My Final Mix & Volume Levels

Hi all, this one has been bugging me for a while now
Whenever I finish a song and spend a good while getting the mix right. I bounce it out and take a listen, however compared to professionally produced songs - the volume level is always a lot lower when I compare my songs to others.
Am I missing something to really get the most out of the volume of my songs?

If you want it louder - turn the volume up or read some books about Mastering (Bob Katz) and get the right gear for it or hire a professional Mastering house to do the job.

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Final Mix Volume

Does anyone know how to crank the volume on the final mix down of your Garage Band songs? Obivously, there's volume controls for individual instruments, recording levels, and the main volume control. All of those when turned to far up, cause the levels to "go into the red." The final mix volume is at a respectable level, until you compare it to other songs in your I-Tunes library (professional songs). Then the volume (even with the volume boost option in I-Tunes) is still much lower than store-bought CD's or downloads from I-tunes. When I burn my Garage Band songs onto my I-Pod and play them in my car, I have to max the volume on the car stereo to get a "decent" but not "ideal" volume. Help!!!!!!!

Bushleague777 wrote:
compare it to other songs in your I-Tunes library (professional songs). Then the volume {...} is still much lower than store-bought CD's
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#commercialcdvolume
(Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)

How can l keep the same track mixer volume levels in logic when bouncing a project ? HELP !!!

When l bounce a project, all of the mixer levels return at the defult level automatically, they do not stay at the levels l require (levels l have previously set for each track). Which means l do not get each track at the volume l need when it is made into an mp3.
Below is an example from a help-discussion website with someone who has the exact same problem as me. However, none of the suggestions the people have made on it will resolve the on-going problem for either of us :
http://www.logicprohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=374597 (there is a clear explanation of the problem on this link with helpful screen shots)
Any help, suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.

I gave the most probable cause/solution in that thread:
Open the event list (E), select and remove all MIDI CC [b]7[/b] messages from all tracks/regions.
To select all MIDI CC 7 messages in one region, first select one, then hit shift-S.

Pre Mastering/levels on final mix

I am fairly new to LogicPro. My levels in PT were pretty good on final mixes..I have been messin' around for several weeks with Logics master plugs(adaptive limiter/compressors) on 1-2 but levels seem still pretty low. Any suggestions to boost it up without destroying the mix? also would i put a limiter before or after a compressor on 1-2 ?Thank you

How are your individual tracks? Is the mix level itself (not the mastering level) satisfactory?
All depending on the song, I usually use the Multipressor/EQ/Adaptive Limiter (usually in this order, but not always at the same time). Sometimes if it fitting, I will stick in the Stereo Spreader in the chain. Mind you, I will often A/B the results to see if the plug-ins made it sound better or just louder (if it's just louder, I'll take it out).
Check your settings on the Adaptive Limiter. You may be able to squeeze a bit more gain out of your final result without making a sonically mushy brick. Like I stated earlier, I also add in the Multipressor at times as it can bring out a little sparkle (or oomph, depending on the sound) in the mix when used judiciously. Mind you, if you use it, pay attention to the bands you are working on. Otherwise, you will wind up destroying the mix.
jord

Final mix levels

Just been browsing through previous threads about final output mixes and just want to explain what I am doing and what would be the best way to get the final mix done.
Have 7 tracks that have been written for a half hour film , the music is mostly acoustic guitar with synth and the odd cello , oboe and harp( all garritan). I have them finished and have incorporated sound files of sea and bird cries etc but want to bounce them for final output at a realistic level, balancing them all up to a similar level at the same time. Would logic compression be the way to go? I have compared my unfinished music levels with professional cd's and my outputs seem way too low . The pro cd recordings seems to bring their peaks to just under clipping. is that the way to go? using such things as limiters and the like I have no experience so would appreciate any info on their uses?
Marto

Did you see this?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=388347&tstart=15
Also, within this thread there are links to some helpful articles on the tc site.
This might help too:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug04/articles/computermastering.htm

Exporting OMF with Volume Levels

My movie's done, I'm trying to export the audio as OMF files for my post guy to use on his machines at work.
Problem is that I can't figure out a way to export and leave my volume levels intact. We've done a lot of the mixing already, but according to Mr. Audio the OMF files I burned for him have all volume levels at 0, no deviation.
Can I export OMF with the volume controls using only Final Cut 5 or Soundtrack?
Next question is about Automatic Duck, a Final Cut plug-in that is supposed to solve my problem. I tried installing it and it seems to not want to work without a copy of After Effects on the same machine. Is there a way to load that plug in for just Final Cut and have it work?
Thanks

hey Mike
welcome to the FCP forum.
FCP5 does not to my knowledge export clip based audio gain or pan adjustment data in its OMF export ... you'll need something like Automaic Duck's Pro Export plug-in for that
if you already own Automatic Duck's fabulous plug-in then you should have no problem exporting your timline with (almost) all dissolves, keyframes and effects intact.
if you are having a problem then I can only guess you've bought the wrong plug-in ... you need the FCP Pro Export plug-in.
you'll be glad to know that Wes Plate, from Automatic Duck is a regular contributor to the forum so you can be sure you'll get the advice you need.

Using compressor DVD Studio Pro 4 will only accept ac3 format in the burn process. ac3 makes a nnsense of the good sound delivered, 30% reduction in volume, auto volume levelling giving unwanted volume variations. Used to be able to burn using AIFF/WAVE,

AS Above. Edited in FCPX. Excellent sound file. Using Compressor 4 to DVD Studio 4. Wanting AIFF or WAVE sound for acurate sound.
Previously DVD Studio 4 has accepted AIFF etc and delivered sound as reuired. Now, during the burn process everything other than ac3 is declined as 'video bit rate too high', but will burn if the AIFF format is replaced with ac3 (which I presume meanss the 'video bit rate too high' is referring to the sound file)
The issue with ac3 format is the huge reduction in original volume and worse, the 'auto volume levelling' that makes a nonsense of the original soundtrack - with simply aweful unwanted variations in volume Throughout the the dvd.
I have tried everything I can think of to get around this. The 'volume gain' in compressor doesn't make any difference. Exporting just AIFF and the Video to DVD 4 doesn't make any difference, it always declines anything but the aweful sound ac3 delivers.
I have customers awaiting a musci DVD, not with thei quality I can't.
Cheers
Phil

The total video bit rate is determined by audio & video. Depending on what rate your video file was encoded at will determine how much room is left for audio. PCM(aiff/wav) audio requires a bigger piece of the pie. Video bit rate too high means your overall(video+audio) rate is going above 9Mbps which the format won't allow. The only way to use aiff would be to lower your video file's data rate. The length of your program is also a factor in all of this.
I had some problems in the past with using aiff instead ac3. Although there shouldn't be any issue I experienced playback issues on some players that couldn't be explained but were cleared up by ac3. I have been using the same specs as Dave's suggestion for almost nine years and have not had any issues with mix, quality, or levels.

When I set all the tracks in the latest Garageband to the same volume levels and save, when I open the file again they've changed back to a previous setting?

I'm trying to mix a recording in the latest 2014 version of Garageband, but when I set all the tracks in the latest Garageband to the same volume levels and save, when I open the file again they've changed back to a previous setting? Does anyone know why it changes even after saving the file?
Below is my iMac settings.

Do you have a back up?
If not you're into using file recovery software like File Salvage - you can download a free trial and it will scan the disk for you and tell you with might be recoverable. Actual recovery will require that you purchase the app. There may be many files with the same or similar names. Always recover the largest file size.
There are other such apps. Search on Macupdate or the App Store

How can I lock a track volume level to never move in Garageband?

Hi there
I'm currently creating a backing track of a popular song and I have built up all the parts of the songs against a wav track which contains the original version of the song.
I want to be able to mix the volumes of the tracks Ive built to the main proper recording, but I need to be able to LOCK the actual wav song track at say the 1.7db mark. Is this possible?
As I cant do it now, I keep accidently adjusting the volume level of the actual wav song track, so then all my volume mixes on other tracks are rendered useless (As you cant UNDO a volume change back to how it was)
Even if I engage the padlock "lock" button on the actual wav song track I can still move the volume of that track up and down. So its not 100% locked in my opinion.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Hi
Do you mean:-
Select the track
Click Down Arrow
Make sure Track Volume is selected
Click on the dot that has been created at the start of the track (to check its number level)
Click on the line now showing at the very end of the song and make sure the NEW dot you've just created is at the same number level as the one at the start.
As this seems to work.
If I dont put any dots on it, you can move it as you please still.

Why won't volume levels stay saved? ro

After mixing I save and it appears to save everything. All the recording or overdubs save. It is just the volume controls that keep resetting.
When I open it back up, some of the volume levels on some of the tracks have reset to zero. It doesn't do it on all of the tracks, it is just random ones. Therefore, I am having to remember exactly what I am doing and having to reset and check over everything each time. That's suppose to be the beauty of "saving", so I don't have to keep going back and reset the mixing levels. It appears that after I have added about over 50 tracks, some of those tracks are the ones that start doing this. Anyone know what is causing the volume levels to not stay set at their correct levels on all the tracks? thanks
I have GB '09 version 5.1 and mac osx 10.6.7 snow leopard

Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.
* Use "Disable all add-ons" on the [[Safe mode]] start window to disable all extensions.
* Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
In Firefox 4 you can use one of these to start in <u>[[Safe mode]]</u>:
* Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
* Hold down the Shift key while double clicking the Firefox desktop shortcut (Windows)
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

Volume level on line-in at 100% but still low sound level when I rec

For many years and hundreds of times I have successfully recorded wave files using a wave editor (Goldwave). I have transferred albums, tapes, and now satellite radio by running stereo cables from my receiver into my line-in on my sound card (using a stereo-to-mono adapter). The volume level on the line-in was always too loud on my old sound card, so I always turned the volume of the line-in down to about 20% and it worked just fine.
Two weeks ago my old sound card fried (don't know the brand - got it from a friend, and I've already thrown it out). I replaced it with a Sound Blaster Li've! 24-Bit. However, using the same configuration (receiver into line-in on card), when I record now the volume level that it records at is way too low. Even when I set the line-in level at 00% the volume that it records at is not even half the level it was with my old sound card set at 20%. Basically, when I record now at 00% on the line-in, the volume level it records at is too low. I have no problem with the line-out level - when I play mp3's or anything else on my hard dri've the volume is crisp, clear, and plenty loud at 40%.
But what is the deal with the low volume recording level? Is there another setting I need to change? Or do I not have the right sound card to do this with? Please let me know if it is a setting issue, or if I just need a different sound card to do this. Thanks.

I've had an Audigy2-nx for a week and have struggled with low
recording levels as well.
Have you tried selecting "what you hear" instead of "Line-In"?
This gives me about 20% higher input levels.
I gave up on MedeaSource for variable bitrate recordings and
moved to dbPowerAmp. (direct recording to lame-mp3)
Others here mention good VBR recordings with MedeaSource, but
it won't exceed 90kbs (average) on my system.
I'm finally getting decent recordings from line-in.

Volume levels burning to CD

I know this problem has been raised before but I wondered what were the latest thoughts on getting consistent volume levels when burning a mixed source playlist to a CD. Some songs on the CD are a lot quieter than others.
In the info box on the individual songs I noticed I have a range of volumes from 2.3db to 12 db.
I have iTunes 6.0.5 and wondered if this is the version 2 that people say has improved on the previous one when it comes to this problem?
Macbook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Thanks for the feedback---I was sure i wasn't the only one this happened to. That is an idea about the iTunes version---i need to redo some of my old playlists and see if they turn out better. I did a few playlist that were better---but it's hard to know if the source music is better or the new iTunes.
eMac Mac OS X (10.4.7) iTunes 6.0.5, only a user for 3 years

Export All Tracks as Audio Files ? about volume levels.

1. Do you export with each track at the volume level in the mix?
2. Or do you set the CS volume faders at 0.0 to get the maximum signal?
The first option allows me to recreate a mix with the volume levels already set.
But the second option gives me audio files at original record levels so that I can create a different sounding mix, or use audio regions in another project, setting levels as needed.
What's the better approach???

CSeye wrote:
I just started exploring Export Tracks to Audio and had the misconception that whatever fader & pan positions were set in the mixer would be rendered in the export. Good to know that Bounce is the way to go if that's needed.
Just be sure to UN check the 'include volume and pan info' esp if someone else is gonna mix for you
On the other hand for archiving purposes including fx and pan and vol is a failsafe way of doing things
My question is really about two situations: The most important one is archiving/future proofing a project, and the other is how best to share a mix with a collaborator.
Good information.
Best
Just make sure

Volume Level Bar

When I record my volume level bar is black. When I play back what I recorded, the greens and yellows light up. What can I do to see the volume level when recording?

If you are in MV, then you have to use 'Audition mix' and the 'smart input' settings. And make sure that there are no checks against any settings in the upper part of the meter right-click box.
In EV, then 'Monitor Record Level' and 'Show on Play and Record' have to be selected.

Fluctuating sound/volume level?

I noticed that when playing music in iTunes the volume level somehow fluctuates. Suddenly the music is noticable louder than before. The problem is, it's not really reproducable (it doesn't happen that often but, erm, often enough to bug me). I don't even know if it's a MacBook error (from all the bad luck I already had with this thing, I just assume it). I'm already trying to test my speakers (Creative) on my iPod - so far nothing.
Is there some way to test if the sound hardware is ok on my MacBook?

Yes, use the installer disk and restart while pressing "D".
is the sound is flucktuated per songs or in one songs?
because some songs that had lower bitrate or poor mixing might sounded lower or louder than normar standard songs.
If that what happen, you can use sound check at the iTunes preference to put all songs at the same level.
Try to reset the PRAM to "refresh" the hardware to factory default, and hope that good enough to fix it, if not, consult with apple store near you.
Good Luck.

My Final Mix & Volume Levels

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