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  4. Burning to CD vs. leaving it digital

  • Burning to CD vs. leaving it digital

    K
    K
    I've been so pleased with the VSL across the board, but even with these great samples I have the same challenge when it comes to burning these pieces to CD.

    My pieces sound great as an AIFF, but burning the same mix to a CD results in a really lackluster, dull sound -- often it's very muffled and sounds far away. I've compressed the output with Adlimiter or Multipressor, and that helps a bit, but doesn't give me that really clean sound that you'd get from a professionally produced CD.

    Am I missing an obvious step in my mastering process? I really welcome any input that anyone can offer.

    Kerry
    [8-)]
  • T
    T
    Kerry,

    No idea what software you are using to burn the CD so the answer maybe a bit generic.

    Whilst CD buring software such as Toast etc can do a good job at copying Audio CD's they can leave much to be desired when mastering your own productions.

    The best software solution I have found is to use CD 'Mastering' software that fully conforms to the RED BOOK standard such as WaveBurner Pro.

    There are several Hardware solutions such as the Yamaha and Roland desks with built-in Mastering facilities.

    Other things to watch are things like your studio monitors (speakers) are you getting a true representation of your mix in the first place. Computer Speakers often have a lower frequency response that Hi-Fi speakers. Your CD burner may also add limiting factors.

    Compression can tighten up certain areas but it is not always the best answer.

    Tools such as SPARK can be of great assistance.

    As a general tip I would look at CD Mastering software/hardware before looking at some of the more exotic Mastering Plug-in tools that are available.

    tattie
  • D
    D
    The key here is mastering although not CD Mastering program.
    any program for burning CD's will do the job.
    let us remember that CD's are digital information, and unlike magnetic tapes, you dont loose quality.

    now, the cure for your situation for getting the "professional sound" is mastering (not CD mastering). which I always sugest people that are unfamiliar with this process, hand the job to a proffesional.
    mastering is an art by itself.

    the good news you can learn it and start producing satisfying resolts in little time.
    I strongly recomend a begining point as tool such as Ozone3 by Izotop.
    http://www.izotope.com/

    here, a tool where proffesionals and beginers can enjoy a like.

    now, you are right, the cd probably doesn;t sound as good as "live" from your program. that has to do a lot with the quantization distortion. which is small partion of the process in which sound is "recorded" to digital infromation.
    ozone ( or any other mastering tools for that matter ) will help you greatly in reducing this- Dithering

    cheers!
  • N
    N
    DSternberg is right to point out that you should use dither whenever you reduce the number of bits (e.g. if your AIFFs are 24-bit and you're going to CD, which is 16). But truncating without dither doesn't create a dull sound, it creates an edgier sound, so i don't think that's the problem.

    Your CD should sound virtually identical to the AIFF files, and something is very wrong if it doesn't.

    My first question is whether it's just the CD player that's messed up? Have you tried the CDs on other players?

    My second question - sorry if this is insulting - is whether you're really burning a stereo CD? Mono can sound dull if the mix has a lot of fx (and mono compatibility is a whole other subject).