Question about mastering CDs

Subject: Question about mastering CDs
From: Cornflake
Date: 16 May 03 - 08:30 PM

I'm in the middle of having a new CD mastered. Some tracks have drums, bass and lots of instruments. Some have only one or two acoustic instruments and a voice.

I got a preliminary master back from the very capable guy who's doing it. I think the actual volume level of the different songs on the master is pretty much the same. The vocals in the acoustic-only songs, however, seem significantly louder than the vocals on the other tracks. That's probably because of the compression. I remember encountering this issue with previous projects but I didn't do anything about it then.

Has anyone else run into this? I'm considering dropping the levels on the purely acoustic numbers so the vocal levels are more consistent with the other tracks but I'm not sure if that's a good idea. Any advice would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Question about mastering CDs
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 16 May 03 - 11:33 PM

First of all, were the tracks mixed down to stereo before you gave them to your guy to master? If not, maybe the problem is in the mix. Excessive use of compression and limiting during the mastering process on stereo tracks can also have the effect you describe. Also, overuse of high tech magic boxes like "finalizers" can have the same effect. Rather than just lowering the overall level, it would be better to backtrack and find the nature of the problem. You do have the raw, unedited tracks archived, right? Go back and listen to them. If the vocals sound better there, then find out where in the process they became too lound. Good luck, Al

Subject: RE: Question about mastering CDs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 17 May 03 - 12:53 AM

What software is he using for his mix?

How many tracks and where were the mics for the recording session?

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Question about mastering CDs
From: Cornflake
Date: 17 May 03 - 08:23 PM

Thanks. I don't know the answers to many of those questions but they tell me what to begin asking. Appreciate the help.

Subject: RE: Question about mastering CDs
From: black walnut
Date: 18 May 03 - 03:25 PM

I ran into the same issue on mine. I mentioned what I was hearing and it was fixed up.

~b.w.