Another Mastering Question

[Ryan]

Hi,
I am just wondering how to go about getting the fullest sound
possible. I try adding reverb and even panning, but when I burn it on
to a CD and play it on a normal stereo it sounds kind of dull. I listened to
the first track of The Last Samurai soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and studied the wave file. I don't hear much panning going on such has the violins being on the right. But yet the music sounds as if it surrounds you even in just stereo. I can't seem to get that type of fullnest no matter what kind of reverb I use. Are there any tricks to get that type of surround effect out of a recording?

[DG]

@Ryan said:

Hi,
I am just wondering how to go about getting the fullest sound
possible. I try adding reverb and even panning, but when I burn it on
to a CD and play it on a normal stereo it sounds kind of dull. I listened to
the first track of The Last Samurai soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and studied the wave file. I don't hear much panning going on such has the violins being on the right. But yet the music sounds as if it surrounds you even in just stereo. I can't seem to get that type of fullnest no matter what kind of reverb I use. Are there any tricks to get that type of surround effect out of a recording?

Firstly, to the listener the violins are on the left, except for rare occasions where the 2nd violins sit on the right. Secondly, with recordings of live players, you must remember that much of the sound comes from the ambient mikes. The close mikes are used for definition, so there is an automatic "positioning" of instruments; it is where the players sit! I'm sure that if you post an example of your music there will be many people who can jump in and tell you where you're going wrong.

DG