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I usually play late at night whilst baked, so get prangy about the volume, and fiddle with the knobs throughout my mixes, so they go up and down in volume at random intervals. I don't have this problem in clubs since I don't need to watch the volume (to such an extent)

Is there any software out there that levels out volumes throughout mixes?

EDIT: I work on Audacity and use 'normalize', but it doesn't seem to make much difference unless you're doing it on separate tracks.

You mean a limiter?

Basic A wrote:You mean a limiter?

Hm, possibly. I'm trying the leveller in Audacity, and it seems to bring everything up, rather than down. Why would anyone want that?

EDIT: Basically, there's random short intervals where volume falls and rises. When I apply limiters and such, it just brings everything down, with the low volume bits still in proportion, so it doesn't help me too much.

Your using your limiter wrong. You put a small gain or amplifying compression just before it, to push the signal into the cieling of a limiter.

Compare.

soundcloud.com/ucpproductions ... my mixtapes... zombie goblin 3 was done with no limit, whereas I had one on for session 2...

ALot of digital DJs have taken to using limit to hold everything down and not get nagged by soundtechs at gigs, it wouldnt have been feasible to haul a hardware limiter into a club, but software is a different story...

But Im pretty firm on you should watch your levels with your eyes. Mixdown/headroom theory applies to DJing too!

and, also, the volume ducking, shouldnt that only happen on ambient breakdowns and stuff, where it SHOULD get quiter?

DOnt squash the dynamics out, ust put something there in case you go too high, to catch stray peaks.

Basic A wrote:Your using your limiter wrong. You put a small gain or amplifying compression just before it, to push the signal into the cieling of a limiter.

Compare.

soundcloud.com/ucpproductions ... my mixtapes... zombie goblin 3 was done with no limit, whereas I had one on for session 2...

ALot of digital DJs have taken to using limit to hold everything down and not get nagged by soundtechs at gigs, it wouldnt have been feasible to haul a hardware limiter into a club, but software is a different story...

But Im pretty firm on you should watch your levels with your eyes. Mixdown/headroom theory applies to DJing too!

and, also, the volume ducking, shouldnt that only happen on ambient breakdowns and stuff, where it SHOULD get quiter?

DOnt squash the dynamics out, ust put something there in case you go too high, to catch stray peaks.

Hm. I'm a bit confused. What software would you recommend doing this with?

I try and watch my levels carefully, but I was doing it at 6am, and kept fiddling around. If it was in the day I would have just kept the level the same and held myself back from touching the master knob.

EDIT: I'm a bit worried about distortion and such (probably because I don't know what I'm doing) - reckon I'm just going to go through it concisely and de-amplify any peaks.

EDIT2: Although, if you could explain this in a bit more detail I would greatly appreciate it (i.e. using a limiter whilst mixing). I'm assuming Serato won't have plug-ins since it's all done indirectly...

Im not ENTIRELY sure how youd go about it on serato...

Its easy enough for me because Im using the routing on my DAWs mixer and sending my CDJ signal in through an input...

But...

Typically, a slightly below 0 point ceiling, fast attack medium fast decay, put a gain control behind it with like +1db of boost to push it ino that ceiling...

Dont worry TOO much about distortion as long as you dont start really pushing the limiter and inducing dynamics, keeping everything at fastish attack and decay will help though...

Not sure what else you need clarifying, I feel like Ive jus trepeated my last post...

Any specific questions though Id be more then obliged to help...

But, my question to you, if your using this as a means to mix at night rather then a means to level everything during an actual performance, is why not just turn your master fader too like 50%?

just fight the urge to get "prangy" with your knobs lol

seriously tho...

bad habits are hard to break and one day you'll catch yourself at the club doing it and the soundman will be all up in your grill

I have to say that watching your gain and your levels is one of the most important things to be looking out for if you are going to DJ professionally. Use the channel gain knobs on the mixer and don't move your master fader unless the overall volume needs to come up or down. I've seen way too many dj's with no concept of gain structure while they're playing and either have huge volume discrepancies or they are maxing everything into the red and 1. making the soundsystem sound like shit or 2. pissing off the soundman because the limiter is working overtime in order to prevent blowing the speakers. So work those gain knobs and watch the level meters in the mixer and set them so they are just tapping the yellow and everything will come out sounding the same volume.

EZ

you really shouldn't be touching the master when mixing...only the channel gains. if you aren't watching your levels when you mix, then you need to start. on my rane, i dial the gains so they are just hitting one orange. as long as you try and keep every track dialed at the same db, you should have a fairly level mix. tracks are all mastered differently though, so some may sound louder or quieter even though they are hitting the same db and you need to adjust accordingly...can't just leave the channel gains at the same setting. if you're not paying attention and mixing too loud, you won't be able to volume correct quieter tracks without turning the louder track down. just gotta use your ears and eyes and leave yourself headroom.

if you are trying to get a level volume for a mix that's already been recorded, use a limiter like suggested. you can also use one in your live mix, but i'd prefer to do it post recording if at all. if you have a lot of volume differences, then a limiter may not help at first without crushing the mix. although time consuming, you can go in and volume correct/amplify each section that needs attention, mix by mix, and then whack a limiter on it.

relik wrote:you can go in and volume correct/amplify each section that needs attention, mix by mix

Yeah you can cheat on tests and rack presets n loops n whatnot, there are lots of ways to avoid ever having to learn anytihng at all!

Seriously dude, Just level your volumes, and keep everything steady.

I tihnk what youw ere asking though, was about keeping things actually quiet in your room at night... in which case, all Ic an tell you, is turn the volume down, and keep the levels straight still.

Oh and just so you know in the future, all normalize functions do, is bring the highest peak to reach headroom. They dont have any effect on dynamics, and you really should try doing it track to track, your gonna get pop-ups in voluem at random places .

The most transparent way to do this would be just to automate your mix's volume. If you can't get it exactly right, maybe a little soft compression. Like what is the db variation between the loud and quiet parts?