how to stop audio tracks from peaking

[PK Productions]

I've been having this problem for a while now and its basically that whenever I make a mix with acid, the master volume always goes pretty high and the sound quality turns really bad when i try to increase the volume on my speakers. I've been looking up info about limiters but im still pretty confused on how they work/ if they are the solution at all.


I've seen plenty of mixes where the actual sound waves that you can see aren't even close to peaking but they are really loud. Are there any programs that do that or how does it work?


Any help/explanation would be superrr helpful.


Thanks

 

[GSingh]

compression.

 

[PK Productions]

could you elaborate? the only type of compression i'm familiar with is making something into a .zip file lol


Is there any program that does this?


thanks

 

[GSingh]

This is a good start. The program is different, but the basics are there and can be transferred to any program.

FL Studio Tutorial - Compressor / Compression & EQ

Doesn't really teach what you want to learn necessarily but it does give a REALLY good idea of how compression works.

And if you're on Acid, get WAVEHAMMER. Its essential.

 

[dj2nyce]

if you wanna learn compression...i suggest you LEARN compression....learn what attack, release, threshold, and ratio is....you need to search the internet and read about them and when you truly understand the meaning of each of those 4 components of compression youll be able to use compressors properly and get the perfect sound you want in your mixes so they wont be peaking but wont be too low or ugly sounding either. compressions are great but if you dont know how to use em they can do more damage to your track than peaking.

 

[Saab]

Wavehammer is not essential, but it helps. Another great thing to use is a limiter. I would recommend using a bus for your instrumentals and compressing each bhangra track individually.

Also, look into a host of vst applications for compression and sound.

I run sound forge, but im assuming the wave hammer vst identifies the DB of the highs in the mix?



I personally choose from 3-4 atm for my mixes.


There is a host of information to be learned. I started a couple weeks back to google all the respective things that go into compression, eq'ing, limiting, and a host of touch up devices that go into mixing. Helps a lot.

 

[Gabroo Tv]

compression.

The secret to the perfect sound blending on GTV 8)

 

[GSingh]

Wavehammer is not essential, but it helps. Another great thing to use is a limiter. I would recommend using a bus for your instrumentals and compressing each bhangra track individually.

Also, look into a host of vst applications for compression and sound.

I run sound forge, but im assuming the wave hammer vst identifies the DB of the highs in the mix?



I personally choose from 3-4 atm for my mixes.


There is a host of information to be learned. I started a couple weeks back to google all the respective things that go into compression, eq'ing, limiting, and a host of touch up devices that go into mixing. Helps a lot.

Essentially, it limits whatever track you put the effect on (traditionally the master) to 0dB. And with the volume maximizer, you just adjust your threshold (from knowledge about how much the song peaks) to get a perfect level. I run an external compressor usually so with wavehammer, I bypass the compressor and just use the maximizer).

 

[DJ Jassi]

if you wanna learn compression...i suggest you LEARN compression....learn what attack, release, threshold, and ratio is....you need to search the internet and read about them and when you truly understand the meaning of each of those 4 components of compression youll be able to use compressors properly and get the perfect sound you want in your mixes so they wont be peaking but wont be too low or ugly sounding either. compressions are great but if you dont know how to use em they can do more damage to your track than peaking.

here is a great article I just found that talks about it
http://www.barryrudolph.com/mix/comp.html

 

[Saab]

Wavehammer is not essential, but it helps. Another great thing to use is a limiter. I would recommend using a bus for your instrumentals and compressing each bhangra track individually.

Also, look into a host of vst applications for compression and sound.

I run sound forge, but im assuming the wave hammer vst identifies the DB of the highs in the mix?



I personally choose from 3-4 atm for my mixes.


There is a host of information to be learned. I started a couple weeks back to google all the respective things that go into compression, eq'ing, limiting, and a host of touch up devices that go into mixing. Helps a lot.

Essentially, it limits whatever track you put the effect on (traditionally the master) to 0dB. And with the volume maximizer, you just adjust your threshold (from knowledge about how much the song peaks) to get a perfect level. I run an external compressor usually so with wavehammer, I bypass the compressor and just use the maximizer).

I use aradaz. Same principle, and a very easy and slick control.

 

[DJ Jassi]

also im not really used to plug-ins so if I download wavehammer like GSingh said above where shud i save and how should i open it with acid


like i went on a site and downloaded a plug-in...where should i save it on my computer so i can open it on ACID

 

[Saab]

Go to program files, then go to sony, shared plugins, and audio. Paste the extracted file. Go here

http://www.custcenter.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4359/~/managing-vst-plugins-in-acid-pro-7

then add the folder to your acid. You can go from there.

 

[GSingh]

I got tired and just downloaded soundforge (its defaulted in there) and since the plugin's are installed into a shared folder in the same "sony" directory, that plugin gets installed for acid automatically. Alternatively, if you have sony vegas pro, it comes with that too.

 

[DJ Jassi]

Go to program files, then go to sony, shared plugins, and audio. Paste the extracted file. Go here

http://www.custcenter.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4359/~/managing-vst-plugins-in-acid-pro-7

then add the folder to your acid. You can go from there.

thanks