Please help with making an uploaded song clearer...

[jt6572]

hey everyone,
I was hoping you could offer me a little advice.
I have finished a song and made an mp3 of it and am very happy with how everything sounds (levels, etc). But then I uploaded it to the JJJ unearthed website (aust radio station) and the vocals and esp backing vocals were way too prominent and muffled and it sounded rubbish, whereas other songs on there sound perfect.
Is there something I am doing wrong? Is there a trick to getting it sounding crisp like the others?
I was thinking maybe i could lower all the track levels and raise the master level. would that work to make things clearer? should i just lower the vocal tracks volumes so it sounds not prominent enough on mp3, but better when uploaded?
Confused, would we?
I would really appreciate any help… thanks!
Jeff

[Tony Ramone]

Just a thought, but is there any chance that when you upload the track it's being played back in mono? Maybe you've got some phasing problems? I'm not really the most experienced person here though - I'm sure someone else can give you a better answer.

[Guastafarian]

Don't forget that converting to MP3 format kills a lot of the quality. Maybe the site you're uploading to compresses your file even more? The more you compress an MP3 file, the more it cuts out frequencies above 14k. If this is where your vocals are, this could lower the volume quite a bit. The higher frequencies could also be what's making your backing vocal tracks sound clearer.

Sorry bout your problem =/

[jt6572]

hey guys,
thanks very much for your help.
i think i will just have to note what needs to be louder, softer, etc and make those changes so it sounds good when uploaded. all i can think of really!
thanks again,
jeff

[uab9253]

I agree with the MP3 squash diagnosis. I convert to MP3 at 128KB resolution and MySpace neuters em down to 96KB to stream. It really is quite irritating.

[brandondrury]

Something strange is going on here. Uploading a song could kill quality, but it shouldn't effect individual levels. Do you have any stereo effects on the vocals? It is possible that certain stereo effects could make the vocal louder when summed to mono, but this is very unlikely.

Brandon

[jt6572]

hey guys,
thanks very much everyone. i think that what the problem is is that the poor quality is poor mixing - the flaws are just a lot clearer once uploaded to the site and also when i play the song on my iPod.
i think i just need to keep playing around with the levels.
im just a noob... !
thank you
jeff

[brandondrury]

Why don't you toss the tune on Bash This Recording and we'll be able to help with the mix?

Brandon

[jt6572]

hi brandon,
thanks for the post.
thats a great idea. i just have a couple more things i want to do to it when i have some time and then i will put it on there...probably the weekend.
jeff

[jt6572]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Why don't you toss the tune on Bash This Recording and we'll be able to help with the mix?

Brandon

he he... okay, i have done a bit more work to it, and have summoned the courage to have it bashed!
it is now in the bashing section....
thanks for all your help brandon.
jt