Hi,
Quick method: disable normalizing in the bounce dialog. Clipping may occur, but the sound will be as loud as you mixed it. I don't recommend this.
Better method: "playing" with the EQ usually does no good for mastering if you don't know how to do it. BTW: No offense - even the cracks who really
know about mastering leave their mastering to the even greater cracks in the big mastering studios because it's an art of itself, so don't be too disappointed if your bounced music doesn't reach the level of commercial music.
Now what there's to do about it? A quick overview:
1st: The iron rule: In the Output Channelstrip (where the bouncing occurs in Logic), you
must use a
limiter plugin as the very last plugin in the channelstrip's plugin chain. The Limiter will help you to raise the overall loudness while preventing the peaks from clipping and distorting. Turn up the limiter's gain until the mix is loud enough.
2nd: Now a limiter is a very harsh method which messes up the sound a bit as well if you overdo it. So, to reduce the fuzz in the louder peaks, you should establish a compressor
before the limiter which lifts the overall loudness of your song while compressing (squeezing) the loudest parts of it. Now theoretically, a limiter is a compressor with a 1:infinite ratio, but we want something like 1:2 ratio - depends on the type of music - and a lower treshold that kicks in comparatively early, like -20db (depends on your type of music, too, but take it as a value to start with).
Logic Express even has a multiband compressor hidden somewhere in the AU plugins, which comes from Garageband. But there's also a nice freeware, the Slim Slow Sliders's C3 multiband compressor (google for it), which i used often in my "express days". A Multiband compressor treats different frequencies different, which helps if you have a pumping bass which mutes out all other sound with a single band compressor. A Multiband will only compress the pumping bass while leaving the softer mid's and treble where they are (and vice versa if you have a loud mid or treble part).
3rd: EQ - now that's the tricky part. Assuming you already have a good sound mixed in your tracks, and it sounds good on your computer (btw: Which speakers do you use? The best way would be to use studio monitors, because the integrated speakers, HIFI speakers or headphones don't really give you a clear realistic "picture" of the sound.)
Use the EQ very, very sparsely identify the frequencies that sound bad or that need a boost, and only just lift or lower gain a little bit. Bounce - compare - correct - repeat as necessary. Experience is the key here!
Now, you may also visit
http://www.tweakheadz.com/perfect_mix.html and the other themes of Tweak's guide.
Good luck,
Fox
