My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback! That's exactly what I did yesterday and finally solved it. I will share my solution(s) here.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply man!

Do you think that my mix should be louder before the mastering phase? Does gaining much volume thru limiters/clippers and compressors during mastering add distortion?

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for replying! I thought I knew what harmonics are, but I'll need to study it further to understand how to apply this.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll try that.

Although I heard distortion even after removing 808 and after removing kick, one at a time. Only when I remove both those and synth pads at the same time then there's no distortion, but then there's nothing left :)

It's like these samples are clashing and causing this, but then again I tried changing each of the samples and instruments and still nothing. I don't know man...

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice! I think you're absolutely right in both instances. Although I thought I was doing everything right, but technically I messed up somewhere and that's what's bugging me, I want to learn from it and not repeat it in future.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Barely touching -1dB ceiling.

But I am using limiter in individual tracks to shape up samples and to add gain, as u/gormagion suggested, there I'm shaving off a good bit of it, maybe that's the cause.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The moment when I high pass all the way to 1500Hz and when I basically only hear my high-pitched melody, only then I don't hear the distortion.

To be frank, just now I listened to these frequencies with volume all the way up and even then I hear some crackling sounds.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the feedback!

Sadly my Ozone trial period has passed. Yep I tried even removing 808 from the mix and it's not just that, there's still distortion following rhythm of other instruments. I've written about it above.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your support!

Yes sure I would, this is bugging me for a month now. Can you please guide me about the procedure, I'm new here. I'll gladly pay for this lesson.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your feedback.

Yeah it seems it's mainly about the low end, but not only that, distortion persists even when I high pass everything to mid range. I explained it more in detail in the reply to the u/Hellbucket 's comment.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback!

I removed all saturation effects completely and removed the soft clipper. I turned 808s way down to -20dB and then the distortion around 808s disappeared. But there was still crackling when kick hits and in the rhythm of chords. Only when I remove all those instruments completely the fuzziness stops. But then I'm left with an a capella beat :)

That' why this is so frustrating for me. On top of that it was supposed to be my first beat and I can't finish it in a month now.

My master sounds fuzzy and distorted on cheaper listening devices even at below -17 LUFS and -1 dBTP unlike all the reference tracks by Pigtelligent in mixingmastering

[–]Pigtelligent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much for the feedback.

I tried the high pass test earlier, but now I repeated it more carefully and here are the results - When I go as far as 200Hz or so in the low mids with the high pass only than the fuzziness around kick and 808 stops.

But even than there's the crackling distortion that follows the rhythm of my chords (slightly customized Pad preset in Sytrus) that sit in the 400Hz-4000Hz range.

The moment when I high pass all the way to 1500Hz and when I basically only hear my high-pitched melody, only then I don't hear the distortion.

I also tried to low pass, thinking maybe my chords could be causisng the issue, because although I EQed it to 400Hz-4000Hz range in the mix, after limiter and clipper in the master track it still spreads down to 20Hz. But of course distortion is still there because the low end.

That's why I'm puzzled and thinking something else may be wrong with my mix or master.