drop the bass or drop the treble!

**Jimfish** · 01-09-2003, 05:36 PM

I think the main reason we are getting so many records sounding like this is cos a lot of the main producers dont actually have musch technical abilty/give a flying **** about the sound... sad but true.
The of course there are the ones who, being big djs/producers automaticly assume thier way is correct cos they are so in love with themselves.

**Basil Rush** · 01-09-2003, 05:55 PM

VU measuring average volume you'd have thought it would be similar?

**djTequila** · 02-09-2003, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Basil Rush

VU measuring average volume you'd have thought it would be similar?

If the VU meter treated dynamics in EXACTLY the same way as your ears, yes. In reality, I've had *big* problems with unmastered stuff.

VU is a fudge... To give an impression of the technical details of the signal you're working on. It seems to have been optimised for analogue work, where peaks dipping into your headroom are dealt with in a warm, sweet way by amps and recording media... And a small amount of overdriving can sound lovely. To work out how things sound in a mix, engineers are expected to use... Well, their ears!

Experiment with unlimited and heavily limited signals at the same average dBVU.

T*

**Basil Rush** · 02-09-2003, 02:29 PM

I'll take your word on that one for now. Question is now though do the meters on my DJ mixer represent VU or not ... (really this might just be getting to anal even for me now though ... but somehow I feel compelled to find out)

**Basil Rush** · 02-09-2003, 02:38 PM

Here's another thought on this balance issue, what tracks sound best on a rig, there's usually a track that someone drops (or an entire set when you've got a bright spark for a dj) that sounds an order of magnitude better than everything before it.

My clubbing is mostly done in a confused haze but somehow I know that a Nukleuz track called Instrumental sounds bloody amazing at the Fridge down in Brixton, as does Mauro Picotto's Awesome (my copy of which seems to have gone mysteriously missing, those bastard record pixies messing my records up again!) and First Strike by Signum.

The top end sounds sweet on all these and the bottom end works in wonderful ways ... so when I'm working on styles that could be DJ'd with these tunes I balance so they mix well together.

Any other suggestions ?

**djTequila** · 02-09-2003, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Basil Rush

I'll take your word on that one for now. Question is now though do the meters on my DJ mixer represent VU or not ... (really this might just be getting to anal even for me now though ... but somehow I feel compelled to find out)

Good question. In general, I think analogue gear uses dBVU (Volume Unit) unless otherwise stated (like a PPM {Peak Programme Meter} for recording programme material to digital storage media). Digital equiment uses dBFS (Full Scale) to give a good (ish) idea if you're clipping.

Digital distortion is nasty. Analogue distortion is far more forgiving, and can be beneficial.

T*

**DJZeMig_L** · 02-09-2003, 10:09 PM

On the take of Basil's tip...

Has any1 ever really uses steinberg's FreeFilter??? ...

suposed 2 learn the eq. balance across 32 bands of what ever u feed and then do the same 4 yer track.. then u have a morphing percentage!

Z

**Ritzi Lee** · 03-09-2003, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by Jimfish

I think the main reason we are getting so many records sounding like this is cos a lot of the main producers dont actually have musch technical abilty/give a flying **** about the sound... sad but true.
The of course there are the ones who, being big djs/producers automaticly assume thier way is correct cos they are so in love with themselves.

yeah but can you call some DJ / producers who work with real sound engineers? I can't. Damn it would be a ****ing miracle if i can pay for one, or find a studio / label who has one for all artists.

**davethedrummer** · 07-09-2003, 12:00 PM

interesting stuff here
i think the "loudness" argument is the main rason for todays harsh top end
basically top end and mid range trnslate to the brain as percieved loudness
in a much more abrasive way than bass which needs to be ****ing loud (lot's of energy needed here) to shake the room enough.
and when you are listening to the radio in your car the music is eqed to give you a lot of top and mid range detail.
with a ton of compression although this is necessary to prevent the transmitter from blowing up mainly.
i think this has carried over into techno and now there jst seems to be a bit of an overload of top end going on.
i reckon this is because of the advent of so much cheap computer software
and people still trying to catch up to learn how to use it all.
most computer softwaer in itself sounds pretty "tinny" reason and batter being the worst i think.
erhaps this is one cause for todays music being "sharp"
but i tell you what i'm glad some of you agree ....phew i thought it was just me.

**Basil Rush** · 08-09-2003, 02:08 PM

dtd - Is that picture really you?

**massplanck** · 08-09-2003, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by DJ Ze MigL

On the take of Basil's tip...

Has any1 ever really uses steinberg's FreeFilter??? ...

suposed 2 learn the eq. balance across 32 bands of what ever u feed and then do the same 4 yer track.. then u have a morphing percentage!

Z

I have. Its sweet. Record in a few tunes from your fav producer or ones which you like the sound of, caputure their eq settings , save em as presets and apply to your own tune as you like. I tend to use this more as a reference for how my tracks 'should' sound rather than letting freefilter do all the work. But yes its great bit of software....

/S

**DJZeMig_L** · 08-09-2003, 07:38 PM

nice 1... I have some trouble finding a reference as my tracks are a little errrr... diferent (politic.. correct 4 crapy :P ) so it's not easy 2 find some1 doing the same sound..

Z

**Jimfish** · 08-09-2003, 07:44 PM

ehhe... just stick a mic up to yer butthole next time u take a dump ZM!

thats what i do!

**DJZeMig_L** · 08-09-2003, 07:46 PM

Any recommendations in terms of brands, polar patterns, models... eheheh :P

Z

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