[PlanetCCRMA] Here's My Problem

[Mark Knecht]

On 8/29/05, Peter Baumgartner <mail@bssmusic.de> wrote:
> Mark Knecht schrieb:
> 
> >On 7/28/05, Chaz Kiser <chazkiser@alltel.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I've been lurking on the list for awhile now.  I'm fairly good on
> >>computers but kind of new with linux.
> >>
> >>Here's my problem.  I'm pretty sure it can be rectified with linux but I
> >>don't know how.
> >>I recorded an small low-budget cd in a small local studio a few years
> >>ago.  Although I loved the end result, the cd itself never had the
> >>loudness that a regular cd had.  I would be playing it at a reletively
> >>loud range and then change cd's and always, the other cd would be nearly
> >>twice as loud.
> >>How can I make these songs louder?
> >>On my old recordings there were done with a cheesy four-track, how can I
> >>make there cleaner?
> >>Some of my old recordings that have been copied over from old tapes are
> >>too hot and therefore get a really annoying digital distortion.  Can I
> >>clean those up too?
> >>
> >>Chaz
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Chaz,
> >   Rip the CD to wave files. Load the wave files into Ardour or some
> >other Jack compatible player and then take the output of that player
> >into Jamin. Tweak Jamin to get the loudness you are looking for.
> >Record the output of Jamin back into Wave files and make a new CD.
> >
> >   NOTE: This flow means that the audio data will never be deeoer than
> >16-bit. If you recorded at 24-bit then that's gone as a CD only goes
> >to 16.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >Mark
> >
> >
> >
> Hi Mark,
> I think *any* Mastering tool or Hardware (e.g. TC Finalizer?) containing
> a Compressor/Limiter could solve his Problem, but only partially:
> Mastering is a *non-trivial* task and perhaps You should add that making
> a CD louder does not necessarily mean it sounds better.
> I am, for my part, being a good mixer, not nearly as good in mastering
> as our mastering engineer is - and I´m trying for 15 years now ;-))
> 
> Peter

Peter,
   Hi. I do not see that Chaz ever mentioned 'mastering', nor did I.
All he asked about was ripping the CD and getting better levels.

   Please do not confuse my suggested use of the app 'Jamin' with any
directive to do 'mastering'. Personally I think that the term
'mastering' is thrown around pretty loosly in the LAU community. I use
Jamin but I do not 'master' in Linux. (Yet...) ;-)

   I completely agree that louder isn't necessary better. I also agree
that 'Mastering' is hard work.

Cheers,
Mark