Thanks once again! I'll go back and follow this advice.

quote:

Originally posted by Atlantis-AR Oh, also just noticed your bass end isn't even mono, which actually causes the main bass' stereo information to disappear when summed to mono (its level sounds a lot better then actually). But that's what makes the bass so muddy too. Try reducing the width from about 100 Hz on any instruments that fill this range.

I'm not sure what you mean by this though...do you mean that my bass channel should be mono, not stereo? Or just certain layers of it?

quote:

Originally posted by Atlantis-AR What are you monitoring on actually?

This is obviously embarrassing, but for now I'm using headphones. I was on a tight budget when I started producing a few months back. I'd sold my turntables, so I was looking to cover the exact amount I'd gotten from that sale. So my MIDI keyboard and Logic Pro took up the budget. Of course, I always believe that the key to succeeding is just getting started. Within a couple of months, I should have a pair of KRKs (or Genelecs - depending on how much I earn lol). But yes, this is obviously affecting my levels, as the bass is a lot more muddy than it should be. My aim for now is to have the levels and mixdown good enough, and then to head to the studio at my university (they have a set of KRKs) and give it a tweak there.

___________________
DJ IMPHATIK

Progressive, Melodic, Bassline-driven Tech Trance

All-time Top 5:
1. Astralis - Solar Flare (Original Mix)
2. Markus Schulz feat. Justine Suissa - Perception (Vocal Mix)
3. Dakota - Koolhaus (Intro Mix)
4. Skytech - Cardboard Box (Ummet Ozcan Remix)
5. David Barnes - Noodler (Original Mix)

I should correct that to say studio headphones - not that it makes too much of a difference. Sennheiser HD 205.

___________________
DJ IMPHATIK

Progressive, Melodic, Bassline-driven Tech Trance

All-time Top 5:
1. Astralis - Solar Flare (Original Mix)
2. Markus Schulz feat. Justine Suissa - Perception (Vocal Mix)
3. Dakota - Koolhaus (Intro Mix)
4. Skytech - Cardboard Box (Ummet Ozcan Remix)
5. David Barnes - Noodler (Original Mix)

quote:

Originally posted by Imu I'm not sure what you mean by this though...do you mean that my bass channel should be mono, not stereo? Or just certain layers of it?

Well bass is undirectional and so should tend towards mono, since any stereo information is just taking up mixing space, and won't be heard on mono setups. It doesn't necessarily have to be 100% mono as in the days of vinyl, but stereo information in the bass range is usually undesirable.

quote:

Originally posted by Imu This is obviously embarrassing, but for now I'm using headphones. I was on a tight budget when I started producing a few months back. I'd sold my turntables, so I was looking to cover the exact amount I'd gotten from that sale. So my MIDI keyboard and Logic Pro took up the budget. Of course, I always believe that the key to succeeding is just getting started. Within a couple of months, I should have a pair of KRKs (or Genelecs - depending on how much I earn lol). But yes, this is obviously affecting my levels, as the bass is a lot more muddy than it should be. My aim for now is to have the levels and mixdown good enough, and then to head to the studio at my university (they have a set of KRKs) and give it a tweak there.

There's nothing too wrong with using headphones. Just use them quietly because transients are a lot more pronounced on headphones and will damage your ears faster. The other thing of course is to make sure they're flat and that you're hearing things accurately.

What KRKs do they use?

___________________
Put an end to the loudness war. Don't limit or compress your mixdown until mastering; leave the master channel alone.

Contact me for mastering.

quote:

Originally posted by Atlantis-AR What KRKs do they use?

Rokit 5s

___________________
DJ IMPHATIK

Progressive, Melodic, Bassline-driven Tech Trance

All-time Top 5:
1. Astralis - Solar Flare (Original Mix)
2. Markus Schulz feat. Justine Suissa - Perception (Vocal Mix)
3. Dakota - Koolhaus (Intro Mix)
4. Skytech - Cardboard Box (Ummet Ozcan Remix)
5. David Barnes - Noodler (Original Mix)

quote:

Originally posted by Imu Rokit 5s

A university with RP5s...now there's a good one. They're really not the best "monitors" around, though I've yet to hear the G2s. Still, it shouldn't make too much difference when you're starting out and you should be able to get a general feel for the sound, though the bass will be lacking greatly.

___________________
Put an end to the loudness war. Don't limit or compress your mixdown until mastering; leave the master channel alone.

Contact me for mastering.

quote:

Originally posted by Atlantis-AR A university with RP5s...now there's a good one. They're really not the best "monitors" around, though I've yet to hear the G2s. Still, it shouldn't make too much difference when you're starting out and you should be able to get a general feel for the sound, though the bass will be lacking greatly.

Hahaha it's at the radio station. They used to have Alesis M1s until a bunch of us told them to get the RP5s. Thinking of giving this a break for a couple of days as by now the melody has become repetitive in my head. I actually dreamt about it last night. Will work on it again in a couple of days and repost. Thanks so much for all your help!

___________________
DJ IMPHATIK

Progressive, Melodic, Bassline-driven Tech Trance

All-time Top 5:
1. Astralis - Solar Flare (Original Mix)
2. Markus Schulz feat. Justine Suissa - Perception (Vocal Mix)
3. Dakota - Koolhaus (Intro Mix)
4. Skytech - Cardboard Box (Ummet Ozcan Remix)
5. David Barnes - Noodler (Original Mix)