Mastering on GarageBand
Saturday, August 13 2011 @ 03:55 PM CDT

Hi all, im having a bit of trouble getting my productions loud when tranferring out of Garageband and into iTunes as MP3. I am using GB08 and my sharing preferences are as follows; Compress using MP3 Encoder and Audio Settings are customised to 320kbps, joint stereo, optimised for MMx/SSE2, using MP3 and I have 'Auto Normalize' checked under preferences. Most of the tracks within a song are not going into the red of th limiters. I understand this is a technique and skill to acquire but any pointers and tips appreciated as i feel this is letting my productions down !!!

Thanks in advance...

VH

Re:Mastering on GarageBand
Saturday, August 13 2011 @ 04:25 PM CDT

I had this problem a lot - I would recommend firstly make sure the loudness correction in preferences is turned OFF - auto-normalize I think it's called. Make sure it's NOT checked.

Take a look at Yohng's W1 Limiter - I'd recommend just putting that through onto the master insert on any final track.
Here's a link:http://www.yohng.com/software/w1limit.html

You'll want the W1.component.zip on the left hand side. If you keep the master volume slider at -0.1dB, then you should achieve a perfect mix.


But I think your main problem is with the auto normalize. Not only does it make things louder, but it makes things quieter as well - any peak from a tiny bit of a kick or anything adjusts the entire volume on the render.

Re:Mastering on GarageBand
Saturday, August 13 2011 @ 04:27 PM CDT

Turn off normalization. This may help but I am sure some of the mastering gurus will have a few more tips.

Re:Mastering on GarageBand
Saturday, August 13 2011 @ 08:37 PM CDT

try a limiter and a multiband compressor (after you turn off that normalize feature). haven't used GB in awhile, but there used to be a way to export to your desktop instead of itunes and it always sounded better to my ears.

If you look in the M2 Freebies thread there is a link for a nice multiband compressor (put it on your master out).

Re:Mastering on GarageBand
Saturday, August 13 2011 @ 08:37 PM CDT

try a limiter and a multiband compressor (after you turn off that normalize feature). haven't used GB in awhile, but there used to be a way to export to your desktop instead of itunes and it always sounded better to my ears.

If you look in the M2 Freebies thread there is a link for a nice multiband compressor (put it on your master out).

Re:Mastering on GarageBand
Saturday, August 13 2011 @ 11:14 PM CDT

I like the slim slow slider c3 multi band compressor. I take my song and shoot it to the desktop or itunes as an aiff file. Then I create a new GB session and drag that file into a track. I apply the C3 compressor to that track starting with one of the presets and tweak it from there. I export back to I tunes as an aiff and then create an mp3 from I tunes.

If you download the C3 (a free download) let me know if you want one of the presets that I have used for mastering.
Link is here for C#
http://www.kvraudio.com/db/c3_multi_band_compressor_by_slim_slow_slider

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Sunday, August 14 2011 @ 05:42 AM CDT

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