9 Replies Latest reply: May 24, 2011 9:37 AM by Charles VW RSS

    Professional sound?

    Lolemu449 Community Member

      I'm a little new to Audition, that is, I am using the trail version while mine comes in, and I can't seem to get the quality controls down. I am mixing two vocals to a karaoke track, but the volume is very low, and whenever I try to turn it up, the quality is destroyed/ cracks. What can I do to fix this? That and I'm having a hard time making the sound quality "pop" like in professional mixes. It is very mono-sounding, even though I have it in surround sound? I'm also having a hard time finding a tuning effect?


      Thanks for your help

        • 1. Re: Professional sound?
          MusicConductor Community Member

          Well, this isn't an Audition issue, this is a combination of using the right equipment well and understanding the basics of audio.  For example, you've not told us what microphone, preamp, or soundcard you're using, let alone speakers, and those right there will have a major impact on whether or not your sound appears to be "professional."  Second example: putting a mono vocal recording into a surround panner only means you've put the same sound into all the speakers.  That's not a surround mix.  To get the "embiggened" sound you want, you've got to create sound information that's at least a little different for some or all of the speakers.  You do that by recording in an ambient studio with multiple mics, or "stacking" vocals by recording the same thing multiple times, or processing effects, or a combination of all of the above.  Also, starting with a stereo karaoke track is not going to help a surround mix either.

           

          You, my friend, need to spend some time studying and experimenting.  Audition will do wonderful things for you, but as the old computer axiom goes, garbage in, garbage out.  I'm sure you're above a garbage level, but my point is that Audition will only sound as good as what you feed it and tell it what to do -- it's neutral.

          • 2. Re: Professional sound?
            Bob Howes Community Member

            What Music Conductor said.  I'm afraid the key to a professional sounding mix is the professional doing the mixing far more than tools or software you use. 

             

            Internet forums like this are far better suited to answering specific questions rather than trying to teach a four year course in sound recording in a couple of paragraphs.   You might be better off doing at bit of reading on the subject.  There are quite a few books on the whole process of home recording....two that might get you started are:

             

            http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Studios-Dummies-Jeff-Strong/dp/0764577077/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UT F8&s=books&qid=1273169612&sr=1-2

             

            and

             

            http://www.amazon.com/Home-Recording-Beginners-Geoffrey-Francis/dp/1598638815

             

            Another resource that might be useful for your would be the Home Recording forums at:  http://homerecording.com/bbs/    They have quite a few faqs and a newbie section with lots of resources.

             

            Anyway, on a couple of your points:  first, the crackling when you turn up levels is likely you getting into digital clipping.  The volume you hear when mixing can be very independent of the mix itself--you have to go by the meters for absolute levels and use the monitoring to judge how things sit together, not to analyse how loud things are.

             

            Second, you've given yourself a major hurdle by starting with a pre-mixed karaoke track.  When mixing, it's far easier to have individual control over each instrument rather than try to make a vocal sound right with an existing mix.  However, in general terms, one thing I'd try is to use the graphic EQ to "cut a hole" in the karaoke mix in the frequency range your voice sits in--not too much, only a few dB--but you may find this makes things sit better.  Second, since the backing track is almost certainly compressed, some light compression the the voice might help.  Finally, adding some reverb to the vocal in the same style as the backing has been processed can help too.

             

            However, some reading and a LOT of experimenting are the best way to learn how to make things sound good.

             

            Bob

            • 3. Re: Professional sound?
              gregn32837

              Hello,

               

              While not new into create sound files I am new into creating 5.1 sounds and thought you could advise me.

               

              I am trying to create a 5.1 audio file I can use in a DMX track to create special effects for our haunted hayride this year.

              The intent is to have our trailer rigged with 5.1 surrond sound and DMX lights creating self contained SFX.

              I would like one track to be used for background ambient noises coming from all speakers (wind, lighting, etc.).

              Another track would be used for the story narration probably using the front L,R, and center speakers.

              Other tracks would include specific sounds like a ghost laughter, or  monster roar coming from a specific speaker (back left, front right, etc)

               

              My current configuration.

              • Windows 7 32bit
              • Adobe Audition CS5.5 Trial Mode (Need to test to make sure it works before I buy.)
              • Sabrent 8-Channel 3D USB 2.0 External Sound Box (using ASIO4ALL v2.10 driver)
              • Logitech Z-5500 Surround speakers (set to 6 Channel Direct)
              • My Audio Channel Mapping looks like the following:

              Audio Channel Mapping.PNG

               

               

               

              Now my challenge:

               

               

              I start with a new Multitrack Session in Adobe Audition

              Multitrack.PNG

               

              I imported a mono wave file into track 1 called Boggie and tried to have the sound come out the rear L speaker and I can only hear it ver faintly. (see below) I can increase the volume but then it start to clip. If I direct the sount to the front speakers I can hear the wave file with no problems. I have tried changing the channels mappings but that does not seem to work either. When I try the maufactures driver it passes the Windows 7 tests for 5.1 I can hear each test tone seperately but I do not see mutiple channels in Adobe Aduition only two Front L and Front R.

               

              Do I need a different sound card? Also when I get it finally working to I need any special plug-in to create the single file (like Minnetonka audio Surcode 5.1 dds)?

              Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Greg

               

              Boggie.PNG

              • 4. Re: Professional sound?
                ryclark Community Member

                Unfortunately these type of multichannel playback soundcards are really meant for gaming or DVd playback and don't produce separate 7.1 channel from discrete multichannel audio software like Audition. They will only decode from ready encoded Dolby Digital or DTS files or manufacture surround from their built in effects processors. You really need an audio interface with eight discrete audio channels which will cost quite a bit more than the Sabrent, I'm afraid

                • 5. Re: Professional sound?
                  gregn32837 Community Member

                  Thank you much for the reply. Any card recommendations??

                  • 6. Re: Professional sound?
                    MusicConductor Community Member

                    I'm enjoying good success with the eMu 1616m.  Have a look at their product line to see if any of their ASIO cards have discreet pairs of outputs at a lower price point.

                    • 7. Re: Professional sound?
                      ryclark Community Member

                      Yes I would suggest either EMU or M-Audio at the lower end of the price range.

                      • 8. Re: Professional sound?
                        gregn32837 Community Member

                        Would the M-Audio Delta 1010LT  10-in/10-out PCI Virtual Studio card be suffcient?

                        • 9. Re: Professional sound?
                          Charles VW Adobe Employee

                          gregn32837 wrote:


                           

                          Boggie.PNG

                          After looking at this picture, my question is, what do the main meters show when you're playing back this clip?