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tokyofan

I'm producing some news narration MP3 clips to be listened to online and/or on an MP3 player. Adding compression, EQ, normalizing sounds great on regular speakers but somehow sounds boxy or less natural through headphones. The raw audio seems to sound best on an iPod...more dynamic range? Any explanations, tips, suggestions?
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Edo · Guest

If what you describe as "boxy" sounds like your recording was done in a closet, it's probably a room thing. Adding compression lifts the ambient noise to become considerably louder. You could try to cut a little around 80Hz and then add moderate compression. See if it still happens. But as said... my first thought would be acoustics...

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

Along with what Edo said, how do the dry files sound before you throw all the extra junk on?
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tokyofan · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: re:

Well, the dry files sound OK as is. When I add some compression and EQ and normalize they sound better through my monitors but seem worse through iPod headphones.
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louzucaro · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

Are they actual iPod headphones? Meaning the ones that came with the iPod? My understanding is their headphones are notoriously unpopular with audiophiles.

(I don't use them so I can't speak to it, just saying stuff I've heard / read from many sources)
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tokyofan · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: re:

Yeah, the headphones are similar to the stock ones that come with the iPod. I think about half the listeners will be using the equivalent so I want to optimize, if possible. BUt I just find the final sound to be kind of dark and muddy.

My processing:

Plugins (in order)
Waves VOX (just the expander)
Waves REN COMP Ratio? Attack/Release?
REN EQ (I'm rolling off below 90Hz and above 17,000Hz)
L1 (Limiter)

Is it too much? Any suggestions for settings? Should I normalize somewhere?
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Frank F · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

One of the biggest problems for studio Engineers in todays audio environment is mixing. The question, as I read your scenario is; "Do you mix FOR a particular medium or not"?

The answer is: yes.

Meaning; it depends upon how you are recording the audio, what the monitors YOU use in the studio for mixing are, the acoustics of the recording and mixing rooms, etc.

My suggestion is to record as usual, then move yourself into a more "live" environment for mixing (one which closely resembles where and how your listeners are - listening).

DO NOT OVER PROCESS. That means you do not need the Limiter, the EQ, and most definitely NOT the Expander IF the audio is recorded properly.

A bit of light - stressed - very light compression is advised. But, DO NOT OVER PROCESS!

Depending upon your .mp3 converter settings, there will be a small amount of compression inherent in the .mp3.

Remember you are mixing for an stereo speaker system which is approximately six inches apart and right next to the eardrum's. In case I did not mention it: DO NOT OVER PROCESS.

Too much processing will create a false "room" sound and depending upon the speakers (earphones) this will leave your listener fatigued - unless that is your desire. The key to mixing to the earphone media player is - you guessed it: DO NOT OVER PROCESS!

Toodles

F2
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Edo · Guest

tokyofan · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:02 am Post subject: re:

hey--that's exactly what I needed to know!! Superb! I've vastly simplified the processing and things are already starting to sound clearer and more open. It's funny that I didn't really notice any problems until I listened to the audio through cheap iPod headphones.

I'm working on a news intro with a music bed and what seems to work best is a combo of RenEQ and L1 on the narration track, which cuts through the music (with some 'ducking'). And then mix into a stereo file and master with the L1 Ultramaximizer to smooth it over and boost the overall volume.

So far, so good...
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ccpetersen · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:00 am Post subject:

What Frank and Edo said!

I'm working on a project where we are supposed to deliver a finished wav file for the engineers to mix in with other wav files and then THEY make the mp3 that gets distributed. The first time we did this we did a bit of very light compression to the file, but otherwise no other sweetening. The engineers compressed the BEjeebers out of it and it sounded awful. We complained and asked why they did that. They wrote back and said that other segment producers were sending stuff that was too quiet or too this or too that, so they decided to use ONE setting for compression that was keyed to the quiet folks -- and they did this to everybody's work. The results really sucked. And lots of us were really giving them a hard time about it.

I think they learned their lesson...
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Start with high quality recordings first.
ie 96k 24 bit aif is great.
Do all your eq and process then bump down to mp3 of 320kbps 48k 16 or 24bit.