Hi everyone,
For a while, I have been engaged in mastering my own songs (orchestral)..Actually I use a pretty crap PC system in an untreated room. Plus, waves bundles..My main problem is like that: Particularly, my processed songs' loudness (generally) is as high as the reference songs' loudness I choosed at my PC. However, when i listen to them at other systems (like normal stereo system, or in a car), the reference songs I choosed are better.
I know the importance that proper equipment and experienced mastering engineers are the solution. Before I send my songs' mixes to such a place, I want to understand the reasons behind this problem. So, i can decide if only I should focus on composing. While composing, I use EastWest products (quality samples), and I avoid to apply effects so that I get the sound as natural as it is. I trust on my ears on composing and mixing in the name of balance and being natural. But mastering is totally different , and I am aware of it.
Well, I started to search for mastering to learn. I spend a lot of time for that apart from critical listening. I shall be grateful if people help me about this problem's reasons. Particularly, degrading sound level, problems with transfering data to a cd, tranfering problems between digital and analog domains, etc.
I can give detailed information if requested. I dont really want to ask pointless questions, thats why I want to be spesific.
Thanks everyone for helping

Loudness cannot be determined from the levels alone. Say for example you are listening to a 40 Hz and a 4k tone at a level of -18dB. The 4k tone will sound louder because our ears are more sensitive to this frequency. So frequency is a component of loudness. Using phons or sones as a unit of measure over a plain meter takes this into consideration:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/Sound/phon.html

Another factor is the density of the track. TV and radio commercials use this to their advantage. There are limitations on what levels can be used in broadcast but most want their commercial to be the loudest. To this end they will pack as much background music, etc. to the voice in order to raise the perceived level.

All of these things, along with level have to be taken into consideration.
_________________
Tom Volpicelli
The Mastering House Inc.
www.masteringhouse.com

Thanks so much Tom,
Specific link you sent is very useful to read. It made me aware of other approaches to the loudness..Plus, technical explanations are very explicit..

Hey Tom, as usual you covered it. But if I may add one thing, it would be the type of instrumentation.
I try to always make sure that my reference material is an apple to apple comparison. In other words cello and violin shouldn't be used for a reference for a clarinet and trumpet. I try to make sure that my instruments in the project are as close to the reference material as possible.
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Rob
FH Mastering
fhmastering.com
myspace.com/fhmastering
Professional Mastering / Affordable Rates

fhmastering wrote:

Hey Tom, as usual you covered it. But if I may add one thing, it would be the type of instrumentation. I try to always make sure that my reference material is an apple to apple comparison. In other words cello and violin shouldn't be used for a reference for a clarinet and trumpet. I try to make sure that my instruments in the project are as close to the reference material as possible.

Great point Rob (as usual)!
_________________
Tom Volpicelli
The Mastering House Inc.
www.masteringhouse.com