I need someone to tell me what's wrong with this...

[UnworthyJobba]

On my headphones, it sounds "great" (well, as great as I can make it) but on my speakers it sounds like crap, the bass feels like it's "sucked" before it can reach my ears and it all sounds like it has way too much compression (this is especially noticeable on the final part of the beat, when the strings come in). I am a newbie when it comes to mastering and things like that, so I'm hoping someone can help me. Thanks.

Here's the link:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1895938/new.mp3

[modz1]

To elicit a response UJ, you'll need to give other members more details about the equipment you are using, your signal path from the arrange page to the master outs, and the monoitors/room acoustics you have..

Also, what type of headphones are you listening to?

[UnworthyJobba]

Originally Posted by modz1

To elicit a response UJ, you'll need to give other members more details about the equipment you are using, your signal path from the arrange page to the master outs, and the monoitors/room acoustics you have..

Also, what type of headphones are you listening to?

Well, my headphones aren't very studio oriented, and they were pretty cheap when I bought them, they are Pioneer SE-M280. I don't have monitors, just some very old (30 years) Hi-Fi Tannoy speakers that used to be on my parents' living room. As for the "signal path" and all that, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about

[FrankGIK]

Originally Posted by UnworthyJobba

On my headphones, it sounds "great" (well, as great as I can make it) but on my speakers it sounds like crap, the bass feels like it's "sucked" before it can reach my ears and it all sounds like it has way too much compression (this is especially noticeable on the final part of the beat, when the strings come in). I am a newbie when it comes to mastering and things like that, so I'm hoping someone can help me. Thanks.

Here's the link:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1895938/new.mp3

Joining the party late, but it's a classic low end acoustics problem. You're sitting in a low frequency null, which of course is remedied when you put a pair of head phones on. The only way to actually fix it would be to treat the room. Here's a few ideas to start with:

• Make sure you setup so that you’re firing down the longest dimension of the room.
• Your head should be placed 38% of the way into the room, centered between the left and right walls
• Your head should also be located at the tip of an equilateral triangle with your speakers. Start at a 5’ width and go from there.
• Use at least 4” bass trapping in all the corners, floor to ceiling if possible.
• Use 4” or 6” bass traps on the back wall; the thicker the better basically.
• Use 4” panels behind the speakers on the front wall
• The reflection points to the right, left and above your head can be treated with either 2” or 4” panels. I prefer 4” panels personally; you can never really overdo bass trapping.


Frank