are strongly encouraged to delete it! 
Then I had another go at the task. If you are interested, read on. Or just please take my apologies for the garbage I produced yesterday.
My problems were of similar nature to Jules - no "real thing" available. I have permanent access only to the Linux computer and Yamaha AW16G workstation. So I used a program named Audacity to rise the pitch by 50 cents and get the WAV version, which I transferred to the workstation. As there was no way to route the same track through several channels, I had to make copies as Jules did. So I ended up with several channels for compressing, plus the original. For filtering I used channel EQ. I did most of my job in lower region to get the bass out. I was also interested in getting the snare or clap more prominent. The only way that worked for me was to make another copy of the track, find the characteristic frequency of snare / clap by EQ and make a narrow peak on that frequency. The "snare" channel fader could then be used for quick adjustments. This couldn't be overdone though, as there were other sounds present in that frequency band, too. For upper frequencies I didn't initially plan to use compression at all, but as the vocal dynamics was so unstable, it worked better compressed. So finally there were compressor channels, the "snare channel" and the original channel all mixed down, plus general EQ and compression applied. I can't say I'm entirely content with the result, but it at least sounds better than my previous attempt. For those interested to in listening - you can find it at the same place as usual.
Cheers, 
mommi |
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Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:43 pm |
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julesf
Joined: 31 Aug 2003
Posts: 58
Location: Southampton, UK |
Hi Guy's
I have now got hold of a quality multi band compressor plug-in.
If you read my "introduce yourself" post you will know that I am basically trying to find that final springboard to launch me from a guy that can record stuff quite well to a producer who creates quality work. Weather I will ever bridge that gap I don't honestly know. But I am sure going to try. I will have another try at the Billy Jean demo on Wednesday (when the wife is at college) and post it up. This could be the process that I need as Chris has pointed out.
Till Wednesday then,
Chow! |
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Wed Oct 15, 2003 12:56 am |
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AUdIoCoUrSeS
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 2014
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| Mid Punch |
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Jules
Yup you have started to explore the nuts and bolts.
Some pointers to watch out for.
1. Your tunes , from what I have heard so far, all suffer from a little lack of HF. The very top end needs caution, this may be your monitors, headphones or whatever being over bright and you may be compensating. So watch out.
2. When using the compression be cautious not to loose too much attack, which your example has a little here.
Apart from that you are on track. Try not to think of the bass end too much, I know you are a fan, but often the "power" does not come from that. The power comes from attack and clear uncluttered sounds. Look in the mids for some good punch, that's where you will find it!
Cheers
_________________
It's all in the ears. - Learn the concepts not the software.
Audio Courses is a way into the music business for you
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Fri Oct 17, 2003 9:21 pm |
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julesf
Joined: 31 Aug 2003
Posts: 58
Location: Southampton, UK |
Thanks for the feedback Chris. All taken onboard, I will try to work
on some of my other tracks when I return to the Uk.
I use Truth B2031's not the most expensive but they have always sounded
quite good to me.
Catch you Sunday,
Cheers,
Jules. |
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Fri Oct 17, 2003 11:11 pm |
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