• lina
  • Dr. Robot
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  • From: Phnom Penh
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 316

Topic: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Okay, I know this must seem relentless because it's just one question after another! But I'm really appreciating the help that I've gotten so far and everything seems to be going pretty well.

Am finishing up another show tonight and here are my big questions--

The levels of all of the different bits and songs seem dramatically different. What's the best way to smooth the whole thing out? I'm assuming it's compressor but would love some detailed instructions for what to do with it.

Some of the vocal bits sound like I'm shouting and I'm not sure why because I swear I wasn't shouting. What's the best way to chill these sections out? Do they need to be in their own track thing? (Right now I have all vocals in one track, but about 3 out of 10 of them sound shouty)

Thanks for your patience with me...

discofinger.com

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  • lina
  • Dr. Robot
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  • From: Phnom Penh
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
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Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Oh and also, I had two parts in the last show (the intro and one song) that only played out of one channel. No idea why this happened or how I didn't catch it. Any ideas?

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  • From: Los Jubilee
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 1,173

Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

lina wrote:

Oh and also, I had two parts in the last show (the intro and one song) that only played out of one channel. No idea why this happened or how I didn't catch it. Any ideas?

wild guess, maybe the channel is in mono mode or routed to only one output.

as for the level difference, i'd try to keep the same level with with faders automation and maybe compress the master
but be careful with that.

editing in ableton - i'm sure there are easier ways

  • From: Back in Dublin
  • Registered: 2008-08-03
  • Posts: 223

Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

You should make friends with a man, they usually know how to do all this stuff.

splitradix.bandcamp.com

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  • Dez
  • Le Bon Bot
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  • Registered: 2008-07-08
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Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

skkatter wrote:

You should make friends with a man, they usually know how to do all this stuff.

hmm

  • Dez
  • Le Bon Bot
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Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

lina - what kind of mic are you using? what kind of interface to your computer?

A compressor could help, but I'd say just use your ears. When you're done recording and have everything in place, listen to the whole thing and adjust the levels per track. Also, make sure you're not cliping the sound anywhere or it'll sound distorted. You can always beef up the volume after with a limiter, but if you input is clipping it's not gonna sound good.

And yeah, make sure you're not in mono or panned for whatever reason...great show...even in mono!

  • lina
  • Dr. Robot
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Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Dez, can you explain clipping more?

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  • Dez
  • Le Bon Bot
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Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Just make sure you're not in the red at all. I feel like beginners sometime crank up the input levels in an attempt to get more volume...

so you want to be here:

http://dezmm.com/public_images/noclip.png

not here:


http://dezmm.com/public_images/clip.png

9 Reply by Marco Tulio Thrash (edited by Marco Tulio Thrash 2009-07-31 22:16:41)

  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 692

Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Dez ... ableton certified instructor. big_smile

I would also say (if Computerdisco hasn't mentioned it already) that there are 2 ways to control volume.

1 is what you see above with the mixer

2. is with automation ... this is back in the linear "arrange" view and works a little like a graph, allowing you to vary volume for certain regions and not others it looks like this:

http://emusician.com/tutorials/Ableton-Live-6-Fig2.gif

and you access it by going to the channel area on the left of the arrange linear view, underneath the track name there are 2 drop down boxes, in the first one select "Mixer", then in the 2nd one select "Track Volume" then you'll see a pink line appear in the track itself. Double click on it to create a movable point. You can move the points you create around to affect the volume. To see the value of a point, let the mouse hover on it.  Ask Computerdisco what the key to fine tune a point is, I don't know what it is for pc it is cmd for mac.

Once you play through the project, you'll see the mixer animate as it follows the automation volume curves.

Edit: Before you start recording your voice it is always a good idea to test the levels, so you can turn down the gain on your soundcard before you start recording.

Carbon Chic - A Broken Man

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  • rude66
  • robot des duivels
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  • Registered: 2008-07-07
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Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

if its only for broadcast, dont worry too much about different volumes. there is a massive limiter in the ifmx that'll iron everything out. if you use this as a file to upload to robotdj.net however, things should be relatively all the same..

  • ronin
  • cervine lugbot
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  • From: now
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
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Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

hey lina, there is an endless amount of knowledge on this forum and all of your questions are welcome. but with answers come the inevitable variables so as a reference i thought i'd leave this link to VERY useful tutorials on most of the situations you might find yourself in. hope it helps

  • lina
  • Dr. Robot
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  • From: Phnom Penh
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 316

Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Thanks for the link, ronin. I've been watching a lot of tutorials on YouTube also. The problem with a lot of this stuff is it assumes a base level of knowledge that I don't have. I'm just trying to learn the bare minimum I need to get this show off to the presses. That said, what I have learned here and from Computerdisco has really helped! I think tonight's show is a lot better. I used some of the tips that Marco suggested.

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13 Reply by computerdisco (edited by computerdisco 2009-08-04 18:14:28)

  • From: Ghetto Studio, London
  • Registered: 2008-07-09
  • Posts: 747

Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Sounds like CD tutorial 2 is needed this week.. big_smile You got a free eve?

+++ Dont be scared honey, thats just the resonance knob +++
  • lina
  • Dr. Robot
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  • From: Phnom Penh
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 316

Re: Using Ableton for making radio shows...help help help

Oh yes, computerdisco to the rescue!

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