Mixing for an mp3

[DesireeBowen]

That's really weird. There is a huge noticeable difference on my computer. On the mp3 I have, there aren't an vocal distortions at the peak, and the instruments sounds less clanky, and there isn't a trace of any static in the chorus. It just sounds overall better. Did you listen to the version on my taxi page? I don't know what to make of it. So weird!!!

I tried the aiff file (I could only use a 1/3 of the piece, there is actually a 50MB limit, not 100) and the aiff sounds doesn't sound good either-but in a difference way- the voice sounds distant and there is a lot of static.

I'm kinda at a lost right now... maybe I'll just give it a rest for awhile.

Thanks for yalls help though in being some extra ears for me and offering tips. Can't wait till the day when others can ask ME for advice- I still feel like such a newbie when it comes to mixing!! (And I suppose I still am, it has only been a year).

[DesireeBowen]

Oh, that was an aif file I tried, not an aiff.

[Len911]

My guess it's the myspace compression and conversion that is creating the artifacts. Your songs overall tend to be bright, aka bells, and the higher freqs are where the compression and artifacts would be more noticeable, even on regular mp3's. You may have to mix your bells lower in volume to eliminate some of the flanging.

[mojobone]

Most MP3 converters like to see at least a decibel of headroom, too; try pulling down the master fader a bit before converting, see if it helps. (you should be able to hear a difference even before uploading) Also AIFF format files have a ".aif" suffix; they're the same thing.

[rld]

Yeah, I'm pretty confused as to how you're coming up with these problems.
Why would your aif file be 131 MB?

[DesireeBowen]

So I posted it again, this time using the higher mp3 with 256kbps, I do notice a difference for the better since my original posting of 160 kbps, but it still does not sound as good as the one I upload onto Taxi (which was with 160), and not nearly as good as the large file on Logic I work with (of course). It is in the bells and piano that I hear it most- that clangy sound, you are right Len, my songs tend to be brighter. I love the bells and hate the idea to turn down the volume on them, but maybe that will just be what I need to do. I hear it in the piano throughout the entire piece, but it isn't as noticeable in the more dense sections.

Here are 2 spots where there is a noticeable dif between the version on myspace and the one on my taxi page:

2:33 during the last phrase "I'll start forever now with you," when only the piano is accompanying me, there is some weird static sound

1:41, right after I sing the bridge and the piano plays a few notes by itself- listen to that last note it plays- ICK. That is a good example of what I am hearing throughout the entire piece...

I suppose maybe I am being to picky about this, but it really kills me that I can't get an mp3 that sounds as good as what I am hearing when I am working with my large Logic file. I've worked really hard at trying to get a good mix, and you just can't hear the effort that I have put into it when I am listening to the file on myspace. I might also add that the differences are much more noticeable on headphones.

I haven't tried your most recent suggestions yet, so I will give them a whirl. If yall have any more ideas I will welcome them gladly. Thank you so much.

As for the large aif file, I also posted the 1/3 version of that one and I have no idea why it is large. The mp3 file at 256 kbps is at 5.1 MB. Is that large for an mp3 file?

[fullbirdmusic]

You'll never get an mp3 to sound as good as the source audio in Logic.
Mp3 was designed to be compressed and streamed; it makes the music sound different as a function of its ability to compress. Making the higher frequencies sound warbly and crappy is what mp3 does. The encoding process is taking those bits away to make the file size smaller.

[DesireeBowen]

So I guess I'm just doomed to less than perfect huh Ah well. I'll keep working at it.

[DesireeBowen]

Although, I may want to switch to something other than Myspace to have a place for people to visit and listen to my music. Because, trust me, there is a difference on my computer of the mp3 file I have in iTunes and when I listen to it uploaded onto Myspace.

[fullbirdmusic]

Then make yourself a website. Check out bluehost.com for space.

For a fee, I'd build you one. You can see mine at www.fullbirdmusic.com - I did it based on a template and it works wonders.
Plus - having your own domain is very good for google rankings.