BMG_Cya=-

Something I have yet to understand is how do you know what the listener's
.wma or mp3 player's settings are?

I generally mix for the settings shown below:

The first shot is of the WOW/SRS settings. This SRS is a stereo/expander
enhancement, available for Windows Media Player.
I would have put a big arse question mark in the jpeg's file name if it would
let me.



This second image is of the EQ settings and is generally what I mix to.
As you can see, the EQ is on, but it is at default...all sliders even.
I have already taken care of the bass...mids...and treble for the listener
mostly through my guitar and small effects processor.




Which brings me to my question(s) and dilemma.

I like the sound of my guitar to be able to hit very high, almost ear-shattering
notes. I want every harmonic that each string can bring forth.

But...

Alot of people listen to my stuff, and usually say something like this:

"Wow! Great playing...but the mids are way too high. Actually hurt my ears,
and make me not want to listen."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++

When I play live in front of someone, a friend...or group of people,
I never have this problem. Same goes for the original recording on
the cassette, it sounds...ahhh...just right.

These comments I only hear when I mixdown into a PC file. Be it a
Wave....wma...or mp3.

================================================== ==================

HELP!!!!!!!!!

dj_stick

it depends on the soundcard in use, most consumer grade cards (live/audigy/fortissimo) don't exactly have the best quality inputs
and then everyone's computer sound/speaker setup will differ
i normally use WMP with no SRS and no EQ, and no EQ on the kX mixer either… but quite often people will have several EQ's running and maybe the SRS fx aswell

i guess you just have to state "best listened to with… etc"

EDIT: i forgot to mention, often the quality of the speakers is a factor aswell, with most cheap speakers being really treble heavy and with little bass - this will of course make the higher frequencies appear to be louder than when you recorded

__________________

mkk

If it's the same with pure .wav or other non-desctructive compression then it shouldn't be an encoding issue. I'd rather suspect a difference in what speakers or soundcards the others use. Those wow-effects and equaliser should all be turned off for making comparisons, but you could also for instance try using the popular WinAMP player as well to see if there's some odd difference between the players.

dj_stick

another thing - depending on the codec in use… if using WMA update to the latest codec version (wma9) as wma 7 was really iffy and wma8 was slightly better - also encode at higher bitrates

__________________

BMG_Cya=-

Thanks DJ...mkk...you basically backed up what MAC over at AudioMinds said. So...with that being the case, I consider all of the
tips and info to be basically as correct as it can be. I feel like I have a little better grip on things...

BTW...here is a small clip from one of three pieces I am considering for entry in the audiominds Demo contest for August.
I say small clip because the entire tune this comes from is over 8 minutes long, and covers every technique and trick
known to man.

But...

There is also a melody....theme...or that "context" that people always say that my music needs.

You'll hear the main theme at the very start of the file.

BTW...sounds best when played with the settings shown above, and while wearing a pair of good range covering headphones.

Thanks again. I'm having a blast being able to be my own one man band here.

Clip from working title Wizzard's Indulgence BMG

mkk

Must be fun. I know a couple of musicians who use their computers for music a lot, but have no real creativity myself. Thanks for the sneak peek.

Out of pure curiosity, what kind of soundcard do you use?

dj_stick

i myself use my computer for music
and from what i remember bmg uses a live or audigy card

__________________

BMG_Cya=-

You are correct DJ...I am the unproud owner of the Crap Labs Audigy Gamer.
If you look on Crap Lab's website, it states that the Audigy Gamer is a 24-bit
sound card.

That is a blatant lie.

The Crap Labs products are some of the worst I have ever seen. They seem to have a mind of
their own. They load the splash screen upon boot, even though you set it not to. They also
lose your custom settings files, or slightly alter them. I can't tell you the number of times
I have recorded something, making sure to check the CP for my Custom profile, only to
find that the CRAP LABS card has pushed the Chorus slider from zero, where I want it at
all times...back to 100%. It does the same thing with reverb...adding 100% to that.

I then have to re-record again.

I hate Crap Labs...[/rant]

dj_stick

you should try using kX one day

__________________