shitty topic name but hard to describe, oh well

my main point of concern is how people get around the varying 'sound' of something on different sound systems. just because it sounds good in output through your system could mean it sounds absolutely shit to someone elses set up. a little hard to really delve into and descibe (im just tired) but im sure most of us have had a little think about it. 'will this effect im hearing now sound exactly like this to a listener?' where very minute descrepencies can sometimes make a lot of difference, i was wondering what everyone elses thoughts/opinions/half-solutions to the problem has been.

___________________
c o n : f u s e d

Obviously it's impossible to make a song that sounds the same on different systems. Because of that you have to find a balance. The best solution to this is to use good reference material. If you compare what you have with a proffessional song, you can try to make it sound similar when it comes to ammounts of bass, levels and so on.

This process becomes easier if you have good studio monitors since these try to create a "flatter" sound than hifi and pc speakers. Playing it on different speakers is also smart. When you're happy with the sound you get from your monitors you can try to play it in a car, on expensive hifi speakers, in headphones or other stuff that's available. If something sounds funny on those other speakers you can go back and change it.

Peace

___________________


Soundcloud

Yeah what Fatboy said.

Just play it on as many different systems as you need to see how it varies and if it needs anything changed.
Good Studio monitors are pretty expensive. The easiest way is to find other stuff in the genre/sub-genre you want your song to be in and play it on your set up. Then you should know what is the right balance that will sound good in a club.

___________________
1 out of every 4 people in this country are mentally disturbed. Look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem okay, then you're the one.

Most effective, easiest way is to use good monitors. You could also (or instead if you were masochistic) play your stuff through as many different systems as possible. That would be a pain in the ass, but perhaps worth it if you want to be almost almost perfect instead of almost perfect...

___________________
-brash

i definitely used to have this problem..i mean i heard one thing and i was like this is the shit, but then i'd burn it to cd and it would sound shitty on a real system. the solution like everyone is saying, get rid of your pc speakers...they are crap. i hooked my computer up to my stereo using the phono plug and now the quality i here on my computer is what it really is...makes making music so much easier.

As you practice more and more, your mixes will sound reasonably close to the same from system to system, just like with the pros.

Mastering helps a lot.

Here's a few guides for referencing and troubleshooting:

- Small computer speakers or your TV for overall melodic volume balance, as if you were mixing for the radio
- Headphones for inner details, stereo spread, echoes & reverbs, EQ
- A larger hi-fi system (or if you can afford them, studio monitors) for EQ, balance, compression, echoes & reverbs, general mixing
- Car stereo for sub-woofer frequencies & possibly ultra-highs
- A 3-piece computer speaker system is good to check for muddiness or sibilance

aiight!