Less Volume When Bouncing

Weird. What is your level on the Output1-2 or the Master track in Logic? Is it clipping? Even if it´s clipping your track can be low as heck in MEAT/volume. That depends on what frequencies are clipping. If you see a lot of pump on the output meters in Logic before you bounce (meaning that the level typically pumps from -14 or even -20 db and up to 0 db or even clips a lil to +1-2 db, it´s a typical example of a situation where your tracks dynamic range is too high or unplanned for.

But here is what you can do:

1. Start Logic and start iTunes. Import a song you have bought in itunes to one stereo audio track in you Logic session. Make sure you dont have any plugins on this track or the master or output 1-2. Make sure the volume settings in both programs are the same (i.e.100% or whatever) Play the imorted commercial mixed song in both itunes and Logic. They should sound allmost identical in level; most probably iTunes will be a tad louder. BUT MOST IMPORTANT, your song should play just as high as the commercial mix, but I bet it doesn´t. Because you haven´t used limiters, maximizers and such.

I bet your problem lies in the dynamics of your mix. And that again is solved either by mixing or - and I know you hate this word - mastering. But hey it´s basically the other side of any coin, doesnt matter much what you call it at this stage.

I´m shooting in the dark here but those are my best guesses.

If you send me the file or a snippet of it, I should be able to solve this with a better answer.

If, as you say, your mix is running heavily into the red and you have normalization on when you bounce, the normalization will reduce the level of your mix by as much as is needed to bring the highest peak down to 0dBFS. Bring your level down on the output and turn normalization off. Then your levels inside and outside Logic will match.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2890

You´re welcome BruBo.

Do what Guy said here, turn off the Normalization. Your problem must be there. If your track has more gain than a commercial pop/dance or allmost whatever uptempo production, your volume/gain is too high and normalisation reduces it hard. You CANNOT clip on the master out. You can clip on individual tracks if they are in the digital domain but your output ends up as analog. It will distort straight up.

I know you didn´t ask for a tip on Plug-Ins but download Ozone5 from Izotope (the demo) and put that on your output. Choose whatever preset and see/hear what it does to you master track and the bounce.

It´s a great mastering plug-in for those of us that doesn´t fully master mastering yet (can I even put it that way;)

Regards

Heyclown.

Unless you have the worst music in the world and don't care about trashing your file.. do not bounce with the main stereo outs in the red, that is not the way to get volume... even if you don't her clipping it mangling bits right and left.

If you want to use normalization set the master outs so that the mix never bounces in the red.

You're bouncing to a 96kHz - 24 bit file so I assume you care about the quality of the mix. Also, if you're planning on mastering later, you don't want to work with a file that already been mangled.

I assume you listening to playback on the exact same equipment that Logic plays through.

If you're using iTunes for Playback make sure ALL of the enhancements are OFF.

This includes "Crossfade Playback", "Sound Enhancer" and "Soundcheck"

I have two words for you sir. Adaptive limiter. Go to the Master Output fader, select one of the plug-in boxes, and under dynamics select Adaptive Limiter. Once this box pops up, you will see that somehow this plug-in is allowing 3 extra dB of gain in your music and is simultaneously cutting off any clipping distortion at 0.0 dB! And now you have more volume and less gabble.

Check out my stuff if you like! Youtube: Blue Spectral Storm

"Yall must be out of ya head if your system aint up to the red" - Madlib off the Jaylib Album "In the Red"

Using Normalize will drain your track. Just practice good mixing. It takes TIME.

Just came across this via g_search, switched from Cakewalk to LPx recently… Lots of great advise re post/topic so many thanks for that… in particular wazoo23...

Unless you have the worst music in the world...

Worth the resurrection to read that