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Hey, all!

This may be a very basic question, but here goes!

Usually my work involves easy listening jazz, show tunes, etc. but occasionally I'm asked to create a track that's more pop or pop country.

My track sounds just fine, but if I A/B it with the original, the original always slams a lot harder.
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(Top Track original Nashville artist, bottom track me)

(Gretchen Wilson's "All Jacked Up" very similar instrumentation)



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I know there's been a lot of discussion lately about maintaining a natural dynamic range, but when dealing with this type of "radio" genre, what am I missing to get the track slamming harder?

I've tried an Aphex Compellor, Waves plugs, UAD plugs, etc. and they improve it, but I can't quite get the density that I want (like the top track), so there's something I'm obviously missing!

I don't want to hear the breathing/pumping, etc. which I generally don't with the original pop track.

Is it a standard piece of hardware or software that either the studio or mastering engineer always uses, or do I just need to keep experimenting with the tools that I have?

Any insight would be appreciated!

=bz=

Multiple plugins....

Genrally I'll use finalplug, an EQ, a a couple more limiters hitting no more than 1.3db of gain redux.

It could also be multi-band compression. Different frequency ranges getting different compression ratios and gain.

Of course, the music you're comparing to has also been mastered. Lots of voodoo magic going on in that final polishing stage.

Thanks for the replies!

Someone at OSXAudio also commented that I should not be "mixing" and "mastering" at the same time...one, then the other which I fully understand.

I agree with owel, too...years ago we did a mix in Nashville and after Glenn Meadows mastered it it was truly night and day astounding!

=bz=