How to liven up a track? - TranceAddict Forums

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-- How to liven up a track?

Posted by LightningHunter on Aug-26-2009 11:32:

How to liven up a track?

When I purchase a Trance single, I usually end up modifying the BPM, normalize the volume, and equalize it so that it matches the rest of my collection. However, something has bothered me for a while now. When I hear a track I like in a DJ set, I go out and buy it - only to find out that the album version is sometimes flat. because of how they liven it up in the DJ set, I expect more. For example, I remember thinking the tune "Nova Tripper" by Riva was awesome after hearing it in ASOT. Upon purchasing the track, I was EXTREMELY let down by how it sounded. I uploaded a short clip of both versions zipped up to show what I mean. Notice how much more "live" the ASOT version sounds. I absolutely despise the album version.
http://filebeam.com/6f38ac73f572d98860f26dbdb0277009

How might I go about making a track sound more live? I've tried messing with Reverb and Chorus for hours, but with no luck. What did Armin do in ASOT to make Nova Tripper sound like that? I desperately want to know the secret! Many tracks I purchase are rubbish compared to their live counterparts.

Posted by Jarvmeister on Aug-26-2009 12:41:

I know what you mean, the amount of vinyl I used to buy and get really disappointed upon first play.

Coiuldn't tell you how to liven it up though, I imagine someone will advise you to put it through a compressor or something.

Posted by i got big pants on Aug-26-2009 16:45:

a lot of $$$ and a lot of nice studio equipment...i remember a thread on here a while back going into what might be used on ASOT, compressors, limiters, etc...

Posted by lenazi on Aug-26-2009 16:54:

you could try some layering.

Posted by dapz on Aug-26-2009 17:58:

well im using traktor for djing, what i do is rewiring traktor to ableton, and then i use a mastering tool on ableton (im using izotope but i guess any will do). Im using virtual cable for rewiring on pc, but on mac it is easier since mac has this little tool (i cant remember the name now). the only drawback is the added latency with all this rewiring. Anyway you can always hook your cdjs and run them tru ableton which will significantly reduce the latency, that of course if you are not using softwares for mixing.

you won't get that pro sound you might be looking for but it is pretty decent.

Posted by Tony Morello on Aug-26-2009 18:28:

ASOT is a radio show, they have nice expensive compressors and sonic exciters to give the sound more punch

when i worked in radio, our engineering department had a bunch of different components in the signal path before it went to the transmitters to give the audio more punch and to liven it up

you really need to know what you're doing though otherwise you lose all the dynamic range, which also adds to the overall sound

Posted by mfitterer1 on Aug-26-2009 20:09:

Yeah I brought this up before. Markus Schulz is the same way with Global DJ Broadcast. His sets have an average rms of 8!!!! yet he retains pretty much all of the dynamics. Don't know how it's possible. I'm sure it's a really nice special compressor just for something like that.

Posted by mfitterer1 on Aug-26-2009 20:13:

I just looked at the comparison. It's not that big of a difference honestly. You can tell it's been compressed and limited though. The compression gives it more punch the limiter (which sounds like a multi band limiter) lifts the less prominent features and equals out the range between the different freq. sets.

Posted by Zak McKracken on Aug-26-2009 21:32:

grab i mic

Posted by DiscoStew on Aug-27-2009 01:59: