Hey guys,

When I'm working in my DAW, I tend to choose the ASIO sound driver when recording/producing. However, after I export the project to .mp3, when I upload the mp3 version to soundcloud or youtube it sounds way different (eq'ing and mixing wise), and also when I play the mp3 version on my computer it goes back to the original computer sound driver but it doesn't sound as muddied and distorted as when I listen to it online on soundcloud. Therefore, when I upload it for feedback/send it to friends, it sounds muddier and waaaaay to unmixed as compared to when I was working on it with the ASIO driver in the DAW. Does anyone else have this problem? And also, what would be a good way to solve it? I tried working on the DAW through the original sound driver (but it really sucks and clips a lot) and the latency is crazy. So is there a way around this problem? Because if I use the ASIO driver it's not going to sound the same when I upload it for you guys to listen to it, and if I use the original sound driver it'll be REALLY hard for me to keep working since it clips and all that. Maybe it's just a problem with soundcloud? because I remember that when listening to the mp3, it sounded much more similar (but not identical) to the ASIO version than when I uploaded it to soundcloud and listened to it from there.

One last thing, also for some reason when I export it, it the mp3 file sounds much lower then it did in the DAW (even when I was working with the original sound driver), and I have the master volume set to 100% (can go up to 125%). It really would be great if there's away around this to record using the ASIO driver, it's much more convenient and sounds much better.

Help

Last edited by lp026713389 on Jul-18-2011 at 19:18

Unless you're doing something really weird with exporting or using a really exotic DAW, what you're saying can't happen.

ASIO is a set of instructions (language if you will) used to instruct your soundcard. So is directSound or anything else. It acts carrier between your DAW and the soundcard output. It does not influence the character of the sound one bit, it just makes sure the audio information gets from point a to b.

So this brings up a couple of questions to gain more insight:
- Which DAW do you use?
- What export settings do you use?
- What plugins do you put on your master channel?
- can you provide an a/b example?

Honestly it just sounds like you have an EQ or something on in your mp3 player software. What music player software do you use?

___________________

Storyteller Website | Storyteller @ Facebook | Storyteller @ Beatport | Storyteller @ Soundcloud | Stephen J. Kroos - Europa (Storyteller Remix)
Anthony Mea - Get It On (Storyteller Remix)

quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

quote:

Originally posted by Storyteller Unless you're doing something really weird with exporting or using a really exotic DAW, what you're saying can't happen. ASIO is a set of instructions (language if you will) used to instruct your soundcard. So is directSound or anything else. It acts carrier between your DAW and the soundcard output. It does not influence the character of the sound one bit, it just makes sure the audio information gets from point a to b. So this brings up a couple of questions to gain more insight: - Which DAW do you use? - What export settings do you use? - What plugins do you put on your master channel? - can you provide an a/b example? Honestly it just sounds like you have an EQ or something on in your mp3 player software. What music player software do you use?

Hey man, thanks for the fast reply. I understood the language part.
I'm using FL Studio, and my export settings are as follows:

Resampling --> 64-point sinc
Dithering off
Alias-free TS404, HQ for all plugins, disable max poly --> all on
Depth 32 bit float (but apparently that only applies if I'm exporting to .wav)
Bitrate --> 320 kbps

And yeah that's about it.

For the master channel, I only have a hipass filter that's automated only for the first 32 bars of the song (as an intro technique) but then the hipass filter is off by the end of those 32 bars and the track goes on normally without any mastering effects, all my eq's are done for each channel seperately.

I can post a link to the track, so you can hear what I mean. I just realized, that I had some default eq. settings on my original soundcard, but I just bypassed them right now, and there still is a difference (although drastically decreased), between the ASIO sound and the original sound (the ASIO sound is much "wider and HQ and high def." than my soundcard's sound (without asio).

http://soundcloud.com/moefarid/new-demo

As I said, maybe it's some kind of eq/compression that online sites apply? Also, would it be better if I upload the wav version? Help lol

Yes, Soundcloud does apply audio compression techniques. The player plays at a 128kbps bitrate for instance. Much lower than the 320 you're encoding on. That could be part of the problem, but usually that shouldn't be nearly as extreme as the stuff you're mentioning...

I'm hoping that with the soundcard EQ thing turned off you've solved most of the problem. It is possible that the EQ in your soundcard settings is bypassed when using ASIO instead of the usual directX.

___________________

Storyteller Website | Storyteller @ Facebook | Storyteller @ Beatport | Storyteller @ Soundcloud | Stephen J. Kroos - Europa (Storyteller Remix)
Anthony Mea - Get It On (Storyteller Remix)

quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

quote:

Originally posted by Storyteller Yes, Soundcloud does apply audio compression techniques. The player plays at a 128kbps bitrate for instance. Much lower than the 320 you're encoding on. That could be part of the problem, but usually that shouldn't be nearly as extreme as the stuff you're mentioning... I'm hoping that with the soundcard EQ thing turned off you've solved most of the problem. It is possible that the EQ in your soundcard settings is bypassed when using ASIO instead of the usual directX.

Ok then so I can peacefully go back to producing with ASIO
Even if it doesn't sound the same to me as when using the original sound driver, it will to anyone else that downloads it; (even though I think if I dig a bit more in the original sound card settings I'll find the problem) it's probably just a default eq or something that still on that I need to disable. But just to put me at peace, would an online wav file (re-encoded) sound better than an online mp3 file (also re-encoded)?

I never tried, my guess is the difference will be negligible.

___________________

Storyteller Website | Storyteller @ Facebook | Storyteller @ Beatport | Storyteller @ Soundcloud | Stephen J. Kroos - Europa (Storyteller Remix)
Anthony Mea - Get It On (Storyteller Remix)

quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

I am almost 100% sure your problem is that in FL Studio, your sound driver is Asio, and for everything else, it's the default "hi-fi" sound driver. Don't worry, your stuff sounds okay. You do have mixing issues, but not the extreme malevolent asio problems you are reporting.

It's probably just your default sound driver screwing up.

___________________
Tranceport is the best album ever....

There is nothing wrong with being musically diverse.

My Soundcloud

quote:

Originally posted by skyhunter I am almost 100% sure your problem is that in FL Studio, your sound driver is Asio, and for everything else, it's the default "hi-fi" sound driver. Don't worry, your stuff sounds okay. You do have mixing issues, but not the extreme malevolent asio problems you are reporting. It's probably just your default sound driver screwing up.

Hey man, I KNOW that my driver in FL is the asio, but for everything else, its the default hi-fi realtek driver wtver thingy. But I don't know how to change my default sound driver (outside of FL) to be ASIO as well. Anyone know how to do that on win xp?